Tue Jan 07 2025
Reading time : 13 mins
Regular blood testing is vital for tracking physical wellbeing and maintaining a comprehensive understanding of your health. Doctors use blood tests to assess substances like proteins, cells, and chemicals, providing insights into overall health. These tests help diagnose diseases, monitor chronic conditions, evaluate organ function, and measure immune strength. Read on this blog to discover significant aspects of blood testing and find out the most important blood tests necessary to track your health on a routine basis.
Blood tests provide valuable insights into how your body’s organs are functioning, including the heart, thyroid, liver, and kidneys. If you are worried what would show up in a routine blood test, note that it can help identify markers for various diseases and health conditions, such as:
Even if heart disease is not present, blood tests can assess your risk of developing it in the future.
Blood tests can also evaluate whether medications are working effectively and check how well your blood is clotting. These tests are essential for diagnosing, monitoring, and preventing health issues, enabling your doctor to tailor treatments as per your specific needs. Always discuss your results with your healthcare provider for proper interpretation.
Blood tests are an essential diagnostic and monitoring tool that you may undergo in various circumstances:
As part of routine checkups, doctors often order general tests like a Complete Blood Count (CBC) to assess overall health.
If you are at a higher risk for certain diseases or have a genetic predisposition, specific blood tests can help monitor or detect early signs of the condition.
If you have an existing diagnosis, blood tests track the progression of your condition and evaluate the effectiveness of your ongoing treatment.
If you are experiencing symptoms, your doctor may use blood tests to confirm a suspected diagnosis or determine if more specialised tests are needed.
Blood tests, including CBC and blood type determination, are common during pregnancy to ensure maternal and foetal health.
Before surgery, blood tests check for potential risks, such as excessive bleeding or underlying conditions that might affect the procedure.
Blood tests measuring HDL and LDL cholesterol or other markers can guide adjustments to diet and exercise for better health outcomes.
Here are some common blood tests which you must undertake on a routine basis.
A routine complete blood count (CBC) test, also known as full blood panel, evaluates the levels of 10 different components within the three major types of blood cells: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Key measurements include red blood cell count, haemoglobin, and haematocrit levels.
Normal ranges for these components differ slightly at particular conditions, but generally include:
Male: 4.5–6.1 × 10⁶/μL
Female: 4.0–5.4 × 10⁶/μL
4.0–10.8 × 10³/μL for both males and females
150–400 × 10³/μL for both males and females
Male: 13.0–17.0 g/dL
Female: 12.0–16.0 g/dL
Male: 40–52%
Female: 37–47%
Abnormal levels in a CBC may signal nutritional deficiencies (for example, vitamin B6 or B12), iron deficiency or anaemia, clotting issues, blood cancer, infections, or immune disorders. If your results are beyond the normal range, your doctor may recommend additional tests to confirm the findings and determine a diagnosis.
A basic metabolic panel (BMP) measures 8 key blood compounds: blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose, bicarbonate, calcium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. It helps evaluate your overall health and organ function. Fasting for at least 8 hours prior the test may be required, depending on your doctor’s instructions and the purpose of the test. This test provides essential insights into electrolyte balance, kidney function, and blood sugar levels.
Here are approximate healthy ranges and purpose of tests included in the basic metabolic panel (BMP).
Abnormal results may signal kidney disease, diabetes, or electrolyte imbalances. Your doctor may recommend follow-up tests to confirm a diagnosis.
A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) includes all the tests in a basic metabolic panel (BMP) plus additional measurements related to liver function. This test checks for:
A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) allows for the same conclusions as a basic metabolic panel (BMP), but it also provides insights into additional abnormalities, allowing diagnosing underlying conditions. High or low levels of specific markers can indicate different health issues:
A CMP provides broader diagnostic insights for metabolic and liver-related health conditions.
This test measures two types of cholesterol – high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL, known as “good” cholesterol, helps remove harmful substances from the blood and supports the liver in breaking them down into waste. On the other hand, LDL or “bad” cholesterol contributes to plaque build-up in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease.
Before undergoing this test, you may need to fast for at least 8 hours to get accurate results.For HDL cholesterol, a level of 60 mg/dL or higher is considered healthy for your heart, while levels below 40 mg/dL are a major risk factor for heart disease. For LDL cholesterol, levels of 100 mg/dL or lower are optimal for good health, but levels of 160 mg/dL or higher are dangerously high.
It is important to note that normal cholesterol levels may vary based on age. Regular monitoring of these levels is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health and identifying risks early.
A thyroid panel, or thyroid function test, evaluates the performance of the thyroid gland by measuring key hormones, including:
The thyroid is a small gland located in the neck, which plays a vital role in maintaining bodily functions such as metabolism, mood, and energy levels.
