BLOOD TEST

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'Blood tests' are laboratory tests done on blood to gain an appreciation of disease states and the function of organs. Since blood flows throughout the body, acting as a medium for providing oxygen and other nutrients, and drawing waste products back to the excretory systems for disposal, the state of the bloodstream affects, or is affected by, many medical conditions. For these reasons, blood tests are the most commonly performed medical tests. Blood is obtained from one of the patient's veins by venipuncture or fingerprick, except for tests such as Arterial blood gas.
Blood is useful as it is a relatively non-invasive way to obtain cells, and extracellular fluid (plasma), from the body to check on its health. Although the term ''blood test'' is used, most routine tests (except for most haematology) are done on plasma or serum.
The list below includes both specific tests, and general techniques.

Contents
Blood chemistry tests
Large organic molecules
Proteins
Antibody Proteins
Other
Cells
External links
See also

Blood chemistry tests


A basic metabolic panel measures sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and glucose. It also sometimes includes calcium.
While the regular glucose test is taken at a certain point in time, the glucose tolerance test involves repeated testing to determine the rate at which glucose is processed by the body.
While the above tests are all taken from venous blood, by contrast the arterial blood gas test is, as its name would suggest, taken from arterial blood, and is therefore more dangerous and uncomfortable.

Large organic molecules


Proteins


Protein electrophoresis (general technique -- not a specific test)

Western blot (general technique -- not a specific test)

Liver function tests
Antibody Proteins


Serology (general technique -- not a specific test)


Wassermann test (for syphilis)

ELISA test

Coombs test
Other


Polymerase chain reaction (DNA). DNA testing is today possible with even very small quantities of blood: this is commonly used in forensic science, but is now also part of the diagnostic process of many disorders.

Northern blot (RNA)

Cells



Full blood count (or "complete blood count")

Hematocrit and MCV ("mean corpuscular volume")

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Cross-matching. Determination of blood type for blood transfusion or transplants

Blood cultures are commonly taken if infection is suspected. Positive cultures and resulting sensitivity results are often useful in guiding medical treatment.

External links



Cold autoantibody webpage on "health a to z"

See also



Reference ranges for common blood tests (with a much longer list)

Urine test

HIV test (uses several different techniques, including ELISA test and Western blot)

Blood film

Hematology

Microbiology

Medical technologist

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