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What are some blood tests that are performed by professionals?

BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel) Blood Test

 

Why is this test done?

A BMP test consists of eight different tests that tell:

  1. The levels of glucose and calcium in the blood

  2. The functioning of the kidneys

  3. The balance of electrolytes and fluids in the body

 

This type of test is often used during regular medical exams or physicals. It is also used for patients in the emergency room because it can inform the doctors of chemical imbalances in the patients body that need to be treated right away.

 

A BMP examines glucose, calcium, sodium potassium, carbon dioxide, chloride, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels in the body.

 

What happens during the test?

The technician draws blood from the person’s vein. For a baby, the blood is drawn from the heel of the foot. A tourniquet is then fixed on a person’s upper arm in order to make the vein swell of blood. After that, a needle is placed into the vein (usually the inside elbow), and the blood is drawn into a syringe or a vial. Lastly, the blood is put into a machine and examined. If any abnormal results occur, more testing may be done as necessary.

Clinical Applications

What are some careers that are related to blood or the cardiovascular system?

Complete Blood Count (CBC) Blood Test

 

Why is this test done?

A person usually gets a CBC test done when they are feeling more tired than they usually do, have an infection, or are bruising and bleeding abnormally. This test informs doctors on the three prime types of cells in the blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

 

What happens during the test?

A person may want to notify the doctor about any medications that are being taken, because certain drugs may make changes to the test results. The blood is usually drawn from a vein in the back of the elbow, or in the back of the hand. A tourniquet is placed on the upper arm to make the vein swell up with blood. The blood is then drawn from the arm into a vial or syringe. The blood is put through a machine, and it takes a couple hours to a day for the doctor to get the results back. In the case of an emergency, the blood tests may come back a lot faster. If there are signs of anemia, infections, or other issues, further tests will be done.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) Blood Test

 

Why is this test done?

An ESR test measures the speed at which red blood cells fall to the bottom of a glass tube (the tube is upright). This is measured because when there is an unusual amount of certain proteins in a patient’s blood, it causes the red blood cells to bunch together and sink quickly than they usually would. An ESR helps doctors to identify irritation or inflammation in a patient’s body that could be the result of cancers, infection, and autoimmune diseases.

 

What happens during the test?

The technician will most likely draw blood from a vein in the back of a person’s elbow or from the back of the hand. A tourniquet is placed on the upper arm to swell the vein with blood, and the blood is drawn with a needle into a vial or a syringe. It only takes a couple hours to a day for the results to come in to the doctor. If there are any issues with the results, further tests will be done.

Hematocrit Tests

 

Why is this test done?

A hematocrit test is part of a CBC test. This test tells the doctor whether a person has too many or too little red blood cells. These conditions can take place as a result of specific diseases.

 

What happens during the test?

The nurse will draw blood from pricking a person’s finger or drawing blood from a person’s arm. The blood is collected into a vial or a syringe. The results of a hematocrit test show the percentage of cells in the blood that are red blood cells. The usual range is 38.8 to 50% for grown males, and 34.9 to 44.5% for grown females. The standard range for 15 year old children and younger differs based on age and gender. Some factors that may influence the results of the test include living at a high altitude, pregnancy, significant recent blood loss, recent blood transfusion, or severe dehydration. If there are misleading and unexpected results, this test may be repeated or other blood tests may be done.

Phosphorus Blood Test

 

Why is this test done?

This test is self explanatory: it measures the amount of phosphorous in a person’s blood. This test can also inform doctors of other health problems, such as kidney problems, gastrointestinal and nutritional conditions, and calcium and bone problems.

 

What happens during the test?

The blood is usually drawn from a vein in the arm or from the back of the hand. A tourniquet is placed on the upper arm to make the vein swell with blood. Next, a needle is placed into the arm and the blood is drawn into a vial or a syringe. It only takes a couple hours to a day for the doctor to be notified with the results. If there are any abnormal occurrences in the results, further tests will be completed.

