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Published on: 31st December 2024
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Ahmad Haitham Jamee
From routine physical examination to tracking chronic diseases, a blood test is a common norm. The test detects platelets, blood cells, or substances in the blood such as hormones, proteins, minerals, and electrolytes. No matter the reason for evaluation, it is crucial to understand the common blood test types, blood test results, key components in the blood, and other essentials, which we will discuss further in this blog.
Blood Test: Importance and Key Components
A blood panel is a lab exam using a blood sample to check for different things, such as the condition of certain organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, etc. It can help detect genetic disorders and infections, and review general health.
Importance of a Blood Test
- Your doctor may recommend a complete blood test (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), or basic metabolic panel (BMP) for regular physical exams.
- Such tests can also check for gene mutations, track a treatment (if it’s working well), or show the level of electrolytes, and enzymes.
- Certain screenings for cancer may require a blood check-up, especially if there is a risk of coronary artery disease.
- If there is a hormone imbalance, a blood examination can indicate the level of the particular hormone. For instance, to detect pregnancy, a blood test is recommended to check the presence of Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Key Blood Test Components
- A full blood test measures the count of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. It also analyzes hemoglobin levels and the average size of red blood cells.
- Variations in volume and size of red blood cells (red blood cell distribution width or RDW blood test), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean platelet volume (MPV), and MCV (mean corpuscular volume) test.
- A differential white blood cell counts section measures lymphocytes, eosinophiles, neutrophils, monocytes, and basophils.
- It may also measure the blood glucose level, phosphorus, albumin, serum potassium, ammonia, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, alanine transaminase, and calcium.
- Alkaline phosphatase, liver proteins, aspartate transferase, chloride, creatine kinase, bicarbonate or carbon dioxide, etc.
- In thyroid function, it reveals the TSH level, Free T3 level, and Free T4 level.
Common Types of Blood Tests
Here are some of the routine blood tests along with other blood analysis options:
Routine Blood Tests
- Complete Blood Count (CBC):
One of the routine examinations is a CBC test, significant for checking anemia and infections. It also monitors the immune system, and bone marrow health, and watches for blood abnormalities. - Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP):
This lab test analyzes kidney and liver function to check metabolism, diabetes, dehydration, and kidney/liver diseases. It measures 14 blood components such as potassium, electrolytes, blood glucose, sodium, liver enzymes, calcium, etc. - Standard Lipid Profile:
This blood check-up measures fatty compounds in the blood, indicating your cardiovascular health. It may track the risk of obesity, heart disease, or stroke. The test is for High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL), which aid the blood in absorbing cholesterol and letting the liver push it out of the system. It also measures Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL), high levels of which create plaques in the arteries. Lastly, it shows the triglyceride levels, if high, may indicate a risk of heart disease.
Specific Blood Tests
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): This examination detects low (hypothyroidism) or high (hyperthyroidism) levels of TSH. Your doctor may recommend this blood test if you have heart palpitations, chronic fatigue, hypertension, etc.
- Hemoglobin A1C: This lab test measures A1c levels, which if elevated, signals insulin insufficiency, making the blood harder to move glucose to muscle cells, liver, and fat tissue. High blood sugar levels may mean insulin resistance, diabetes, or prediabetes.
- Anemia Panel: This measures ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, and iron. Doctors may recommend this if the patient shows symptoms such as heavy menstrual cycles, fatigue, celiac disease, lack of energy, or gastrointestinal problems such as Crohn’s disease.
- Vitamin D: This blood test is especially for those with vitamin D deficiency symptoms. The patients may suffer from depression, chronic fatigue, lower immunity, increased risk of fractures, and other issues.
- Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA): You may not always need a full blood test if a specific chemical in the body needs to be monitored. In Prostate Specific Antigen, the PSA protein level is checked. PSA is produced in the prostate gland, and a high level of this protein may reveal the risk of prostate inflammation, prostate cancer, or an enlarged prostate.
Blood Check-Up: Abbreviations of Measurements
Your full blood test report may contain a metric system of measurement for various components. Here is what each abbreviation is:
- fL (femtoliter): fraction of one-millionth of a liter
- mL: milliliter
- mg/dL: milligrams per deciliter
- cmm: cells per cubic millimeter
- IU/L: International units per liter
- g/dL: grams per deciliter
- pg (picograms): one-trillionth of a gram
- mmol/L: millimoles per liter
- mEq/L: milliequivalent per liter
- ng/mL: nanograms per milliliter
Understanding Certain Blood Tests Results
While a blood checkup is essential for many infections, diseases, physical examinations, etc. Reading the report results can be hard for a layman. Here is an effort to help you interpret some blood test results more easily.
