"Complete and helpful answer, very educational.". The routine kidney blood test is a general marker of kidney function. A blood test usually involves taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. If this has happened to you in the past, tell the person carrying out the test so they're aware and can help you feel more comfortable. For those from non-medical backgrounds, the reports provided following blood tests can be complex and difficult to decipher. Hematocrit (the percentage of your blood made up by RBCs) and mean corpuscular volume (average volume of RBCs) are two ways of measuring RBCs and both values are normally higher in men because of their higher oxygen needs. Sometimes, receiving results can be stressful and upsetting. Next review due: 26 October 2021. can I eat and drink before having a blood test? Is a plasma fasting glucose level of 6mmo/L good or bad? Blood test results, made possible by the taking of Blood for laboratory testing, are one of the most important tools that your doctor uses in evaluating your health status. The healthcare professional who arranges your blood test will tell you whether there are any specific instructions you need to follow before your test. This is an enzyme in liver cells. People at serious risk for diabetes (often classified as "prediabetic") typically have blood glucose levels between 100-125 mg/dL. To learn how to interpret other elements that are on blood test results, scroll down! If your blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels are too high, that likely indicates problems with your kidneys. A blood gases sample is taken from an artery, usually at the wrist. Other causes of high blood glucose include: severe stress, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and an inflamed or cancerous pancreas. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 80,332 times. blood test. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Lipid panel. Blood tests are often used in health care to determine … What do RBC and HGB stand for? Only if your doctor ordered your blood test to include blood typing. Read about some common types of blood test. You may feel a slight pricking or scratching sensation as the needle goes in, but it shouldn't be painful. Other electrolytes, such as potassium, can be included in this section. Your part of the test is simple and takes just a few minutes. For people with CLL in remission that have GRA levels dropping from thirty-five to six, could that be a sign of something? Blood analysis is commonly carried out on a sample of blood drawn from the vein of the arm, the finger, or the earlobe; in some cases, the blood cells of the bone marrow may also be examined. To read blood test results, scan the results and look for anything labeled "L," which means it's too low, or "H," which means it's too high. This squeezes the arm, temporarily slowing down the flow of blood and causing the vein to swell. When the sample has been taken, the tourniquet will be released, and the needle will be removed. After the blood sample has been taken, it will be put into a bottle and labelled with your name and details. However, some people feel dizzy and faint during and after the test. If the blood test is abnormal it cannot say what is causing the kidney problem. This article was medically reviewed by Mandolin S. Ziadie, MD. Normal levels are between 136-144 mEq/L. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. % of people told us that this article helped them. Sodium is an electrolyte required for regulating fluid levels in the body and allowing nerves and muscles to work properly, but too much can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure) and increase your risk of heart attack. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2004 and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center in 2010. It is important to realize that your Blood test result may be outside of what is called the 'normal range' for many reasons. By using our site, you agree to our. [1] To best understand your health parameters and not have to completely rely on your doctor's interpretations, it's a good idea to learn to read your blood test results. HGB carries oxygen molecules. RBC is Red Blood Cell, and HGB or Hgb is hemoglobin. A typical routine blood test is the complete blood count, also called CBC, to count your red and white blood cells as well as measure your hemoglobin levels and other blood components. The results should be above 60 ml/minute. Your Blood Test Abbreviations guide is right here. The "Blood Culture Test Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. To check for heart disease risk, you may have a lipoprotein panel that measures l… At some point in their lives, almost everybody gets their blood taken by a health professional and has it analyzed in a laboratory. A tight band (tourniquet) is usually put around your upper arm. Does a blood test tell you what blood type you are? A blood test that may be able to spot more than 50 types of cancer will be piloted by the NHS, chief executive Sir Simon Stevens has announced.. Be sure to return to the doctor for follow-up discussions about test results when necessary. Only a small amount of blood is taken during the test so you shouldn't feel any significant after-effects. The syringe is used to draw out a sample of your blood. The normal percentage of these cells within an adult is around 60 to 75 percent. A needle attached to a syringe or special container is inserted into the vein. Find out how you have it, … Liver enzymes (ALT and AST) become elevated in the blood due to liver injury or inflammation — often the result of consuming too much alcohol and/or drugs (prescription, over-the-counter and illicit), or from an infection such as hepatitis. Desirable levels are above 50 mg/dL (ideally above 60 mg/dL). Blood samples from children are often taken from the back of the hand. Bilirubin, albumin and total protein can be included in this section. The most common blood test performed is a complete blood count (CBC), which measures all the different types of cells and formed elements in your blood, such as red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets and hemoglobin. Blood glucose tests measure the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood sample. Levels of both RBCs and hemoglobin are connected because hemoglobin is carried inside RBCs, although it's possible to have malformed RBCs without hemoglobin (termed sickle cell anemia). A person