Blood Testing - What You Need to Know About Common Blood Tests

1. Blood Testing: What You Need to Know About Common Blood Tests DOC-AID Urgent Care

2. Most people understand the importance of blood tests when sick, as the test provides important clues into what your illness is. However, blood tests aren’t just for diagnosing illnesses—they also play a crucial role in monitoring overall health and detecting potential issues before they become serious. Common Blood Tests help assess organ function, identify deficiencies, and support early disease detection, making them essential for diagnosis and preventive care.

3. Why Blood Tests Are Essential Blood tests analyze cells, chemicals, proteins, and other substances in your blood to assess your overall health. Also known as blood work. Beyond general health monitoring, blood tests are also used to: • Diagnosing diseases and medical conditions • Monitoring chronic conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol • Evaluating the effectiveness of treatment • Detecting bleeding or clotting disorder • Identifying immune system issues that may affect the body’s ability to fight infections.

4. What Are Common Blood Tests 1. A complete blood count (CBC) provides insights into your overall health. It helps detect various conditions, including anemia, infections, and blood disorders like leukemia. A complete blood count measures the following: • Red blood cells, which carry oxygen • White blood cells help fight infections and support the immune system. • Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells • Hematocrit is the percentage of your blood that is made up of red blood cells • Platelets, the blood clotting factors Complete Blood Count

5. 2. Blood Sugar Test A blood sugar test measures the level of glucose in your blood. Glucose is the body’s primary energy source, fueling essential functions, including brain activity. It comes from carbohydrates found in foods such as fruits, cereals, bread, pasta, and rice. When consumed, carbohydrates are quickly broken down into glucose, causing blood sugar levels to rise. This test is commonly used to diagnose and monitor conditions like diabetes.

6. 3. A Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) is a blood test that measures eight key substances in your blood to give your doctor a good overview of your overall health, fluid balance, metabolism, and kidney function. BMP test checks the levels of the following: • Glucose: Your body’s primary energy source. High levels can be a sign of diabetes. • Calcium: Important for healthy nerves, muscles, and heart function. It also helps your blood clot properly. • Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Carbon Dioxide, and Chloride): These help control fluid levels in your body, maintain a healthy balance of acids and bases (pH balance), move nutrients into your cells and waste out, and keep your nerves, muscles, heart, and brain working correctly. • BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and Creatinine: These are waste products that your kidneys filter from your blood. Basic Metabolic Panel

7. 4. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a blood test that measures 14 key substances, including proteins and electrolytes, to check your overall health. This routine test helps healthcare providers diagnose, screen for, and monitor various medical conditions. A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel tests measures the blood levels of: • Glucose (Blood Sugar): The body’s primary energy source. • Calcium: A vital mineral stored in bones and teeth, essential for nerve, muscle, and heart function. • Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Bicarbonate, Chloride): Help regulate fluid balance, pH levels, and essential body functions. • Albumin: The main protein in your blood, produced by the liver. • Total Protein: Includes albumin and globulins, crucial for various bodily functions. • Liver Enzymes (ALP, ALT, AST): Proteins that aid chemical reactions, primarily produced by the liver. • Bilirubin: A waste product from red blood cell breakdown, processed by the liver. • BUN & Creatinine: Waste products filtered by the kidneys and excreted in urine.

8. 5. Lipid panel A lipid panel measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your blood, which play a key role in heart health. • HDL (Good Cholesterol): Helps protect against heart disease. A level of around 150 mg/dL is considered normal. • LDL (Bad Cholesterol): Can clog arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Levels over 200 mg/dL may indicate higher risk. • Triglycerides: Stored fat cells that, like LDL, can contribute to heart disease if elevated.

9. Thyroid Panel 6. Your thyroid is a tiny gland in your neck that plays a key role in regulating vital functions such as mood, energy levels, and metabolism. A thyroid function test measures how well your thyroid is producing and responding to essential hormones, including: • Triiodothyronine (T3): Works alongside T4 to regulate heart rate and body temperature. • Thyroxine (T4): Helps control metabolism and supports growth and development. • Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH): Regulates the production and release of thyroid hormones. Thyroid Panel

10. 7. Sexual Transmitted Infection Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be diagnosed using a blood sample. These STD tests are often combined with urine samples or swabs of infected tissue for more accurate diagnoses, including genital herpes, HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. 8. Liver Function Blood Tests Liver function tests are blood tests that help diagnose liver problems and monitor existing liver disease or damage. These tests measure levels of certain enzymes and proteins in your blood, indicating how well your liver works.

11. Do Urgent Care Clinics Offer Lab Services? Absolutely! Urgent care clinics are fully capable of providing a range of lab tests, such as x-rays, STD tests, and flu and strep tests, among others. At DOC- AID Urgent Care, we possess the essential equipment and trained healthcare staff to gather samples and perform the required tests, or we can send them to a nearby lab for analysis.