Blood testing is a routine part of preventive health. We use them to monitor health and diagnose any medical problems that may occur.
These tests are generally simple, with almost no risk and minimal discomfort.
This article discusses the uses and types of blood tests and how to interpret the results.
What Can Blood Tests Detect?
When you have a blood test, a sample of blood is sent to a laboratory and tested for different cells and substances. Often, the amount, size, and concentration of the cells and substances are reported with numerical values that are compared to standard or ideal values.
Examples of what can be tested in the blood include:
Blood tests can be used to detect signs of health risks, infection, and the balance of fluids and minerals in the blood. They can also be used as an assessment of physical functions.
Blood Test ProcessBlood tests can measure certain components when the blood is taken to a lab and combined with specific chemicals that detect certain cells, proteins, hormones, and enzymes.Blood test technology is always improving, and some blood tests can identify diseases that couldn’t be easily diagnosed years ago.
Blood Test Process
Blood tests can measure certain components when the blood is taken to a lab and combined with specific chemicals that detect certain cells, proteins, hormones, and enzymes.Blood test technology is always improving, and some blood tests can identify diseases that couldn’t be easily diagnosed years ago.
Types of Blood Tests
If you are having a blood test, you will have an order that specifies which tests you need. Some blood tests require preparation to ensure accurate results. Preparation may involve fasting (not eating or drinking) for a set amount of time prior to having the test or making certain medication adjustments.
During the test, the blood is placed into tubes that correspond to the type of tests you are getting. Some tubes contain material to maintain the components that are being tested. Then the sample is sent to the laboratory for testing.
Below are common types of blood tests.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A complete blood countis a very common blood test, and it measures the number of blood cells and the percentage of each type of blood cell.
A CBC includes:
A CBC also provides information about the size of each blood cell type. The results can help your healthcare provider determine if you may have anemia (a low number of healthy red blood cells), an infection, or indicators of other conditions.
Understanding Your Complete Blood Count
Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
The basic metabolic panelblood test measures glucose,calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride,creatinine,blood urea nitrogen(BUN), and bicarbonate (CO2).
Creatinine and BUN levels can reflect how well the kidneys are functioning.Sodium, potassium chloride, and calcium areelectrolytes(charged minerals) that the body must keep in balance in the bloodstream. Bicarbonate reflects whether there is an imbalance in acid and base in the blood.
Severe abnormalities in these values can often indicate a medical emergency.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A comprehensive metabolic paneltest is similar to a BMP, and it also includes protein,albumin(a type of protein), andliver function tests.
Lipid Panel
These values reflect cardiovascular andstroke(a blockage of blood flow or bleeding in the brain) risk, with high levels of most lipid types usually associated with a high risk.However, low HDL (the so-called good cholesterol) levels are considered a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Other Blood Tests
Blood tests can be used to detect specific hormones, proteins, enzymes, or markers in the blood that are indicators of various conditions. These types of tests may be used to diagnose and monitor a condition, as well as evaluate treatments for the condition.
People often wonder why a variety of tubes are used to collect blood. Which are drawn depend on the test, as some need specific additives in the tube. More than one of the same type of tube may be drawn because they are being sent to different sections of the laboratory or to different laboratories.
Results for tests sent to a laboratory that performs specialized tests may take longer to be reported than for standard blood tests.
How Often Should You Get Blood Work Done?
Blood test frequency can vary. The types of blood tests you may need, and the collection schedule will depend. Factors may include if you have a chronic condition, are experiencing new systems, or need medical screening tests.
The cadence of blood work depends on the reason for theblood draw. This can include:
Understanding Blood Test Results
Usually, blood test results are reported as numbers. The value that’s being measured—such as calcium or hemoglobin—is compared to the standard or ideal value.
The reported numbers from your blood test are not usually enough to make a diagnosis. You and your healthcare provider will need to discuss your overall health to put the numbers in perspective in terms of what they reflect about your health.
Awaiting ResultsIt can take hours, days, or longer for a blood test result to come back. If you are having an emergency blood test in a hospital, it might take less than an hour. It can take longer for results of specialized test results to come back.
Awaiting Results
It can take hours, days, or longer for a blood test result to come back. If you are having an emergency blood test in a hospital, it might take less than an hour. It can take longer for results of specialized test results to come back.
