Blood tests are common and necessary for individuals both healthy and sick. These tests provide insights into your organs’ functions and they help doctors check for certain diseases and conditions. They also aid in showing how well treatments are working (NHLBI). Getting tested at routine intervals is important to keep track of your overall physical well-being and also to empower you to make informed decisions about your health (Healthline). Even in the absence of any current symptoms, a blood test can reveal a person's risk for developing heart disease. Other blood tests can examine how well your blood is clotting or whether or not any drugs you're taking are having the desired impact (medlineplus.gov).

Blood tests have multiple benefits, including:

Blood tests are used to quantify or evaluate a variety of blood components. A blood test (sometimes known as "blood work") is frequently requested by patients in need of diagnostic assistance. Checkup appointments typically involve a blood draw. A blood test can reveal the following information:

Source: medlineplus.gov

 

People are recommended to get their blood work done at least once a year during the annual physical examination (LaSante Health Center). It is common for your primary care provider (PCP) to order blood tests from time to time. If you are unsure about the tests, talk to your PCP and have them explain what the test is for and why you need it.

The reason your PCP orders a blood test will likely depend on several factors, including

According to internal medicine physician and VP of Community Medicine for OSF Healthcare, Mark Meeker, DO, an acute illness, sudden change in chronic disease, and new findings most commonly lead to unscheduled blood work.

“The frequency of blood work is individualized based on a person’s situation and needs. It is influenced by sex, age, symptoms, diagnoses, medications and family history,” Dr. Meeker mentioned. “Lab work requires an order from your PCP or specialty clinician to help guard against waste and harm from inappropriate testing.”

 

Some preventative health checkups incorporate standard blood tests, which vary by sex and age. Your primary care physician (PCP) should determine which blood tests are most important for you to get done. Among these are systems that keep an eye on how well a drug is working and whether it causes any unwanted side effects. (Source: OSF Healthcare)

 

Consider that a blood test will only reveal changes in the presence or absence of a disease or the effects of a drug if those changes cause a measurable shift in the levels of certain markers in the blood.

 

Dr. Meeker gave the example of a lung tumor being evident on an X-ray but having no effect on regular blood tests at that stage of the disease. "That's why it's important to take a patient's history, listen to them, and perform a physical exam. When there is a problem that can't be seen or heard, we can look for outward signs of it by observing and checking for any anomalies, and we can use other methods like blood testing or imaging investigations to validate the patient's history or our own physical suspicions. (Source: OSF Healthcare)

 

In most cases, you won't need to take any special measures, but there are a few procedures and blood tests where strict protocol must be adhered to. (Source: MedlinePlus).

The majority of blood tests may be performed and analyzed regardless of when the patient last ate. Dr. Meeker warned that fasting may be necessary for some blood tests and that they must be taken at specific times. In very rare cases, your primary care physician may ask you to have blood testing on levels of certain medications before or after a planned dose. (Source: OSF Healthcare)

 

It depends on the type of blood test. The common tests might arrive the next day, whereas other blood tests might take three business days. If you have a test panel (packages), it might take an additional business day.

 

OrderLabsNow has its own proprietary patient portal. Log in securely with your credentials and you will be able to view your lab test results in the comfort of using your digital device.

 

Your doctor can also use blood tests to search for markers of diseases and health conditions, the Top 10 important blood tests are

(Source: Healthline)