Popular Reasons for Blood Testing

Blood testing is used for various reasons and in many office settings. When done correctly, it can tell a lot about a person and their health. It can even help diagnose certain conditions. Think of the blood as providing the ultimate clues to what is happening inside the body. When we run tests and then read the results, we gain better insight into a patients’ overall health and can then diagnose issues they are struggling with. Ultimately, this is the most important reason to have blood work done: to find answers.

Why is blood testing recommended?

When a patient is complaining of symptoms, but it is not clear if they have a particular condition, blood testing can be done to confirm a physician’s diagnosis, rule conditions out or provide insight into a condition that a physician was unaware a patient had.

Some blood tests may be completed for the following:

• Complete blood panel count
• Check for vitamin deficiencies
• Check for blood disorders and disease
• Check for autoimmune disorders
• Look for abnormalities in organ function
• Look for blood type
• Check for antibodies in the blood
• Check for a thyroid condition
• Test for diabetes
• Evaluate heart health

What do they do during the procedure?

Some tests request that the person does not eat anything from eight to 24 hours in advance. Diabetes and other tests that check blood sugar levels are required to have the person fast, but not all blood tests request this. Then, a patient will come into the office or the lab for a simple blood draw. The procedure is straightforward. A vein is used to withdraw the blood. The technician will make the patient feel comfortable and speak with them during the entire procedure. They withdraw the blood from the arm and fill up the specified amount of tubes that are required for the specific blood tests. Once they are done, a piece of gauze is then handed to the patient. They are told to place pressure on the area for a bit. A band-aid is then placed over the area, and they are free to leave while they wait for results.

The results of the test

The results of the test can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours, depending on the specific test requested. The technician at the lab can give more information on the specific times based on the blood work being done. The physician calls the patient at home with the results or may call them back into their office if further treatment is necessary.

Do you need a blood test?

These tests help us better understand what is going on inside the body. It is a useful way for us to diagnose conditions even before the person starts to show symptoms. This is especially important when catching certain problems early, like heart conditions or diabetes. Upon visiting our office, we will let you know if we think you could benefit from having blood work done.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Eldridge Family Clinic, request an appointment in our Houston physician's office here: https://eldridgeclinic.com. Or call us at (281) 946-1351.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Blood Testing in Houston, TX.