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A blood chemistry screening, sometimes called a basic metabolic panel, measures the level of various chemicals and substances in your blood. Potassium, creatinine, calcium and glucose, are just a few of the things a blood chemistry screening evaluates. From these levels, your doctor can determine the functioning health of vital organs such as your kidneys, heart, liver and pancreas. To obtain a baseline sample, untainted by your most recent meal, your doctor will typically ask you to fast for 8 hours, prior to your test.
Examination of blood cells, or hematology, can speak volumes about the health of a person. Each cell has a job to do in the body, and when cells are not working properly they can cause illness and even death.
The blood contains numerous chemical substances, many of which have clinical significance. Abnormalities in blood chemistry may be indicative of the presence of a disease process. Electrolytes, the salts in the body, are a specific group of chemicals that must remain in balance for the body to function normally. Electrolytes analysis may be ordered by a physician as a general screening for disease or to evaluate the health of specific organs in the body. Electrolytes exist as charged particles, called ions, and are responsible for the electrical communication required for many bodily functions including brain, muscle and nerve activity. Those…
Blood chemistry tests are used to evaluate the level of chemical substances in blood. This information allows doctors to assess a range of conditions, and it provides insight to the function of organs. Blood chemistry test results, or scores, provide data about electrolytes, nitrogen levels and glucose. Scores are given as milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L).
Potassium is a mineral that plays a vital role in the normal function of the body's muscle and nerve cells. High potassium readings on a blood test have a number of potential underlying causes.
A blood chemistry test, also called a blood screening test or comprehensive metabolic panel, is performed on blood serum, the part of the blood that does not contain cells. A blood chemistry test can be done as part of an annual examination, before surgery, to look for specific diseases or conditions, to see how your organs are functioning, or to check how well your medications or treatments are working.
Potassium is an essential part of your blood's chemistry. Potassium aids in your body's metabolism and regulates muscle tissue. Routine blood word checks a patient's potassium levels as well as other electrolytes.
A blood test that shows high blood potassium may indicate kidney diseases or other problems. High potassium, or hyperkalemia, can cause problems if it is not regulated. Treatment normally involves the underlying cause of hyperkalemia. (Ref. 1-3.)
Human blood is made up of many components. Blood tests given in medical facilities can check the levels of these components. When blood is drawn for testing, it is possible that not all or even many components are checked. Often, a doctor has an indication of what he's looking for, so he'll order that only certain blood chemistry components be checked. Other times, he may order a full blood workup to try to resolve a health issue.
Becoming a dental hygienist requires that several educational and personal qualifications be met. Like other professions, dental hygienists require specific knowledge and skills to be successful.
