What can you find out from a blood test?
Blood tests are commonly used by doctors to help them diagnose or rule out a comprehensive range of medical conditions, monitor existing conditions and review your body’s response to treatments. A blood test gives you a snapshot into your health and can offer a wealth of insights into general wellbeing.
But what exactly can you find out from a blood test? In this article, we delve into the insights that some of the most common blood tests offer and explain how they can be used to provide key insights into your health.
Plus, we share how you can book convenient and hassle-free private blood tests with Bluecrest Wellness.
What is a blood test?
A blood test is used to analyse or look at cells, chemicals, proteins or other substances in your blood. Blood tests are one of the most common types of laboratory testing and are often used by healthcare professionals as part of a regular check-up as well as to:
- Help diagnose certain medical diseases and conditions
- Monitor chronic diseases like diabetes
- Help the diagnosis of an infection
- Monitor how effective a treatment is
- Check certain organ function
- Help diagnose bleeding or clotting disorders
- Discover if your immune system is working as it should
- Provide insights into your hormonal health
What can you find out from a blood test?
There are many different types of blood tests available, offering insights into a multitude of health conditions. Some of the most commonly requested blood tests include:
Full blood profile
A full blood profile or blood health test measures different parts of your blood, including red and white blood cells, platelets, haemoglobin and markers of organ function and disease risk.
The main abnormalities a blood health test can detect include:
- Anaemia – this is when you have fewer red blood cells than normal or less haemoglobin in each red blood cell, it can be caused by multiple factors
- High red cell count – a condition called polycythaemia that can be caused by various health conditions
- Low white cell count – known as leukopenia, which can be caused by a range of conditions
- High white cell count - often a sign of infection, but it can also be an indication of an allergy or leukaemia
- Too few platelets – a condition called thrombocytopenia, which can be caused by various conditions, but often makes people bleed or bruise easily
- Too many platelets – a condition known as thrombocythaemia which is caused by disorders that affect cells in bone marrow to make platelets
Find out more about a blood health test.
Urea & electrolyte bloods
A urea and electrolyte blood test is often used to show how well your kidneys are working. Urea and creatinine, two waste products produced by the body are removed from your blood by your kidneys, so abnormalities in these levels can indicate issues with your kidney function.
Find out more about private urea and electrolyte blood tests.
Liver function test
A liver function test is commonly used to check how well your liver is working. Liver function tests look for specific proteins and enzymes in your blood which can indicate how well your liver is doing its job.
Find out more about liver function tests.
Kidney function test
A kidney function test assesses how well your kidneys function and whether there is any damage or signs of early stages of kidney disease. It measures your levels of urea, creatinine, and sodium and analyses your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to assess how well your kidneys are working.
Find out more about our private kidney function test.
Cholesterol blood test
A cholesterol blood test measures the types of cholesterol in your blood. Although everyone needs some cholesterol in their blood, too much can be bad for your health and increase your risk of conditions like heart disease and increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.
Find out more about our private cholesterol blood test.
Diabetes (HbA1c) blood test
A HbA1c diabetes blood test measures your average blood sugar levels over the last 2-3 months. This can help indicate if you are at risk of developing diabetes, a condition known as pre-diabetes. Catching type 2 diabetes in this early stage is important as it can often be prevented if diet and lifestyle changes are made.
Find out more about a diabetes blood test.
Bone profile blood test
A bone profile blood test analyses proteins, minerals and enzymes in your blood related to your bone health. It can provide important insights into the health of your bones and assess your risk of bone disease and some cancers.
Find out more about private bone profile blood test.
Ferritin blood test
A ferritin blood test can measure how much iron is in your blood. It can help diagnose or rule out a range of conditions related to your iron levels, such as iron deficiency anaemia, liver diseases, restless leg syndrome, haemochromatosis or Adult Still disease.
Find out more about a ferritin blood test.
Other blood tests
It is also possible to get blood tests that can check your hormonal health, specific vitamin and mineral levels, and much more.
At Bluecrest Wellness, we offer a comprehensive range of blood tests to ensure that you can get insights into your health when you need them.
Are there any risks to having a blood test?
There is very little risk to having a blood test. During the test itself, you may feel a slight scratch as the needle enters your arm, and afterwards, some people develop a slight bruise at the site the blood was taken from.
Do you need to prepare for a blood test?
Making special preparations for a blood test is not normally necessary. However, certain tests require you to fast, which means not eating or drinking anything for a short period before the test, or stop taking certain medications prior to the test.
Some blood tests may also need to be booked at a specific time of day, usually first thing in the morning.
At Bluecrest Wellness, we provide you with full instructions prior to your blood test to ensure that you know exactly what you need to do to prepare for your test.
Private blood tests with Bluecrest Wellness
At Bluecrest Wellness, we offer a comprehensive range of private blood tests, so it’s easy to find the right blood test for your needs.
However, if you are looking for more general insights into your overall health, then we recommend our full body private health checks. This provides you with a comprehensive assessment of your general health and wellbeing as well as key insights into your bloods and any potential risks to your health.
Our private health MOTs are available across the UK, making it easy for you to find a convenient location for private laboratory blood testing. Plus, you can be confident that we will deliver fast, efficient and accurate results as we have established links with leading UK laboratories and are fully accredited for a wide range of private blood checks.