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CBC Test:
In a CBC test, the normal level/range for:
- WBC is 4,500 to 11,000 cells per mL
- RBC is 4.1 to 5.9 million per mL
- Platelets are 150,000 to 400,000 cells per mL
- Hemoglobin is 12.3 to 17.5 grams per dL
- MCV is 80fL to 96fL
- hematocrit is 35.9% to 50.4%
- MCHC is 33.4 to 35.5 grams per dL
- MCH is 27.5pg to 33.2pg
- And MPV is 7fL to 10fL
-
Electrolyte Panel:
In an Electrolyte panel, the normal range for:
- Sodium is 134mmol/L to 144mmol/L, CO2 is 20mmol/L to 2mmol/L
- Potassium is 3.5 mmol/L to 5.2mmol/L
- Blood urea nitrogen is 9mg/dL to 23mg/dL
- Chloride is 96mmol/L to 106mmol/L
- Glucose is 65mg/dL to 99mg/dL
- And creatinine is 0.57mg/dL to 1mg/dL.
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White Blood Differential Count:
A complete blood test may contain a differential count to indicate different white blood cell types. Here:
- The normal range for lymphocytes is 1,000 to 4,800 cells per mL
- Neutrophils is 1,000 to 4,800 cells per mL
- Eosinophils is 0 to 450 cells per mL
- Monocytes is 0 to 800 cells per mL
- And basophils is 0 to 200 cells per mL.
-
Blood Glucose Level:
If you get a fasting blood sugar lab test done:
- The normal range of the test is 65mg/dL to 99mg/dL
- While that for a random glucose test is 65mg/fL to 199mg/fL.
-
Liver Function Test (LFT):
The normal range for:
- Alanine aminotransferase is 0 IU/L to 32 IU/L
- Alkaline phosphatase is 39 IU/L to 117 IU/L
- Aspartate transaminase is 0 IU/L to 40 IU/L
- Albumin is 3.8g/dL to 4.8g/dL
- Bilirubin is 0mg/dL to 1.2mg/dL
- Total protein is 6g/dL to 8.5g/dL
- Lactate dehydrogenase is 50 IU/L to 150 IU/L
- And gamma-glutamyltransferase is 6 IU/L to 50 IU/L.
Preparing for a Blood Analysis
Here are some tips on how to prepare for a complete blood test in different scenarios and different requirements:
In some cases, you may have to fast for 8 to 12 hours before providing your blood sample. This means you cannot eat anything but may drink water.
You may access a doctor on call for a blood test at home. It is a convenient way to access routine examinations without stepping out of your comfort zone.
You may have to avoid alcohol consumption before the test. Some may require restrictions on smoking, certain beverages, foods, herbal teas, meats, etc.
You may have to avoid sexual activity and strenuous exercise for some blood examinations.
You may have to refrain from using particular medicines such as anticoagulants, vitamins, over-the-counter medications, supplements, etc.
When going in for a blood test, remain calm and wear loose-fitting clothing with a half-sleeve, so that it’s easier to draw blood from the arm.
Provide the lab technician with a doctor’s prescription that lists the name of the blood test. Know the cost of the same, and understand when you will receive the report, and how to collect the same.
Contact your healthcare provider with the blood test results on time. This will help understand the step forward with any treatment if required.
Doctor on Call | First Response Healthcare
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Conclusion
A blood exam gives plenty of information about your health. Thus, you must understand the test results and the numbers. Even nations use blood tests of the residents to analyze the population’s general health status to plan healthcare projects.
According to the Department of Health, the UAE Healthy Future Study recruited around 15,000 Emirati Nationals to advance research aimed at enhancing the overall health of the UAE population. It collected data on lifestyle habits, medical history, and other details, along with biological samples (e.g. saliva and blood), of the recruits, to address health-related research questions designed for the Emirati population.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What do different components of a blood test measure?
A complete blood test measures the count for RBC, CBC, hemoglobin, different types of WBCs, liver proteins, electrolytes, hormones, and others.
Q. How often should I get a complete blood test?
You can get a full blood test if a doctor prescribes it. The healthcare provider will let you know the intervals at which you must get the check-up.
Q. What should I do if my blood test results are outside the normal range?
Contact your healthcare provider with the blood test results, if the report shows any abnormalities. It will help pave the way for treatment.
