Blood Tests

Insurance companies test blood and urine for a few different reasons. Find out why insurance companies test blood and urine with help from a dedicated insurance professional in this free video clip.

The Reticulocyte Production Index is used to determine if a person's bone marrow is properly responding to the body's need for red blood cells. It's also used to diagnose anemia, a condition wherein a…

Typically, doctors order chemistry panels -- a series of tests conducted on your blood serum, which does not contain blood cells -- to provide an overall picture of your health and metabolism. Such…

The RDW stands for the red cell distribution width. This test is a measurement of how much each red blood cell varies in size. The RDW is part of a blood test, the complete blood count or CBC, that…

The RDW, red blood cell distribution width, is an important measure calculated during a standard complete red blood cell (RBC) count. The RDW measures the deviation in the volume of the RBCs as…

The cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is a protein in the human bloodstream and can be produced by cancerous and non-cancerous cells. It is measured by a laboratory blood test. CA-125 is most often…

Iron, a mineral that helps your body transport oxygen to your body's cells, produces a protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin, located in your red blood cells, carries oxygen to your muscles, tissues…

The Dry Layer Oxidative Stress Blood Test observes free radicals and other health concerns in a person's body. This simple test, taken in a medical lab, looks for a person's "normal" or "abnormal"…

Whether you are suffering from kidney infections or kidney stones, a DMSA scan may be necessary to find and diagnose the specific problem. All that is necessary is consultation with a radiologist, and…

Printing directly on test tubes can be done in various ways. The method can depend on whether the tubes are blood test tubes or urine test tubes, etc. The rules of laboratories across the United…

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a game animal that is hunted and ranched worldwide, and its meat is frequently served in restaurants featuring venison. Blood testing is performed on both living…

The ABO system is a test to determine an individual's blood type. According to MedlinePlus.com, a service of the National Institute of Health, this test is performed for a variety of reasons. Most…

Cortisol is a hormone produced inside the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys. Cortisol blood tests are performed to detect disorders of the adrenal glands.

The basic and comprehensive metabolic panels are blood tests that show information about a patient's metabolism. The lipid panel is a blood test that measures a patient's risk of developing…

According to the American Diabetic Supply website, the Freestyle glucometer is one of the most popular blood glucose monitors. Because the test strips have two areas for blood test readings, it is a…

It is important to know your blood type and the blood types of family members in the event that a transfusion becomes necessary. Mixing blood types is dangerous, since our body's immune system may…

A hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, is produced in many situations but mainly during pregnancy. HCG is present in the blood of a woman at all times, but during pregnancy the levels…

An arterial blood gas test, or blood gas test for short, typically involves using a needle to draw blood from the radical artery in the wrist, the brachial artery of the arm or the femoral artery of…

In addition to basic nutrients and vitamins, the human body requires a certain amount of various minerals in order to perform its everyday functions. About 4 percent of the human body is made of…

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is secreted by the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain. A laboratory test that measures the level of TSH in the blood screens for, helps diagnose and…

A blood oxygen test, otherwise known as a blood gases test, is a measurement of the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It…

Rhesus (or Rh) factor is a key component in blood typing. The Rh antigen was first discovered in Rhesus monkeys by Karl Landsteiner and Alexander Wiener in the 1940s. Humans with this antigen require…

In the 19th century, scientists were unaware that people had different blood types. After the discovery of the differences in red blood cells, blood testing became an important part of screening for…

A complete blood count (CBC) is a routine blood test that is performed by collecting a small blood sample in a lavender top tube, which has EDTA, an additive, to prevent the blood from clotting. This…

Tests to determine alcohol levels in the blood are performed frequently in a hospital facility. They are also done in other settings to test for the presence of alcohol in a person's bloodstream. For…

Even one draw of your old addiction can now be easily detected with nicotine blood and urine testing kits. The alkaloid poison of tobacco can remain in your body longer in conditions like kidney…

Blood alcohol content, or BAC, is one of the most commonly used ways of determining not only if a person has been drinking alcohol, but also how much alcohol a person has consumed. Although a…

A complete blood count or CBC is a common blood test that is performed as part of a routine physical or to assist in diagnosing disease. A small blood sample is needed and must be collected in a tube…