Normal levels for these thyroid hormones are:
Abnormal levels of T3, T4, or TSH can point to various conditions, such as low protein levels, thyroid growth disorders, or hormonal imbalances involving testosterone or oestrogen. Monitoring these levels provides essential insights into thyroid health and overall hormonal balance, helping in the diagnosis and management of related disorders.
Enzymes are proteins essential for various chemical processes in your body, such as food breakdown and blood clotting. They play a vital role in numerous physiological functions. Below are the normal ranges for some commonly tested enzymes:
If these enzymes exist in your body beyond the normal levels, it might lead to problems like:
Monitoring these enzymes helps diagnose and manage conditions affecting the heart, muscles, and overall metabolic health.
Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be identified through blood tests, often run along with urine samples or tissue swabs for greater diagnostic precision.
The following STIs are commonly diagnosed with blood tests:
It is important to note that blood tests may not always detect an infection immediately after exposure. For instance, in the case of HIV, you may need to wait at least a month from after your exposure for the virus to be detected in a blood test. This waiting period gives the body enough time to produce detectable levels of antibodies or viral markers.
Combining blood tests with other diagnostic methods ensures more reliable results, allowing early detection and effective treatment of STIs. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnostic recommendations and follow-up care.
Coagulation tests evaluate how effectively and quickly your blood clots, providing essential insights into your body’s ability to stop bleeding. Common tests include the prothrombin time (PT) test and fibrinogen activity test.
Clotting is a vital process which prevents excessive bleeding after an injury, but abnormal clotting can be dangerous. A clot forming in a vein or artery can block blood flow to critical organs like the brain, heart, or lungs, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions such as heart attack or stroke.
Test results depend on your overall health and any underlying conditions affecting blood clotting. Abnormal findings can indicate various issues, including:
Coagulation tests are critical for diagnosing and managing bleeding disorders, clotting abnormalities, and associated health conditions. Your healthcare provider can use these results to guide treatment and reduce risks.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, and its levels can be assessed with a DHEA test to determine if they are too high or low.
In men, DHEA contributes to developing traits like body hair growth, so low levels are abnormal. In women, high DHEA levels may cause male-associated traits, such as excessive body hair growth, while low levels are generally normal.
Here are some reasons contributing to low DHEA levels:
High DHEA levels in both males and females may result from:
This test helps identify conditions affecting the adrenal glands and hormone balance, guiding diagnosis and treatment. Consult a healthcare provider for proper interpretation and care.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver in response to inflammation in the body. Higher CRP levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. The levels of CRP can help assess the extent of inflammation and identify underlying health conditions:
High CRP levels indicate inflammation from various causes, including:
Monitoring CRP levels helps healthcare providers diagnose and manage inflammatory conditions and assess risks of heart disease.
Doctors usually order blood tests during physical exams, checkups, or to screen for specific conditions. Alternatively, you can go through routine blood tests directly by contacting laboratories or diagnostic clinics, though health insurance may not cover these tests. While these direct tests offer convenience and accessibility, interpreting the results without a medical professional can be challenging.
Before undertaking a blood test, consult your doctor for instructions you need to follow to get appropriate results. Also make sure to discuss about any ongoing medication or supplement you are having with your doctor as they might affect your test results.
Blood testing can be done in various locations, each offering different advantages and requirements:
Each of these options offers flexibility, but it is important to consider factors like cost, insurance coverage, and the need for professional interpretation of results when choosing where to get tested.
Some medical tests may require fasting for 8 to 12 hours beforehand. This is because the food and drinks you consume contain nutrients like vitamins, proteins, and sugars that can temporarily affect the levels of certain substances in your blood, potentially influencing the test results. Fasting ensures the most accurate readings by eliminating these temporary fluctuations.
Common tests that typically require fasting include:
Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding fasting, as the requirements may vary depending on the specific test being performed.
If you are choosing to undertake a blood test at any of our partner clinics at MD.co.uk, you will have to go through the following procedure:
This streamlined process ensures a convenient and efficient way to manage your health and access important medical information.
The amount of blood drawn for testing is usually enough to fill a small vial. If multiple tests are required, several vials of blood may be collected. Typically, this requires up to 5 to 20 ml of blood. This small quantity for testing is minimal and poses no risk to your health.
Blood test results can take from a few hours to several days to come, depending on the type of test and the lab’s processing times. Here is an estimated timeline for some common blood tests:
The duration may vary based on the specific lab and the number of tests ordered. If multiple tests are performed, you might not receive all results until every test is completed.
Understanding your laboratory report involves reviewing these components carefully. If you have questions about your results or what they mean for your health, consulting your doctor is recommended for detailed interpretation.
Regular blood tests are crucial for monitoring your health, diagnosing conditions, and managing ongoing treatments. By assessing key substances in your blood, doctors can identify early signs of disease, track organ function, and personalise treatment for your health. Moreover, discussing your results with a healthcare provider ensures proper understanding and follow-up for your better health in the long run.
