What You Need to Know About Blood Testing
Blood tests are a crucial part of a diagnosis. They are used to examine or measure proteins, cells, chemicals, and other substances in your blood. Blood work, or blood testing, is a popular lab test that is often part of the regular checkup.
Read on to learn more about blood testing in VA.
Types of Blood Testing
Each type of blood test is aimed towards learning about a specific element present (or not!) in the blood.
The most common blood tests include:
- Enzyme blood tests
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Heart disease risk test
- Clotting test
- Basic metabolic panel
How to Prepare for Blood Tests
You are not required to prepare for the vast majority of blood tests. When it comes to most tests, the aim is to see how the blood is under normal conditions, so you don’t have to do anything in particular.
Some blood tests need you to go without food (fast) for a predetermined period of time. This often entails abstaining from food and liquids after midnight one night before the exam. These exams are frequently scheduled during the early hours of the day.
Our healthcare professional will brief you if you have to fast before the blood test.
What Is the Blood Test Procedure Like?
The blood sample is often collected from a vein in the arm while you are lying or sitting. You could be instructed to clench your fist to make the vein pop out more for ease. The arm might be wrapped with a rubber band by the technician.
The technician will properly clean the region after seeing a vein before inserting the needle. You could get a little prick. The technician will remove the needle and apply a bandage to the area after they have extracted enough blood for the test. You might be instructed to apply hard pressure to the area to halt any bleeding.
Some tests can be taken with a prick of the finger. You must prickle the tip of the finger for this test to draw a little blood. At-home test kits and rapid tests often involve finger prick testing. Rapid tests are simple to perform, provide results quickly, and call for little to no specialized equipment. These tests are quite a common way to check blood sugar levels.
How Long Does It Take to Get the Results?
Depending on the test the individual has undergone, results might take a while to appear. The waiting period for a few tests is around a couple of minutes. Other tests need a few days or longer.
The patient must speak to their physician about the possible turnaround time for the findings. Moreover, they should check if the lab will provide the patient’s findings immediately or whether the doctor will receive them.
Hire Phlebotomy On Wheels
Phlebotomy On Wheels is here to help you if you have a blood test to do; you don’t even need to drive anywhere to get one. Our devoted team will visit you whenever it is most convenient for you. You can rely on POW to provide the highest quality services, regardless of how challenging the work at hand may be. Choose us for Laboratory Testing Services VA.