An ANA blood test is a test that measures the amount of antinuclear antibodies in the blood stream. Antinuclear antibodies are autoantibodies that work against the cells and the nucleus. Everyone has…

The blood chemistry test is divided into groups of basic blood tests that give specific information about the condition of your organs. The tests are grouped according to body functions including…

Routine blood tests are used to assess a person's general health and blood condition. During a laboratory test, blood is extracted from a vein using a venipuncture or finger prick and tested for red…

There are multiple blood tests for heart problems to distinguish what, if any, heart condition a person has. Blood tests can also help determine the severity of a disease. These tests are generally…

When kidney damage is present or suspected, your doctor will ask the laboratory to determine the creatinine level in your blood. Creatinine is a waste substance consisting of tiny molecules that are…

If your doctor suspects that you have a disorder of the liver or pancreas, he may send you to the lab for a blood test. Blood will be drawn at the vein using a needle with an attached, airtight vile.…

If you have been experiencing pain and swelling in your abdominal region, along with dark urine, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and clay colored stools, it is advisable to make an appointment with your…

Sjögren's syndrome is a disorder of the immune system that was first diagnosed in 1933 by Dr. Henrik Sjögren. Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation estimates that approximately four million…

If your physician has diagnosed you with a type of anemia or iron deficiency, then somewhere along the line you must have had a blood test that reflected an abnormal RDW count. Your RDW levels, along…

Find out if you have Diabetes, STD's, Anemia, Leukemia or other diseases without insurance for free! Free blood results can be found if you take the time and research areas and look outside the…

Most importantly for the sake of a pregnancy test is the secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG. In order to prevent the disruption of the corpus luteum, a developing embryo begins secreting…

PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a protein the cells of the prostate gland produce. A physician will take a simple blood test and send the sample to a lab to check the levels of PSA in a man's…

Blood tests are a routine part of a visit to your health care provider. But, many of us have a limited idea of what the abbreviations mean. Knowing how to read your lab report can help you make…

The blood test CA-125 measures the amount of a certain protein (cancer antigen125) in your blood. It is used to monitor certain types of cancers that most often affect women, particularly ovarian,…

A complete blood count includes tests of red blood cells (RBCs), platelets, and white blood cells (WBCs). The white blood cell count tells the total number of white cells in a sample of blood, and the…

The comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) blood test is group of 14 blood tests that evaluate organ function. Physicians often order the CMP blood test as part of an annual physical, or your doctor may…

Kidneys provide a vital function for the human body. They cleanse the blood and keep it chemically balanced. If your kidneys don't function at optimal levels, waste begins to build up. Blood tests can…

Doctors can read a patient's blood test lab results and know what the markings mean because the tests come with parameters. These tell the doctor whether the results are normal.

Before the 1980s, blood tests were the primary way to establish paternity when the father of a child was in question. Since that time, DNA has become prevalent tool to determine paternity, and is a…

According to the National Cancer Institute, 15.9 percent of men born today (1 man in 6), will be diagnosed with prostate cancer sometime during his life. The PSA blood test may be able to help doctors…

The human liver plays a vital role in expelling toxins in the blood---it is the first defense against toxins, and protects the body from their impact on overall health. Toxins that cannot be removed…

An SGPT blood test is a test used to measure the amount of the enzyme glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in blood.

"CBC with Auto Diff" is medical shorthand for the Complete Blood Count and Automated Differential Count. This group of tests is part of a routine health checkup. It is also the first blood test…

Blood tests let doctors know about many possible health conditions. The letters and what they mean often mean nothing to those uninitiated into the medical mysteries. MCHC, which stands for mean…

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is also called Sed Rate or Sedimentation Rate. It is a simple test used to determine how much inflammation is in the body, but it cannot diagnose the specific…

If your doctor suspects that you may have an infection or an illness that needs to be confirmed through blood work, she may send you to the lab for a Complete Blood Count (CBC). According to…

If your doctor is monitoring your thyroid, he will measure the levels of certain thyroid hormones found in your blood. These hormones include thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which blood level results…

By definition, menopause is the permanent cessation of menstrual periods, a process that can take up to six or seven years to complete. When women go to their doctors seeking a diagnosis of menopause,…

Your doctor may order tests to check the levels of different substances in your blood. While blood tests alone cannot diagnose many illnesses, they give an overall snapshot of your health, according…

Cortisol Level is the type of blood test used to measure the amount of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a "stress" hormone that is produced in the adrenal cortex of our brain.

