Basics
Blood Tests: An Overview
Blood tests are very common. When you have routine checkups, your doctor may recommend blood tests to see how your body is working. Many blood tests don’t require any special preparations. For some, you may need to fast (not eat any food) for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Your doctor will let... »
Types of Blood Tests
Some of the most common blood tests are: complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistry tests, blood enzyme test, and blood tests to assess heart disease risk. Complete Blood Count The CBC is one of the most common blood tests. It’s often done as part of a routine checkup. The CBC can help detect blood... »
Hematology Overview
Hematology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Hematology includes the study of etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of blood diseases. The laboratory work that goes into the study of blood is frequently performed by a medical technologist. Hematologists physicians also very frequently... »
About Blood Transfusions
A blood transfusion is a safe, common procedure in which blood is given to you through an intravenous (IV) line in one of your blood vessels. Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or due to a serious injury. A transfusion also may be done if your body can’t make blood... »
What Do Blood Tests Show?
Blood tests show whether the levels of different substances in your blood fall within a normal range. For many blood substances, the normal range is the range of levels seen in 95 percent of healthy people in a certain group. For many tests, normal ranges are different depending on your age, gender, race, and... »
What To Expect With Blood Tests
What To Expect Before Blood Tests Many blood tests don’t require any special preparation and take only a few minutes. Other blood tests require fasting (not eating any food) for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Your doctor will tell you how to prepare for your blood test(s). What To Expect During Blood... »
Hematology Terms
Agranulocyte: A leukocyte without definite cytoplasmic granules. Agranulocytosis: Complete or nearly complete absence of the granular leukocytes from the blood and bone marrow. Aleukemic Leukemia: A fatal condition of the blood-forming tissues, characterized by marked proliferation of immature cells in the bone marrow, without their presence, in any great numbers, in the blood steam.... »
Types of White Blood Cells
White blood cells (WBCs), or leukocytes (also spelled “leucocytes”), are cells of the immune system involved in defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. Five different and diverse types of leukocytes exist, but they are all produced and derived from a multipotent cell in the bone marrow known as a hematopoietic... »
Complete Blood Count
A complete blood count (CBC), also known as full blood count (FBC) or full blood exam (FBE) or blood panel, is a test panel requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient’s blood. A scientist or lab technician performs the requested testing and provides the... »
Blood Transfusion
A blood transfusion is a safe, common procedure in which blood is given to you through an intravenous (IV) line in one of your blood vessels. Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or due to a serious injury. A transfusion also may be done if your body can’t make blood... »