4 Important Blood Tests to Know About

To keep track of your overall well-being, you should get your blood tested regularly. This can help you visualize the changes your body undergoes as you age, empowering you to make informed decisions regarding your health.

Here, our expert phlebotomists in VA expand on 4 important blood tests everyone should know!

1. Metabolic Panel

This test determines bi-products of protein metabolism, the pH balance in your blood, the function of your liver, kidneys, and the level of electrolytes in your blood by measuring blood sugar, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine, as well as calcium, chlorine, potassium, sodium, and other important ions.

This test helps your doctor know how your body is functioning at the molecular level, which may hint towardthe causes for metabolic imbalances.

2. Lipid Profile

If you’re an adult approaching the latter half of your life, undergoing this test is highly recommended. The test measures the freely available fats (triglycerides) and cholesterol in the blood.

Triglycerides and cholesterols continue to coronary artery disease, substantially increasing the risk of chronic cardiac ailment.

This test comprises various parameters such as triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein (worst of all fats as a result of maximum free triglycerides), low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein level (good cholesterol), and total cholesterol. Lipid profiles are part of every physical examination.

3. Blood Sugar Tests

There’s no better marker for gestational diabetes and type-1 and type-2 diabetes than blood sugar levels.

These tests must be made part of every routine examination for middle-aged individuals and are vital blood tests for adults in that age group.

If the blood sugar is high, it indicates the resistance of the body’s cells to the hormone and the inability of the pancreas to make insulin.

Insulin helps in transporting glucose from the blood into the cells so it can be used as energy. But diabetes leads to scarcity of glucose in cells and a high blood sugar level.

This further causes a range of complications, including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, delayed healing of wounds, and might even lead to infections within the peripherals. Blood sugar is measured during pregnancy, at random periods, before and after meals, and while fasting.

4. Complete Blood Cell Count

This is one of the most performed tests in laboratory investigations due to its importance. This test monitors a range of parameters like hematocrit (ratio of red blood cells to blood plasma), hemoglobin level, platelet count, white blood cell count, and red blood cell count.

Get Mobile Blood Draw Services in MD in the Comfort of Your Home With Phlebotomy On Wheels

If you’re not able to visit the lab for a test due to some reason, Phlebotomy On Wheels can help. From paternity tests to blood draws and from picking up the specimens to delivering them, we can do it all.

Reach out to us now for more information on our mobile blood draw services in VA!