needs RBC to carry oxygen. This article was medically reviewed by Mandolin S. Ziadie, MD. GFR stands for glomerular filtration rate, which is a blood test used to evaluate how well the kidneys are working. You'll be told when your results will be ready and how you'll be given them. What the tests are and what they mean 1. The arm is a convenient part of the body to use because it can be easily uncovered. You don't need to memorize the normal ranges of any measured component because they will always be printed alongside your test results as a handy reference. After the test, you may have a small bruise where the needle went in. can I take medication before having a blood test? Many specialized tests are available too. This includes a CBC (complete blood count) and blood chemistries that analyze chemical components in the blood. Blood analysis, laboratory examination of a sample of blood used to obtain information about its physical and chemical properties. Multiple tests for specific blood components, such as a glucose test or a cholesterol test, are often grouped together into one test panel called a blood panel or blood work. It helps significantly in the diagnosis of diseases and also provides information about the condition of the patient’s organs. RDW is reported as part of a standard Complete Blood Count. What if an alert is stated on my blood test? Looking forward, the global blood culture test market to witness strong growth during the forecast period (2020-2025). The usual place for a sample to be taken from is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. An ANA blood test (antinuclear antibody test) is usually performed on a blood sample as part of the diagnostic process for certain autoimmune diseases. Remember that there are many factors that can skew the results of blood tests (advancing age, gender, stress levels, altitude / climate of where you live), so don't jump to any conclusions until you've had a chance to talk with your doctor. That sample then goes off to the laboratories, normally Bradford Royal or Leeds General Infrimary (and in some cased Airedale General). Once you're familiar with how blood tests are presented, you can quickly scan the page for the flagged abnormal results (if there are any), which will be labelled as either "L" for too low, or "H" for too high. How the Test Is Performed To perform the ANA blood test, sometimes called FANA (fluorescent antinuclear antibody test), a blood sample is drawn from the patient and sent to the lab for testing. This page provides guidance for doctors, nurses and the admin team about how to handle blood tests and results. The glucose may be measured randomly (any time of the day), in … Many compounds "thin" the blood, which means that they inhibit platelet stickiness and prevent blood clotting. Lymphocytes. You can check these average blood sugar levels yourself, but you’ll have to buy a kit, whereas your healthcare professional will do it for free. The optimal glucose level is between 3.6mmo/L and 6.1 - 6.2mmo/L. For more information about a wider range of tests, search the blood test A-Z index on Lab Tests Online UK. It's a little on the high side, but nothing to worry about. So far, the blood test has only been trialled on people with signs of cancer, but the latest NHS England pilot will test if it can spot cancer in people without symptoms. The usual place for a sample to be taken from is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2004 and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center in 2010. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. The global blood culture test market grew at a CAGR of around 9% during 2014-2019. The A1C test measures the percentage of glucose bound hemoglobin in a person’s blood. The nucleus is … I am trying to read my blood test results. 3  In addition, the glucose level in the blood is obtained through this test and can indicate if a … A blood test is a laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a hypodermic needle, or via fingerprick. For example, a blood test can be used to: Most blood tests only take a few minutes to complete and are carried out at your GP surgery or local hospital by a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist (a specialist in taking blood samples). Bruises can be painful, but are usually harmless and fade over the next few days. Please look at the Understanding Blood Test Results page for more help with reading and Interpreting your blood tests Consult with your doctor. Blood test results help your doctor identify infections and allergies or diagnose potential diseases and conditions such as anemia and leukemia. Blood type is not included on general lab results. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. GRA shows the amount of normal cells within the blood to help with the prevention of infections. For some tests, such as HIV, you will be offered specialist counselling to help you deal with your results. Page last reviewed: 26 October 2018 This test checks levels of two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or … Men typically have 20-25% more RBCs because they tend to be larger and have more muscle tissue, which requires more oxygen. Close menu. Pressure is applied to the skin for a few minutes using a cotton-wool pad. To learn how to interpret other elements that are on blood test results, scroll down! ! Before taking the sample, the doctor or nurse may clean the area of skin with an antiseptic wipe. Other elements in a CMP include albumin, chloride, potassium, calcium, total protein, and bilirubin. He or she is the only one with all the information to put your results in their proper context. The report details the various components in the blood and at what level they are present. Excellent service - I was able to request services late at night (9pm) and the technician was at my door at 7:30am the next morning. Whenever a doctor orders a test, it is normally done by the nurse or health care assistant. It's impossible for anyone but your doctor to make any determinations about what's "good" and "bad" in your results, but lower PSA results (. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Read-Blood-Test-Results-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Read-Blood-Test-Results-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Read-Blood-Test-Results-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1372287-v4-728px-Read-Blood-Test-Results-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"