How to ask doctor for blood work?

Asking questions is key to good communication with your doctor. If you don't ask questions, he or she may assume you already know the answer or that you don't want more information. Don't wait for the doctor to raise a specific question or subject; he or she may not know it's important to you. Be proactive. Ask questions when you don't know the meaning of a word (like aneurysm, hypertension, or infarct) or when instructions aren't clear (for example, does taking medicine with food mean before, during, or after a meal?).

Sometimes, doctors need to do blood tests, X-rays, or other procedures to find out what is wrong or to learn more about your medical condition. Some tests, such as Pap tests, mammograms, glaucoma tests, and screenings for prostate and colorectal cancer, are done regularly to check for hidden medical problems.

Before having a medical test, ask your doctor to explain why it is important, what it will show, and what it will cost. Ask what kind of things you need to do to prepare for the test. For example, you may need to have an empty stomach, or you may have to provide a urine sample. Ask how you will be notified of the test results and how long they will take to come in.

When the results are ready, make sure the doctor tells you what they are and explains what they mean. You may want to ask your doctor for a written copy of the test results. If the test is done by a specialist, ask to have the results sent to your primary doctor.

A diagnosis identifies your disease or physical problem. The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the symptoms you are experiencing and the results of the physical exam, laboratory work, and other tests.

If you understand your medical condition, you can help make better decisions about treatment. If you know what to expect, it may be easier for you to deal with the condition.

Ask the doctor to tell you the name of the condition and why he or she thinks you have it. Ask how it may affect you and how long it might last. Some medical problems never go away completely. They can't be cured, but they can be treated or managed.

Your doctor may prescribe a drug for your condition. Make sure you know the name of the drug and understand why it has been prescribed for you. Ask the doctor to write down how often and for how long you should take it.

Make notes about any other special instructions. If you are taking other medications, make sure your doctor knows what they are, so he or she can prevent harmful drug interactions. Check with your doctor's office before taking any over-the-counter medications.

Let the doctor know if your medicine doesn't seem to be working or if it is causing problems. If you want to stop taking your medicine, check with your doctor first.

You may find it helpful to keep a chart of all the medicines you take and when you take them. Download, print, and copy the Medications worksheet.

Get answers to commonly asked questions about medicines and learn more about how you can save money on costly prescriptions.

Learn tips to help you remember the doctor’s instructions.

Your doctor typically orders blood tests for you during a physical, checkup, or an appointment intended to screen for a specific condition. It's possible to order your own blood tests without a doctor through laboratories like LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, but health insurance may not cover these tests.

Blood tests are very common. They help doctors check for certain diseases and conditions. They also help check the function of your organs and show how well treatments are working.

The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common blood tests. It is often done as part of a routine checkup. This test measures many different parts of your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

The table below shows some normal adult ranges for different parts of the CBC test. Some of the normal ranges differ between men and women. Other factors, such as age, high altitude, and race, also may affect normal ranges.

Your healthcare provider should discuss your results with you. They will advise you further if your results are outside the normal range for your group.

* Cells/mcL = cells per microliter; gm/dL = grams per deciliter. † A femtoliter is a measure of volume.

The basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a group of tests that measures different naturally occurring chemicals in the blood. These tests usually are done on the fluid (plasma) part of blood. The tests can give providers information about your organs, such as the heart, kidneys, and liver.

The BMP includes blood glucose, calcium, and electrolyte tests, as well as blood tests that measure kidney function. Some of these tests require you to fast (not eat any food) before the test, and others don't. Your provider will tell you how to prepare for the test(s) you're having.

Blood enzyme tests may be used to check for heart attack. Enzymes are chemicals that help control chemical reactions in your body. There are many types of blood enzyme tests. The ones for heart attack include troponin and creatine kinase (CK) tests.

Blood levels of troponin go up when a person has muscle damage, including damage to the heart muscle. In addition, an enzyme called CK-MB is released into the blood when the heart muscle is damaged. High levels of CK-MB in the blood can mean that you've had a heart attack.

A lipoprotein panel, also called a lipid panel or lipid profile, measures the levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels that are higher or lower than normal may be signs of higher risk of coronary heart disease.