How Does Your Blood Type Impact Overall Health?
Blood types include:
All these blood types are perfectly healthy. The significance of these blood types is that when you need ablood transfusionthe blood given to you must be carefully matched to your type to avoid causing an immune reaction, which can be deadly.
Before transfusion, the recipient should be typed and their blood tested against the donor blood units (called a crossmatching test).
In general, donor blood that has A, B, or Rh+ markers can only be given to people with those same markers. Anyone can receive O- donor blood.However, outside of emergencies, it’s preferred that type-specific, crossmatched blood be given.
How Can You Find Out Your Blood Type?
Summary
Blood tests are used to measure different components of blood, and the measurements are an indication of health. You might need some blood tests as part of routine health maintenance, to assess certain symptoms, or to monitor disease progression and treatment.
A Word From Verywell
Getting a blood test is generally a simple procedure with very little risk. The process can be stressful, though, if you are afraid of needles or worried about test results.
Before a blood test, it can help to take a deep breath and stay calm and try to remember that the test isn’t harmful. Give yourself a chance to rest after your test for as long as you need to.
You can also ask how long it will take for results to come back. When you get your results back, you will be able to talk with your healthcare provider about what the results mean and what to consider as you decide on the next steps of treatment.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Colpo GD, Rocha NP, Furr Stimming E, Teixeira AL.Gene expression profiling in Huntington’s Disease: does comorbidity with depressive symptoms matter?Int J Mol Sci.2020;21(22):8474. doi:10.3390/ijms21228474Bechtel L, Holstege CP.Utilizing the toxicology laboratory in the poisoned patient.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(2):431-441. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2022.01.003MedlinePlus.Kidney function tests.MedlinePlus.CO2 blood test.American Heart Association.HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.Shin KH, Lee HJ, Oh SH, Jo SY, Lee SM, Kim IS.Sample collection for pre-transfusion crossmatching: benefits of using an electronic identification system.Transfus Med. 2022 Apr 2. doi:10.1111/tme.12863
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Colpo GD, Rocha NP, Furr Stimming E, Teixeira AL.Gene expression profiling in Huntington’s Disease: does comorbidity with depressive symptoms matter?Int J Mol Sci.2020;21(22):8474. doi:10.3390/ijms21228474Bechtel L, Holstege CP.Utilizing the toxicology laboratory in the poisoned patient.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(2):431-441. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2022.01.003MedlinePlus.Kidney function tests.MedlinePlus.CO2 blood test.American Heart Association.HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.Shin KH, Lee HJ, Oh SH, Jo SY, Lee SM, Kim IS.Sample collection for pre-transfusion crossmatching: benefits of using an electronic identification system.Transfus Med. 2022 Apr 2. doi:10.1111/tme.12863
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Colpo GD, Rocha NP, Furr Stimming E, Teixeira AL.Gene expression profiling in Huntington’s Disease: does comorbidity with depressive symptoms matter?Int J Mol Sci.2020;21(22):8474. doi:10.3390/ijms21228474Bechtel L, Holstege CP.Utilizing the toxicology laboratory in the poisoned patient.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(2):431-441. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2022.01.003MedlinePlus.Kidney function tests.MedlinePlus.CO2 blood test.American Heart Association.HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.Shin KH, Lee HJ, Oh SH, Jo SY, Lee SM, Kim IS.Sample collection for pre-transfusion crossmatching: benefits of using an electronic identification system.Transfus Med. 2022 Apr 2. doi:10.1111/tme.12863
Colpo GD, Rocha NP, Furr Stimming E, Teixeira AL.Gene expression profiling in Huntington’s Disease: does comorbidity with depressive symptoms matter?Int J Mol Sci.2020;21(22):8474. doi:10.3390/ijms21228474
Bechtel L, Holstege CP.Utilizing the toxicology laboratory in the poisoned patient.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(2):431-441. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2022.01.003
MedlinePlus.Kidney function tests.
MedlinePlus.CO2 blood test.
American Heart Association.HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Shin KH, Lee HJ, Oh SH, Jo SY, Lee SM, Kim IS.Sample collection for pre-transfusion crossmatching: benefits of using an electronic identification system.Transfus Med. 2022 Apr 2. doi:10.1111/tme.12863
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