Blood Test Filter Page | Aster Labs

Blood Test Overview

A blood test, also known as blood work, is among the most common diagnostic tests doctors prescribe. It involves drawing blood from a patient's veins and sending it to a laboratory for testing. Blood tests look for different hormones, elements, or the presence of antibodies in the blood. Each corresponding element being tested for has a normal level of presence in a person’s blood.

A higher or lower level can indicate health problems. Similarly, the presence of certain viruses or antibodies in the blood can indicate illnesses. Blood tests often help doctors diagnose conditions and offer treatment to patients. However, other diagnostic tests and imaging tests may often be required to confirm a diagnosis following blood tests.

Conditions Diagnosed Using Blood Tests

A blood test can be used to diagnose many conditions affecting various organ systems and parts of the body. Here is a list of some conditions that are diagnosed using blood tests:

• Anaemia: Haemoglobin or Haemoglobin HPLC / HB Electrophoresis test may be prescribed.
• Cardiovascular diseases: A lipid profile test may be prescribed.
• Kidney diseases: Kidney Function Tests (KFT) may be prescribed.
• Thyroid disease: A total or free thyroid profile test may be prescribed.
• Malaria, Dengue: A tropical fever panel test may be prescribed.
• Vitamin deficiency: Based on the suspected deficiency, doctors may prescribe various tests, such as the vitamin D25 hydroxy test.

Apart from the conditions mentioned, there are numerous other health problems diagnosed using blood tests, ranging from pregnancy, cancer, and arthritis to sexually transmitted diseases.

Why Are Blood Tests Prescribed?

Doctors prescribe blood tests both as part of routine preventive healthcare checkups and for symptomatic diagnosis. Patients can also opt to get blood tests at home, making the blood sample collection process convenient. There are four main reasons why doctors prescribe blood tests:

• Diagnosis: Using blood test results to understand the cause of symptoms and create a treatment plan.
• Prognosis: Understanding disease progression and how it is expected to affect the body over time.
• Monitoring: Regular blood tests may be required to monitor a patient's recovery and treatment efficacy.
• Screening: Blood tests can be used together to screen for conditions like viral infections or sexually transmitted diseases.

Blood tests are one of the most effective tools for doctors to understand the internal functioning of a patient’s body. They have few risks and are among the safest diagnostic tests.

Blood Tests Included

There are thousands of blood tests for specific purposes and health condition diagnoses. Some of the most common blood tests include:

• Complete Blood Count Test
• Haemoglobin Test
• Lipid Profile Test
• Thyroid Profile Test
• Tropical Fever Panel Test
• Urine Routine
• Kidney Function Test (KFT)
• Liver Function Test (LFT)
• HbA1C (Glycosylated Haemoglobin) Test
• Glucose Fasting Test
• Vitamin D25 Hydroxy Test

How Is a Blood Test Performed?

The procedure for performing a blood test at home or a diagnostic center is the same. Patients sit upright with their arm stretched out, and the sample collection area is wiped with antiseptic. The patient makes a fist to encourage blood flow, and a syringe is used to draw blood from a vein and store it in an airtight vial, which is then sent for testing.

Home Sample Collection for Blood Test with Aster Labs

At Aster Labs, we offer home sample collection services to make the process convenient and comfortable for patients, minimizing pain during the procedure. Our experts carefully collect blood samples in the comfort of your home.