A lipid panel blood test measures the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. It is also called a cholesterol test or lipid profile. Doctors order lipid panels to check for heart disease and…

A doctor normally orders a blood test in order to determine if a patient has arthritis. With Rheumatoid arthritis many different factors can help diagnose the condition.

Doctors perform an estimated glomerular filtration rate test, or eGFR, to help determine the health of your kidneys. The kidneys are the organ that is responsible for filtering your blood and helping…

If you are experiencing weight loss or gain along with feelings of fatigue, depression or aches and pains, you may be experiencing symptoms related to an overactive or underactive thyroid. If your…

Blood tests come in a wide variety, many of which test for anything from anemia to cyanosis. Without these tests, there would probably be more deaths and suffering. These tests can catch diseases…

As part of a routine physical or when necessity dictates, your physician may order a blood test. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, "Blood tests help doctors check for certain…

For medical, legal or insurance purposes, it is sometimes necessary to measure a person's nicotine levels. This can be done reliably through urinalysis or blood testing. Blood tests are not uniformly…

A quantitative blood test measures human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). HCG is a hormone usually found in women who are pregnant, because HCG levels spike during the first trimester of pregnancy. But…

The Accu-Chek Advantage meter is a small blood sugar meter that fits in your pocketbook or pocket. The Advantage meter is compatible with two of Accu-Chek's test strips. One test strip is easier to…

Your liver is a vital organ in your body, and it has dozens of functions. The health and effectiveness of your liver can be determined with liver function blood tests that measure several benchmarks…

The hormone that determines if a woman is pregnant or not can be detected in the blood six to eight days after conception. Wait a week after a missed menstrual cycle to have a blood test for a…

CRP, or C-reactive protein, is a substance that increases in the human body when tissue damage occurs. This protein may rise in the body due to inflammation, traumatic injury, infection, cancer,…

Blood testing is a necessary medical procedure for monitoring personal health status and to screen for many dangerous diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and all types of hepatitis. A medical…

The anti-CCP blood test is a recent medical breakthrough that allows doctors to test patients for rheumatoid arthritis. Other tests traditionally used for this autoimmune disease were less exact and…

A blood test is a procedure in which a medical professional takes a sample of blood from your arm, and then sends it to a laboratory to be tested. A blood test can determine many things about the…

Most people know that cholesterol levels affect overall health. But not everybody knows that different types of fats have different effects on the body. Triglycerides are one of these fats, and the…

Though varied by the cluster of disorder, if you are experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue, fever or easy bruising, these may be symptoms of one of a number of blood disorders. There are certain…

Doctors typically perform liver blood tests before prescribing Alzheimer's medications. Since Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain, a patient and his family may wonder why these tests are necessary.…

Lactase deficiency, a common condition around the world, can cause lactose intolerance. You might be wondering if you're lactose intolerant if you experience an upset stomach, gas and diarrhea after…

Testing for antibodies is important in blood screening. Learn how it works in this free video clip about the facts of blood donation.

Want to know how blood type is tested? Learn how blood type is determined in this free video clip about the facts of blood donation.

Curious what happens after donating blood? Learn how blood is separated for processing in this free video clip about the facts of blood donation.

Properly executed blood tests can help to diagnose numerous diseases and conditions. Many blood tests that are performed require you to follow instructions prior to receiving the blood tests. Learn…

Blood parasites are serious. Even if you have not been on an international journey, you may have exposed yourself to blood parasites through food or water. Mosquitoes, tsetse flies and indirect…

Many states still require blood tests prior to issuing a marriage license. Companies often ask for blood and urine tests to rule out drug use. Routine blood tests are usually a part of an annual…

Anorexia is one of several disorders that involves some form of self-starvation. It can be serious and even life-threatening, but the symptoms are not always as obvious as they may seem. One way to…