A lipoprotein panel gives information about your:

Most people will need to fast for 9 to 12 hours before a lipoprotein panel.

A blood test is a lab analysis of things that may be found in your blood. You may have blood tests to keep track of how well you are managing a condition such as diabetes or high cholesterol. You may also have them for routine checkups or when you are ill.

Blood tests are very common. They are ordered by healthcare providers to:

You have the right to know why a blood test has been ordered. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure why he or she wants you to have the test.

These are common blood tests:

Blood tests can give your healthcare provider a lot of information. He or she can see if certain elements in your blood are in a normal range. But in many cases, blood tests are only part of the information your healthcare provider needs to make a diagnosis of a health condition. You might need to have some other types of tests as well.

For most kinds of blood tests, you don't need to prepare. These tests are to see what your blood is like under normal conditions.

For some blood tests, you will have to not eat (fast) for a certain amount of time before the blood test. This usually means no eating or drinking anything after midnight before the test. These tests are often scheduled for early in the morning.

Your healthcare provider will let you know if you need to fast before a blood test.

In order to test your blood, a technician called a phlebotomist will use a needle to take a sample of blood. Tell the technician if the sight of needles makes you nervous. He or she can help you feel more at ease. You can also look away during the procedure, and bring a family member or friend to help distract you.

How often should I get blood work done? What determines if I should get it done? Get answers to the most asked questions about routine blood work.

Blood can tell you about your organ function, diet, metabolism, illnesses, and if you have certain diseases. It can tell you hundreds of things about your lifestyle and habits. That’s why doctors encourage their patients to get routine blood work done.

By analyzing the blood, scientists can detect illnesses before it’s too late. Or, they can explain why you’ve been “feeling off” for the last few months.

Getting blood taken can be scary for those who’ve never done it, especially children. You likely have lots of questions about the process and results.

Here, we’ll answer all your questions about getting blood taken. Keep reading for everything you need to know about blood tests.

A routine blood test consists of getting blood taken at your doctor’s office or at a lab. Usually, the technician, nurse, or doctor will have you sit down on a chair with your feet on the ground.

They will use an antibacterial wipe to cleanse the part of your arm where they’ll draw blood. This is often inside your forearm where the veins are visible. But, they can take it from any vein.

Before inserting the needle, they’ll ask you to squeeze your fist. Or, they’ll tie an elastic band around the top of your arm. Both strategies help your arm’s veins bulge which makes them easier to find.

Then, a needle attached to a test tube is inserted. When the tube is full, they’ll remove the needle. In some cases, they may need to collect more than one tube before taking out the needle.

This might seem scary, but it’s quite straightforward. Often you’re done in less than five minutes.

The reasons for getting your blood tested vary. In a routine blood test, it might just be to check that nothing has changed since your last healthy test result.

Here are some of the typical blood tests your doctor may request.

This routine blood test measures the cells in the body through the blood. They test the blood for white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.

CBC tests can detect if you have anemia, nutritional deficiencies, an infection, cancer, and bone marrow problems.

If any of these results come back as abnormal, your doctor may order more specific testing.

This blood test measures certain components of the blood. For example, glucose, sodium, potassium, electrolytes, and creatinine.

By checking these factors, doctors can tell if you have kidney disease or diabetes. The results may also indicate a hormonal imbalance.

This test measures the same elements as the Basil Metabolic Panel as well as some other important components. These include alkaline phosphate (ALP), albumin, bilirubin, and more.

When these other components are imbalanced, there could be a serious problem. Too much ALP could signify hepatitis, gallstones, or Paget’s disease.

Too much bilirubin could indicate a bile duct blockage, hepatitis, Gilbert’s syndrome, or hemolysis.

As the name suggests, a Lipid Panel measures the amount of fat in your blood. More specifically, it measures good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL).

If your LDL levels are high, that could indicate a plaque build-up in your arteries. This is a sign of future or present heart disease.

For routine blood work when no health issues are present, your doctor will likely request one once a year. This is often done at the same time as your annual physical.

The purpose of this test is to ensure your levels are still healthy. If something comes back abnormal, your doctor will want to investigate further.

But, if they come back normal, you’re good until next year.

For some blood tests, you’ll get the results shortly after. Others, you have to wait.

