Understanding Some of the Most Frequently Performed Blood Tests and What They Reveal

Many medical examinations often involve blood tests and some people are asking what the significance of such tests is. Well, for starters, the blood is exactly that something, part, or place where doctors can gather hints pertaining to the general condition of one's body. This is so since the blood is linked to every part of the body. Therefore, if a problem arises in one particular area, some alteration in the blood may occur in all probability. A blood test can detect such a change.

Ten of the most frequently performed blood tests are discussed here with details of what each reveals:

1. Blood test for levels of alkaline phosphatase. This test is done to check levels of alkaline phosphatase - an enzyme present in the bones, kidneys, liver, and the placenta. In cases of bone disease or fractures, liver inflammation, and hepatitis, levels of this enzyme become higher than normal. An obstructed bile duct due to gallstones may be another reason for the rise in the levels of alkaline phosphatase. In growing children, the levels are normally high.

2. Blood test for levels of urea. This test provides an accurate indication of the functions of the kidneys and liver. It is used to ascertain the blood levels of urea, a waste product that the kidneys normally expel.

3. Blood test for levels of calcium. This test is used to determine blood levels of calcium. Osteoporosis or bone cancer may produce high levels, while kidney disease or being deficient in vitamin D may cause low levels.

4. Blood test for levels of cholesterol. This test is performed to measure blood cholesterol levels. Obesity, hypertension, and coronary artery disease have been associated with high levels. However, contentious arguments as to the precise nature of the connection continue.

5. Blood test for levels of creatinine. Creatinine is a white, crystalline compound that is found in the blood, muscles, and urine. It is produced as a result of the breakdown of protein. This test is used to measure its levels and, along with blood urea nitrogen, to screen for possible kidney disease.

6. Blood test for levels of electrolytes. There are four electrolytes in the body which need to be maintained for normal bodily fluid function. These are potassium, sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate. The first three maintain the stability and even distribution of the body's fluid which are essential for normal function of our organs and cells. Bicarbonate, on the other hand, regulates the balance of acid and base in the body. This test is used to screen for kidney disease, as well as to check those who are under medical care or treatment and are taking diuretics or receiving fluids by means of intravenous procedures.

7. Full blood count test. Of all the blood tests, this one is considered the most frequently performed. In determining the number and proportion of blood components, about seven tests are done in succession. The full blood count test is used to screen for two specific conditions: anemia (deficiency in red blood cells) and infection (low white blood cell count).

8. Blood test for levels of glucose. This test for levels of blood glucose (sugar) is used to detect two conditions: hypoglycemia (abnormal decrease of sugar in the blood) and diabetes mellitus (a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism).

9. Total blood protein and albumin test. This test measures the total protein content in the blood as well as the amount of albumin - the main protein. It is used to screen for certain cancers, kidney or liver disease, and also possible malnutrition.

10. Blood test for levels of uric acid. Uric acid is normally discharged by the kidneys. High levels may indicate kidney disease or gout (a disease characterized by a painful inflammation of the joints).

Other blood tests are those used to measure levels of phosphorus (an important element in calcium metabolism), iron, bilirubin (a reddish-yellow, water-insoluble pigment which is produced as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells), and the enzymes aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT). [Read the Original Article]