Blood test

A blood test refers to a medical procedure wherein a sample of blood is extracted from a patient for analytical purposes. The goal of these tests is to gauge the quantity of specific substances in the blood, enumerate various types of blood cells, or determine the overall health and functionality of certain organs.

Human Blood Test

Bloodtest

Testing Blood Sugar Levels

Purpose of Blood Tests

Blood draw

Blood tests serve a variety of functions in the realm of medical diagnostics and monitoring:

• Disease Detection: Blood tests can identify potential diseases or disorders by measuring unusual levels of certain substances.
• Pathogen Identification: Some blood tests are designed to detect the presence of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that might be responsible for illnesses.
• Treatment Monitoring: Blood tests help doctors ascertain the efficacy of ongoing treatments, whether it's chemotherapy for cancer or medication for thyroid disorders.
• Antibody Detection: These tests can determine if an individual has antibodies against certain diseases, providing insights into immunity.
• Tumor Marker Identification: Blood tests can also identify tumor markers, which might indicate the presence of cancer in the body.

Common Types of Blood Tests

The scope of blood tests is vast, with each test catering to different medical requirements:

• Complete blood count (CBC): This is one of the most common blood tests and it measures different components of the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
• Basic metabolic panel (BMP): It measures glucose, calcium and electrolytes, thereby providing vital information about heart function, kidney function, and muscle function.
• Blood Enzyme Tests: These tests can detect enzyme levels in the blood, often used to diagnose heart attack.
• Blood Clotting Tests: Useful in assessing the risk of excessive bleeding or clotting.

Procedure

Conducting a blood test typically involves:

• Extraction: A healthcare professional will draw blood from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand, using a needle.
• Analysis: The collected sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
• Result Interpretation: After the laboratory has analyzed the sample, a healthcare provider interprets the results to determine the patient's health status or diagnose potential issues.

Considerations

• Fasting: Some blood tests, like lipid panels or glucose tests, require the patient to fast for several hours before the test.
• Medications: Patients should inform their healthcare providers about any medications or supplements they're taking, as these can influence test results.

List of blood tests

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Abelin reaction
• Absolute neutrophil count
• ACTH stimulation test
• Anisochromia
• Anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
• Anticoagulant
• Antistreptolysin O titre
• Alkali denaturation test
• Arneth count
• Arterial blood gas test
• Ashby technique

B

• Basic metabolic panel
• Bence Jones protein
• Beutler test
• Biological terrain assessment
• Bleeding time
• Blood culture
• Blood film
• Blood sugar level
• Blood typing
• Blood viscosity
• Bodansky unit

C

• C reactive protein
• Cancer Likelihood in Plasma
• Captopril challenge test
• Captopril suppression test
• CO2 content
• Coagulation screen
• Coagulation testing
• Combined rapid anterior pituitary evaluation panel
• Complement fixation test
• Complete blood count
• Comprehensive metabolic panel
• Coombs test
• Counterimmunoelectrophoresis
• COVID 19 Immunity Task Force
• CPK MB test
• Cytometry

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

D

• D dimer
• Dilute Russell's viper venom time
• Direct agglutination test
• Dried blood spot

E

• Ecarin clotting time
• Electrolyte
• Elliptocyte
• Enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique
• Erythrocyte fragility
• Erythrocyte rosetting
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• Euglobulin lysis time

F

• Fecal occult blood
• Ferritin
• FibroTest
• Fingerstick
• Flow cytometry
• Fluorescein labeled proaerolysin
• Fructosamine

G

• Gel electrophoresis of proteins
• Blood glucose monitoring
• Glucose test
• Glucose tolerance test
• Glycated hemoglobin
• Glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

H

• Helper/suppressor ratio
• Hematocrit
• Hematology analyzer
• Template:Hematology blood tests
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis
• Hemorheology
• Hemoximetry

I

• INR self monitoring
• Insulin tolerance test
• Intravascular volume status
• Iron tests

J

• Jostel's TSH index

K

• Kaolin clotting time
• Keidel vacuum
• Kleihauer–Betke test

L

• Latex fixation test
• Lipid profile
• Live blood analysis
• Liver function tests

M

• Magnetic immunoassay
• Malaria antigen detection tests
• MChip
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
• Mean corpuscular volume
• Mean platelet volume
• MELISA
• Mentzer index
• Milligram per cent
• Missouri v. McNeely
• Mitchell v. Wisconsin
• Mixing study

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

N

• Nightscout
• Noninvasive glucose monitor

P

• PAH clearance
• Partial thromboplastin time
• Pentagastrin
• Phadia
• Phlebotomy
• Plasma osmolality
• Platelet swirling
• Procalcitonin
• Prostate specific antigen
• Prothrombin time

R

• Radioallergosorbent test
• Random glucose test
• Red blood cell distribution width
• Red blood cell indices
• Template:Red blood cell indices worked example
• Reference ranges for blood tests
• Assessment of kidney function
• Glomerular filtration rate
• Reptilase time
• Reticulocyte production index
• Ristocetin induced platelet aggregation

S

• Schmerber v. California
• Schumm test
• Serology
• Serum free light chain measurement
• Serum iron
• Serum total protein
• Staub Traugott Phenomenon
• Sum activity of peripheral deiodinases
• Suparnostic
• Syndromic testing
• Tetramer assay
• Thrombin time
• Thrombodynamics test
• Thromboelastography
• Thromboelastometry
• Thyroid function tests
• Thyroid hormone binding ratio
• Thyroid's secretory capacity
• Thyrotroph Thyroid Hormone Sensitivity Index
• Total iron binding capacity
• Transferrin saturation
• TRH stimulation test
• Typhidot

V

• Venipuncture
• Vertical auto profile

W

• White blood cell differential
• Whole blood clotting test
• Widal test
• Wbc count (blood)

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Conclusion

Blood tests are invaluable tools in the world of medicine, offering insights into a patient's health status, revealing potential health concerns, and guiding therapeutic approaches. Whether used for routine check-ups or specific diagnostic needs, these tests provide crucial data that aids physicians in making informed medical decisions.

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