A blood test commonly referred to as a blood specimen or serum is a sample of your blood drawn from your arm using a fingerprick, or with a small hypodermic needle. Your doctor will draw a single drop of your own blood from your arm and examine it under the microscope. The test will reveal any abnormalities that he or she may find. These abnormalities will be compared to your normal blood group to see if they are present in you. Then it will be determined whether or not they should be treated. A blood test can be performed for various reasons.
You can undergo a blood test to make sure that you are healthy and if you have functional diseases such as diabetes, liver problems, kidney problems or other conditions. Here are some types of blood tests that your doctor can recommend according to your condition.
Antibody identification test
There are different types of blood tests and this is one of the most important blood tests that your doctor may conduct to diagnose various health problems. This panel can help your doctor detect antibodies against any harmful bacteria or virus. These antibodies can signal problems with your immune system, thus resulting in anemia. These blood tests are usually done to find out if you have any infections in your digestive system, lungs, or heart. The doctor follows blood test results to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, cancer, and neurological disorders, and other diseases.
Hematocrit test
Hematocrit is the level of red blood cells found in your blood. If your hematocrit levels are high, this is an indication of illness. High levels of blood cells can be caused by diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and cancer. Your doctor can check your hematocrit levels through a simple blood test called venipuncture. However, he may also choose to perform a series of laboratory tests to determine if you have anemia. After the test, the doctor can start your treatment efficiently.
Mean corpuscular volume test
Mean corpuscular volume, or MCV, is another blood cell count that may be used to diagnose certain health conditions. This is considered the standard for measuring the number of red blood cells present in a person’s body. However, MCV does not reflect total blood count; it only measures the mean corpuscular volume, which is the number of red blood cells found in each of the corpora cavernosa. The higher the mean corpuscular volume, the healthier you are.
Complete blood count test
The other common blood test that can be used to diagnose certain health issues is the complete blood count. Unlike MCV, the purposes of the CBC test are not to determine the levels of red blood cells but to determine the levels of white blood cells. A positive result in the CBC may indicate an underlying medical condition. It is best to consult your doctor if you notice a positive result. However, a complete blood count may also be used to identify the presence of some symptoms of certain diseases, such as HIV.