In general, you’ll get the results for a CBC, BMC, and CMP within 24 hours. For a Lipids Panel, it could be closer to 72 hours.

But, just because you have the results data doesn’t mean you personally know the results. Often, you need your doctor to translate what the data says for your health. That depends on when your next appointment is after the results are in.

Some blood tests require you to fast 8-12 hours beforehand. Often, you can only consume water.

The reason for fasting is that eating can dramatically alter the chemicals in your blood. It can affect your cholesterol levels, glucose levels, and more.

Expect to be required to fast for cholesterol tests, glucose tests, blood sugar tests, and BMPs.

When your doctor orders a blood test, you can take the request to your nearest lab. Blood labs operate privately and do everything on site.

That means you get blood drawn in the same location as the blood analysis.

Sometimes, you’ll get called when the results are ready for you to pick up. Then, you’ll need to take them to your doctor. Other times, the lab will send the results directly to your doctor for you.

When choosing a lab, find a location that has good online reviews. Your doctor may recommend one or your friends and family could recommend one.

Ultimately, you want to choose a lab that has a good reputation. The technicians should be knowledgeable and friendly.

Let’s take a closer look at some common blood tests.

A routine complete blood count (CBC) checks for levels of 10 different components of every major cell in your blood: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Important components this test measures include red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.

Here’s the typical range of results, although every laboratory may have its own range that varies slightly:

Abnormal levels of these components may indicate:

Based on your results, your doctor will order follow-up tests to confirm abnormal levels and a possible diagnosis.

A basic metabolic panel (BMP) usually checks for levels of eight compounds in the blood:

This test may require you to fast for at least 8 hours before your blood is drawn, depending on the instructions of your doctor and what the test is measuring.

See our chart for normal results.

Abnormal results may indicate:

Your doctor will perform follow-up tests to confirm a diagnosis.

A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) includes all the measurements of a BMP as well as additional proteins and substances related to liver function, such as:

The same conclusions can be drawn from a CMP as from a BMP for the same substances that a BMP covers. Other abnormal levels can also indicate underlying conditions, such as:

This test checks levels of two types of cholesterol:

HDL is “good” because it removes harmful substances from your blood and helps the liver break them down into waste. LDL is “bad” because it can cause plaque to develop in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease.

You may need to fast for at least 8 hours before this test.

Here are the ranges for each type:

Normal levels can also vary by age.

A thyroid panel, or thyroid function test, checks how well your thyroid is producing and reacting to certain hormones, such as:

Your thyroid is a tiny gland in your neck. It helps regulate bodily functions like your mood, energy level, and overall metabolism.

Here are normal results:

Abnormal levels of these hormones can indicate numerous conditions, such as:

Enzymes are proteins that help your body accomplish certain chemical processes, such as breaking down food and clotting blood. They’re used throughout your body for many vital functions.

Abnormal enzyme levels can indicate many conditions.

Common enzymes tested include:

Here are the normal ranges for the enzyme listed above:

Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be diagnosed using a blood sample. These tests are often combined with urine samples or swabs of infected tissue for more accurate diagnoses.

The following STIs can be diagnosed with blood tests:

Blood tests aren’t always accurate right after contracting an infection. For an HIV infection, for example, you may need to wait at least a month before a blood test can detect the virus.

Coagulation tests measure how well your blood clots and how long it takes for your blood to clot. Examples include the prothrombin time (PT) test and fibrinogen activity test.

Clotting is a crucial process that helps you stop bleeding after a cut or wound. But a clot in a vein or artery can be deadly since it can block blood flow to your brain, heart, or lungs. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Coagulation test results vary based on your health and any underlying conditions that may affect clotting.

Results from this test can be used to diagnose:

The dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone comes from your adrenal glands. This test measures whether it’s too high or too low.

In men, DHEA helps develop traits like body hair growth, so low levels are considered abnormal. In women, high levels can cause typically male traits, like excess body hair, to develop, so low levels are normal.

Low levels may be caused by:

High levels in men or women can result from:

C-reactive protein (CRP) is made by your liver when tissues in your body are inflamed. High CRP levels indicate inflammation from a variety of causes, including:

The higher the level, the higher the risk of heart disease: