Blood tests are important. After all, they provide a lot of information about your overall health, specific medical disorders, organ function, and medication success. There are numerous type of blood tests, each measuring a particular component or characteristic in your blood. Let us check out some of the most important blood tests that you need to carry out on a regular basis. (Source)
1. Complete Blood Count
This test counts the amount of platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells in your blood. It helps in the diagnosis of illnesses like anemia, infections, and different blood diseases.
This test examines red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, among other things.
Abnormal levels of these components could indicate:
- Anaemia (iron deficiency)
- nutritional deficiencies like vitamin B6 or B12.
- clotting issues
- Infection caused by blood cancer
- Immune system dysfunction
Based on your results, your doctor may perform more tests to confirm abnormal levels and a probable diagnosis.
2. Basic Metabolic Panel
A Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) is a collection of blood tests that provide vital information about your body’s chemical balance and metabolism. The following tests usually feature in it:
- calcium
- glucose
- sodium
- potassium
- bicarbonate
- chloride
- blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
- Creatinine
You might need to fast for at least 8 hours before having your blood collected, depending on your doctor’s instructions and the nature of the test.
Abnormal results may indicate:
Your doctor may prescribe more tests to confirm a diagnosis.
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3. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a set of blood tests that gives a comprehensive evaluation of a person’s metabolic and chemical balance. It comprises the following critical measurements:
- total protein
- Albumin
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a liver enzyme.
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), is an enzyme present in the liver and other bodily tissues.
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), an enzyme found in the liver
- Bilirubin, a waste product of red blood cell breakdown that the liver filters out
Also Read: All About 14 Tests In CMP Blood Test You Need To Know
4. Lipid Panel
This test measures the levels of two kinds of cholesterol:
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol or “good” cholesterol.
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein), or “bad” cholesterol
HDL is considered “good” because it eliminates dangerous compounds from your bloodstream and assists the liver in breaking them down into trash. LDL cholesterol is regarded as “bad” because it can cause plaque to build in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease.
You may need to fast for at least eight hours before this exam.
HDL cholesterol levels of 60 mg/dL or more are considered heart-healthy, while levels below 40 mg/dL are a major risk factor for heart disease. The Normal range is 40-60 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol levels of 100 mg/dL or below are optimum for excellent health, whereas levels of 160 mg/dL or higher are dangerously high.
Normal levels can also differ depending on age.
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5. Thyroid Panel
A thyroid panel, often known as a thyroid function test, assesses how well your thyroid produces and responds to various hormones, including:
- Triiodothyronine (T3) – This regulates your body temperature and heart rate when combined with T4.
- Thyroxine (T4) – This controls your metabolism and how you grow when combined with T3.
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) – This influences how much hormone your thyroid produces.
A little gland called the thyroid can be found in your neck. It helps to control biological processes like mood, energy level, and general metabolism.
Here are common outcomes:
- T3: 80–180 ng/dL (nanometers per deciliter)
- T4 in adults: 0.8–1.8 ng/dL or 4.8-12.7 µg/dL
- TSH: 0.5–4 µIU/mL (milli-international units per liter)
The following conditions can be indicated by abnormal hormone levels:
- low amounts of protein
- thyroid problems with growth
- abnormal testosterone or estrogen levels
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6. Cardiac Biomarkers
Enzymes are proteins that help your body in chemical reactions such as food digestion and blood coagulation. They are used for a variety of critical processes throughout your body.
Atypical enzyme levels may indicate a variety of diseases.
The following enzymes are often tested:
- High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn): This is a heart enzyme that can leak into your bloodstream as a result of heart damage.
- BNP and N-terminal pro natriuretic peptide NT-proBNP (b-type natriuretic peptide): These chemicals are produced in the heart. High levels could indicate congestive heart failure.
- Creatine kinase (CK): This enzyme is found largely in the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. When muscles are damaged, increasing levels of CK enter the bloodstream.
- Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB): Your heart contains these enzymes. They frequently rise in your blood after a heart attack or other type of heart injury.
The typical ranges for the enzymes listed above are as follows:
- hs-cTn: <1 ng/mL
- BNP: <100 pg/mL
- NT-proBNP: ≤300 pg/mL
- CK: 30–200 U/L
- CK-MB: 0–12 IU/L
7. Sexually Transmitted Infection Tests
A blood sample can be used to identify many sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). For more accurate diagnoses, these tests are sometimes paired with urine samples or swabs of affected tissue.
Blood testing can be used to diagnose the following STIs:
- herpes
- HIV
- syphilis
- hepatitis C
Blood tests taken immediately after contracting an infection are not usually reliable. For an HIV infection, for instance, a blood test might not be able to find the virus for at least a month.
Also Read: What are the 7 Major Sexually Transmitted Infections – STIs
8. Coagulation Panel
Coagulation tests assess how well your blood clots and how long it takes to clot. Prothrombin time (PT) and fibrinogen activity tests are examples.
Clotting is an important mechanism that aids in the stoppage of bleeding after a cut or trauma. A clot in a vein or artery, on the other hand, can be fatal since it can cut off blood supply to your brain, heart, or lungs. This can result in a heart attack or a stroke.
The findings of a coagulation test vary depending on your health and any underlying diseases that may affect clotting.
This test’s results can be used to diagnose:
- excessive bleeding (hemophilia)
- thrombosis
- liver conditions
- vitamin K deficiency
9. DHEA- Sulphate Serum Test
Your adrenal glands produce the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone. This test determines whether the value is too high or too low.
Low levels of DHEA are deemed abnormal because they affect the development of features like body hair growth in men. Low amounts are common since high levels might lead to the development of characteristically masculine characteristics in women, such as excessive body hair.
Low levels could be brought on by:
- Addison’s illness
- adrenal insufficiency
- hypopituitarism
- usage of steroid drugs
- early puberty in females
High levels in either males or women may be caused by:
- Adrenal hyperplasia at birth
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- ovarian tumour
- benign or malignant adrenal gland tumor
10. C-reactive Protein Test
When your body’s tissues are inflamed, your liver produces C-reactive protein (CRP). High CRP levels are indicative of inflammation caused by a range of factors, including:
- infection caused by germs or viruses
- autoimmune diseases, like Lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes-related inflammation
- Inflammation caused by physical trauma or behaviors such as smoking
- Cancer
The higher the level of Trusted Source, the greater the risk of heart disease:
- 0.3 mg/dL is considered normal.
- 0.3 to 1.0 mg/dL: small elevations can be linked to a person’s gender, body mass index (BMI), or illnesses such as depression or sleeplessness.
- 1.0 to 10.0 mg/dL: mild rise caused by systemic inflammation, such as autoimmune illness, bronchitis, heart attack, or malignancy.
- >10.0 mg/dL: significant increase, usually caused by a severe bacterial or viral illness, acute trauma, or systemic vasculitis.
- >50.0 mg/dL: significant increase induced by a recent bacterial infection
Conclusion
Blood tests can provide you with a clear picture of your overall health. They’re also a good way to detect illness or disease early, as well as monitor how well your body responds to various therapies.
Many people have regular blood tests at least once a year. Consult your doctor to see if any additional tests are required to ensure your optimal health.
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