Get to know the types of blood tests
There are many different blood tests available today....From cholesterol level tests to blood count tests, all are different types of blood tests....In some cases, test results are available within minutes....In other cases, blood test results may take days or weeks..
What type of blood test is done by procedure?
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer and wear gloves.
- Placement of an arterial tourniquet (usually a flexible rubber band) near the point of blood collection.
This tourniquet is usually placed on the arm. - Capturing the vein and cleaning the area with an alcohol cloth
- Insert a small, hollow needle into the vein.
This way, you can see the blood entering the needle and then the storage chamber or syringe. - Remove the tourniquet and gently apply pressure to the injection site.
In some cases, a bandage is placed over the site.
If your veins are clear and easily accessible, the blood draw will be done as quickly as possible. This process usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
Of course, in some cases, vessel detection requires more time... factors such as dehydration, injector experience, vessel size, etc. are effective on the speed of blood collection.
The most common types of blood tests and when to receive the results
Some of the most common types of blood tests that a doctor may order include:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
This test measures the amount of 10 different types of cells in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
The results that can be provided after this test include hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and white blood cell count.. - Basic Metabolic Panel
This test measures common blood electrolytes and other compounds.
Examples of compounds that should be measured include: calcium, glucose, sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide, chlorine, blood urea nitrogen, and blood urea nitrogen Results are ready in less than 2 hours. - Complete Metabolic Panel
This blood test measures all the factors listed in the previous test, plus two protein tests including albumin and total protein, as well as four liver function tests. Get more information about your liver or kidney function.
Order a detailed test. Results are usually ready in 1-3 days. - Lipid panel
Lipid panels are used to measure the amount of cholesterol in the body... High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations are included in this test.
The doctor should have the results ready within 24 hours.
If the amount of the sample is insufficient (the amount of blood received is low), the sample is contaminated or for any reason the blood cells are destroyed before reaching the laboratory, the results will be delayed.
The most common types of blood tests for diagnosis
1) pregnancy blood test
The pregnancy blood test is divided into two types, quantitative and qualitative.... The qualitative blood test gives two results about pregnancy, yes - no...
The time required to determine the results of this test is different.... If the doctor has a laboratory at his workplace, you will receive the result within a few hours.... Otherwise, it takes two to three days to receive the pregnancy test.... The results of this test are usually determined in a few days, minutes, but the level of accuracy is less.
2) Thyroid test
A thyroid panel test is used to measure the amount of thyroid hormones, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), in the blood. Other parameters measured in this test are: increased T3, thyroxine (T4) and T4-free index, also known as T7.The doctor who requests this test is trying to find out if the person has thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The results are sent to the doctor within a day or two. So we can expect the results to be announced within a week.
See more:Hematologist list
3) Cancer testing
Doctors perform different types of blood tests to diagnose cancer. The blood tests prescribed depend on the type of cancer being evaluated. Some of these tests are performed in very few cases.
For example, we can mention the measurement of certain types of immunoglobulins or tumor markers... It takes a week or more to determine the results of these tests.
4) Sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection test
AIDS tests are provided to volunteers free of charge in selected urban health centers and clinics... Doctors use the results of this test to diagnose people with diseases such as herpes, hepatitis and syphilis.... The results of this test take a maximum of 1 to 2 weeks.
Note that the lab strip (oral or genital) and urinalysis are the preferred methods of STD testing....If the samples require culture, it will take longer to determine the results.
Some sexually transmitted diseases do not appear immediately after transmission.... Therefore, after the test results are negative, the doctor requests tests at subsequent time intervals.
5) Anemia test
To diagnose anemia, the doctor usually prescribes a CBC test... The number of tests required may even be limited to hemoglobin and hematocrit (H and H)..
Is the blood test outpatient?
The location of the test affects how quickly the results are received....for example, going to a place with a well-equipped laboratory (eg a hospital) will speed up the results compared to when the blood samples are sent to another laboratory.
Learn more: RDW in blood test
Tips to get blood test results quickly
If you want to get your blood test results as soon as possible, here are some tips:
- Try to have the blood drawn at a place with a well-equipped laboratory.
- Check if there is an option to get results quickly for a specific test?
- Check whether it is possible to send the results through the web portal or not?
- Check if you can stay at the test site until the results are known?
In some cases, the speed of blood test results depends on how common the blood test is. Usually, the results of tests such as CBC or metabolic panel are determined faster than tests for specific and rare conditions. Few laboratories have access to the necessary equipment to perform this test, and this leads to slow results.
Result
According to the innovations made in the field of rapid blood tests, the results of a larger number of laboratory tests are determined in the shortest possible time. Of course, it is important that the doctor carefully checks the relevant information before delivering the results to the patient.