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A blood test, also known as blood work, is among the most common diagnostic tests doctors prescribe. It involves drawing blood from a patient's veins and sending it to a laboratory for testing. Blood tests look for different hormones, elements, or the presence of antibodies in the blood. Each corresponding element being tested for has a normal level of presence in a person’s blood.
A higher or lower level can indicate health problems. Similarly, the presence of certain viruses or antibodies in the blood can indicate illnesses. Blood tests often help doctors diagnose conditions and offer treatment to patients. However, it should be noted that other diagnostic tests and imaging tests may often be required to confirm a diagnosis following blood tests.
A blood test can be used to diagnose many conditions affecting various organ systems and parts of the body. Here is a list of some of the conditions that are diagnosed using blood tests.
Anaemia: Haemoglobin or Haemoglobin HPLC / HB Electrophoresis test may be prescribed.
Cardiovascular diseases: A lipid profile test may be prescribed.
Kidney diseases: Kidney Function Tests (KFT) may be prescribed.
Thyroid disease: A total or free thyroid profile test may be prescribed.
Malaria, Dengue: A tropical fever panel test may be prescribed.
Vitamin deficiency: Based on the suspected underlying deficiency, doctors may prescribe various tests, such as the vitamin D25 hydroxy test.
Apart from the conditions mentioned there are numerous other health problems that are diagnosed using blood tests ranging from pregnancy, cancer, arthritis, to sexually transmitted diseases.
Doctors prescribe blood tests both as part of routine preventative healthcare checkups and for symptomatic diagnosis. Thanks to the ease of these tests, patients can also opt to get blood tests at home, making the blood sample collection process convenient. There are namely four reasons doctors prescribe blood tests. These reasons include:
Diagnosis: Diagnosis refers to using the blood test results to understand the cause of symptoms in order to create a treatment plan for the patient.
Prognosis: In certain cases, doctors need to order blood tests to understand the disease progression and how it is expected to affect the body over time. This refers to prognosis, which is crucial for creating an effective treatment plan for patients.
Monitoring: When a patient is going through treatments, regular blood tests may be required to monitor the patient's recovery and understand the efficacy of the treatment.
Screening: Lastly, blood tests can be used together to screen for conditions such as viral infections or sexually transmitted diseases.
Most diagnostic laboratories nowadays offer home blood sample collection. These tests are one of the most effective tools for doctors to understand the internal functioning of the patient’s body. Blood tests have few risks and complications and are among the safest diagnostic tests.
There are thousands of blood tests that are used for specific purposes and the diagnosis of specific health conditions. Some of the most common blood tests include:
Complete Blood Count Test
Haemoglobin Test
Lipid Profile Test
Thyroid Profile Test
Tropical Fever Panel Test
Urine Routine
Kidney Function Test (KFT)
Lipid Profile Test
Liver Function Test (LFT)
HbA1C (Glycosylated Haemoglobin) Test
Glucose Fasting Test
Vitamin D25 Hydroxy Test
The procedure for performing a blood test at home and at a diagnostic centre is the same. Patients are required to sit upright and have their arm stretched out forward. Medical professionals will first wipe the sample collection area with an antiseptic liquid. Once done, they will ask the patient to make a tight fist to encourage blood flow and then use a syringe to draw blood from the veins in the patient’s arm and store it in an airtight vial. The vial is then sent for testing. Home blood sample collection is better for patients as blood tests may require patients to go through the blood sample collection process in the early morning hours or after overnight fasting.
Prerequisites and Follow-Up Care
Blood tests are among the safest diagnostic tests. However, there are certain risks and precautionary measures patients must know due to the invasive nature of blood tests.
Fasting may be required before a blood test; make sure you follow the instructions from our team thoroughly to ensure accurate test results
It is crucial to follow the best hygiene practices near the blood sample drawing site for at least two days to limit the risk of any infection
Patients should consider resting and eating a healthy meal after their blood sample is collected to ensure a safe recovery
Blood tests can be scary for many patients due to a condition called Trypanophobia, or the fear of needles. At Aster, we understand the importance of making the sample collection process comfortable for patients, so we offer home sample collection services at your convenience. Our experts carefully collect your blood samples, minimising your pain during the procedure in the comfort of your home.