Most people who take their health seriously make it a point to make periodic visits to their physician of choice. When they consult with their physicians, these individuals are usually asked to undergo a series of tests that have the ability to reveal large amounts of information about the status of their health. While blood tests many be common, they also have the power to provide physicians with valuable information that can literally save the lives of their patients.
What kind of valuable information are blood tests capable of revealing? Tests performed by a clinical pathology lab can have surprising connections to overall health and wellness.
A Summary of Blood Tests
Blood tests are simply basic tests that health professionals use to gauge the health of their patients. The test itself involves taking a small sample of blood from individuals and then sending them to labs for analysis. There are a variety of blood tests available for a variety of possible ailments. The following lists describes some commonly used blood tests.
- Blood Culture Tests. Blood culture tests check the levels of certain kinds of bacteria in the bloodstreams or bodies of people being tested.
- Blood Cholesterol Tests. Blood cholesterol tests measure the levels of various kinds of cholesterol in the blood of tested parties.
- Blood Glucose Tests. Blood glucose tests assess the levels of glucose in the blood of tested parties at specific times. These tests are of great value for those suffering from ailments such as diabetes.
- Blood Gases Test. Blood gases tests work to ascertain the levels of certain gases in the blood, including carbon dioxide and oxygen. These tests can also give health providers information about the acidity levels (pH balance) of the blood.
- Blood Type Tests. These blood tests can ascertain the specific blood types of those being tested. Blood type tests are essential in many medical scenarios, including transfusions.
- Coagulation Testing. Coagulation blood testing gives health professionals information about the levels of coagulation agents in the bloodstream. Since coagulants act to stop bleeding, ensuring that coagulant levels are where they should be is a vital consideration.
These are just a small sample of the blood testing options that are available to people through their health care providers.
