Blood can disclose details about the functional ability of an organ, food intake, metabolic activities, ailments, and related diseases. It can reveal a great deal about your habits and lifestyle. Hence, physicians advise you to go to a blood test clinic in London.
Medical experts can identify a disease by checking the blood. Moreover, they give you the reasons for feeling unwell, lately. Sometimes, undergoing a blood test can be stressful for individuals, mainly kids, if they are doing it for the first time. Therefore, it’s obvious to have any queries about the test and its outcomes.
Today, let us know about blood tests. What is its importance and its procedure?
What is a Routine Blood Test?
This includes collecting blood samples for further analysis, at a doctor’s clinic. The patient has to sit calmly, with feet firmly on the ground. Then a doctor, technician, or a nurse will draw blood, from the vein on the arm.
Usually, before drawing blood, they use antiseptic or antibacterial tissue to clean a part of the skin. They often use the inner part of the forearm, with visible veins.
So, you will have to clench your fist for the veins to appear prominently. The nurse will then wrap a stretchable band on the upper arm. These methods will help the veins to prominently appear on the arm.
Then, they insert a needle, linked to a small test tube, to collect the blood sample. The whole process takes about five minutes or so. However, individuals doing it for the first times are little scared of the needle prick. But, the pain goes away after sometime.
What Does Blood Work Tell You?
There are different kinds of blood works recommended for different patients. However, a simple blood test helps in checking these basic things:
1. CBC or Complete Blood Count
This routine blood test checks the cell count throughout the body. This test is used to evaluate platelets, haematocrit, haemoglobin, RBC (red blood cells), and WBC (white blood cells). This test helps in detecting bone marrow issues, cancer, any infection, nutrition deficiencies, and anaemia. So, if there are any unusual readings, then the doctor will recommend further specialized blood tests.
2. BMP or Basil Metabolic Panel
This type of blood work checks elements like creatinine, electrolytes, potassium, sodium, and glucose. These tests help the doctor to check diabetes or kidney issues and hormonal issues as well.
3. CMP or Complete Metabolic Panel
This test evaluates similar factors like the Basil Metabolic Panel, and also a few additional factors. These substances include bilirubin, alkaline phosphate (ALP), albumin, etc. any misbalance in these elements can indicate a serious illness. For example, excessive ALP can lead to Paget’s disease, hepatitis, or gall bladder stones.
Excessive bilirubin can indicate hemolysis, Gilbert’s syndrome, hepatitis, or a blockage in the bile duct.
4. Lipid Panel
This test checks the quantity of fat in the blood. It specifically evaluates the bad cholesterol (LDL) and the good cholesterol (HDL). So, a higher amount of LDL means the arteries are clogged with plaque and is a symptom of current or upcoming heart disease.
Timeframes for Results
You’ll have the outcomes of certain blood tests immediately. But, you have to wait for the other blood test results.The reports of a CMP, BMC, and CBC,are typically available in a day. It might take up to 3 days to get Lipids Panel results.
But having the reports doesn’t mean you are aware of everything. Consult a doctor to understand the details in the blood reports and what they indicate about your health.
Is fasting necessary?
Sometimes, a patient does eight to twelve hours of fasting before the blood test. They can only drink water. Eating can drastically alter the chemical levels in the blood. For example, it can alter the level of glucose and cholesterol.
So, fasting is needed, for specific blood tests like BMPs, blood sugar, glucose, and cholesterol test.
Where to go for a blood test?
Whenever the doctor orders a blood test, one can have it done at the nearest pathological lab, where the blood will be drawn and sent for evaluation.
Once the reports are ready, you will be notified to collect them. Afterward, it is advisable to schedule a meeting with your doctor to discuss the details of the blood reports. In many cases, the pathology lab may also directly forward the reports to the doctor.
Before selecting a clinic for blood tests in London, it’s recommended to check online feedback. Additionally, the nurses and technicians must be both friendly and expert in their field.
Why should you go for Blood Tests regularly?
Getting a routine blood test done from time to time is necessary. However, don’t panic as it is a simple process. It just takes a few minutes to draw out the blood, and the nurse with a mild prick of a needle.
However, if there are major blood tests, suggested by the doctor then, you must follow all the necessary steps before undergoing the blood tests. A proper blood diagnosis will help you prevent many upcoming diseases and help you detect a current one as well.
So check out a good health centre where different types of blood tests are done. You can even Contact us at Medical Express Clinic for the same.
