Doctor Asked Me to Do Blood Test Again

Blood tests: What happens during a claret test and what can the results show?

Claret tests can be a uncomplicated manner of getting more data most what's going on inside your body. Merely what'southward involved? Senior Cardiac Nurse Philippa Hobson explains.

Why would I have a blood test?

Blood tests are usually done to check how your body copes with illness, injury, inflammation, infection and some types of medication. Blood needs a very precise residual in social club for your body to work well. If claret test results are abnormal, it gives the doctors a expert indication of how to treat you or foreclose problems occurring in the future.

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Where would I take a blood test?

This may be washed in hospital or by your GP or practice nurse. If you're having an NHS wellness check, your blood examination is commonly a quick finger prick test that looks at the blood'southward glucose and cholesterol levels. If the results are higher than recommended, you may be asked to go to your hospital for a full blood examination.

How will my blood be taken?

A condom strap called a tourniquet is wrapped tightly around your upper arm – this helps to bring the vein that runs inside your elbow to the surface, so that it is easier to notice.

The pare around the vein is cleaned with a sterile booze wipe. A small needle is inserted into the vein and a small blood canteen is then fastened.

The blood will period into the bottle and when the bottle (or bottles) is full the needle is removed. If your veins are fragile or difficult to find, sometimes a different type of needle chosen a 'butterfly' (because it has plastic 'wings' on either side) is inserted into a pocket-sized vein in the dorsum of your hand.

Afterward the needle is removed, a piece of gauze volition be put over the puncture site and yous volition be asked to hold information technology in that location for a few minutes. Bleeding from a vein usually stops very rapidly, but may take a few minutes if you take blood-thinning medication.

What happens to my claret later the examination?

Unremarkably, the claret bottles contain small amounts of a chemical to stop your blood clotting in the tube, so information technology tin be measured accurately in the lab. Each bottle is labelled with your proper name, date of nascence and hospital number, when the blood was taken, and has a different coloured acme according to the blazon of test. Then they are taken to be analysed.

What volition my claret exist tested for?

Blood tests tin be used for many dissimilar things, including to check cholesterol and claret glucose levels. These help monitor your chance of heart and circulatory diseases and diabetes, or how your status is existence managed.

Tests for different chemicals and proteins tin can indicate how your liver or kidneys are working. A test for troponin tin help to diagnose a heart attack, and a examination for brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) tin help diagnose center failure.

If you take warfarin, your INR level (a measure of how quickly your blood volition clot) will exist tested regularly to make sure that yous are prescribed the right dose.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for a blood exam?

Occasionally you may need to fast (not swallow) earlier your blood examination, merely your doctor volition let you lot know if this is required. Unless you have been told not to, take a drink of water before your test. If you're dehydrated, it tin be more difficult to find your vein.

How long does it take to get blood test results?

This partly depends on the urgency of the examination. Most tests done at your GP surgery are 'routine', meaning at that place is no urgency, so information technology may take a few days to become the results. If the people reporting on the blood results run into annihilation they are worried virtually, they will contact your dr. or nurse and the surgery will get in touch.

Will I need other tests as well?

Sometimes the results of blood tests mean that the doctor may want to do other tests, such as a scan on your heart or kidneys, or an electrocardiogram (ECG).

I am scared of having a blood examination. What can I do?

Many people feel like this and it is nothing to exist ashamed of. Tell the person who is doing your blood examination – this volition help them to look after yous better.

You could also inquire someone to come with y'all and distract y'all during the exam. Some people also notice animate for relaxation helpful. If the problem is that y'all faint at the sight of blood, this is caused by a fall in blood force per unit area: you can larn techniques to stop this from happening.

Some clinics can use a cream that numbs the area where the needle goes in. You should permit them know in accelerate if this would help, as the cream may need to be applied at home in club to piece of work properly. Unfortunately, there is no 'needle-free' way of obtaining claret.

• Discover out what to look from giving blood.
• Learn more nigh other common tests for heart conditions, including SPECT scans and echocardiogram.

Doctor Asked Me to Do Blood Test Again

Source: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/tests/blood-tests

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