Hemoglobin Electrophoresis Blood Tests

 

Why is this test done?

A hemoglobin electrophoresis test evaluates and measures the different types of hemoglobin in a person’s bloodstream. This test is done to assist in diagnosing certain diseases that have to do with unusual hemoglobin production, including thalassemia and sickle cell disease. This test is also done if a person has hemoglobinopathy in their family history, or has anemia that isn’t because of a normal cause.

 

What happens during the test?

The doctor must be notified before the test if a person, in the last 3 months, has had a transfusion, because the hemoglobin levels could be different. The blood is drawn from a vein on the the inside elbow of the arm, or from the heel of an infant. A tourniquet is placed on the upper arm so that the blood collects in the vein and makes the vein swell. After that, the blood is drawn with a needle into a vial or a syringe. After the test, a person may feel lightheaded or pain in the arm, but that is normal. It takes about 1 to 2 days for the results to come in from the test.

Clinical Chemistry: the chemistry of human health and disease; chemistry in connection with the management of patients, as in a hospital laboratory; the area of clinical pathology that is generally concerned with analysis of bodily fluids

 

Reference Ranges (for blood tests): sets of values used by a health professional to interpret a set of medical test results from blood samples.

Hematologist

 

Education and Training Requirements:

  • Must have a doctors degree in medicine

  • Four years of undergraduate studies

  • Four years of medical school

  • One year internship

  • Three years residency in medicine and oncology training

  • Should be patient and self-driven

 

Daily Activities and Responsibilities:

  • Treats bleeding disorders and hematological malignancies

  • Aids entreating hemoglobinopathies.

  • Often interacts in blood transfusion

  • Often assists at blood banks

  • Partakes in bone marrow and stem cell transplantation

 

Salary Range: The salary ranges range from $160,000 to $200,000 each year

Dietitian

 

Education and Training Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, food service systems management, clinical nutrition, etc.

  • Programs include courses in nutrition, psychology, chemistry, and biology.

  • Several hours of supervised training in the form of an internship following graduation from college.

  • Earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

  • Earn the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) to show an advanced level of knowledge

 

Daily Activities and Responsibilities:

  • Assess patients’ and clients’ health needs and diet

  • Counsel patients on nutrition issues and healthy eating habits

  • Develop meal plans, taking both cost and clients’ preferences into account

  • Evaluate the effects of meal plans and change the plans as needed

  • Promote better nutrition by speaking to groups about diet, nutrition, and the relationship between good eating habits and preventing or managing specific diseases

  • Keep up with the latest nutritional science research

  • Write reports to document patient progress

 

Salary Range:

The lowest 10 percent earns less than $34,500 and the top 10 percent earns more than $77,590.

Cardiovascular Surgeon

 

Education and Training Required:

  • Become board certified cardiac surgeon Take courses in chemistry, biology, math, physics, etc.

  • Pass the Medical College Admissions Test

  • Earn a Doctor of Medicine degree

  • Pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination

  • Complete 4-5 years of in general surgery residency

  • Take an exam by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and become board-certified

 

Daily Activities and Responsibilities:

  • Perform the surgery of the heart and chest cavity

  • Treat heart diseases

  • Treat congenital defects

  • Replace heart valves

  • Remove blockages in the arteries

  • Perform surgeries effectively

 

Salary Range:

The salary ranges between $319,366 and $534,681.

Pathologist

 

Education and Training Requirements:

  • 3 years undergraduate study

  • Completion of medical school

  • Completion of higher science courses

 

Daily Activities and Responsibilities:

  • Examine and diagnose bodily fluids

  • Perform autopsies to determine the cause of death

  • Manage other physicians and lab technicians

 

Salary Range:

Ranges from $177,00 to $335,000

Phlebotomist

 

Education and Training Requirements:

  • Must be 18 years or older

  • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent

  • Health immunizations must be up to date

  • Must be certified in an accredited phlebotomy certification school.

  • Often required to have an Associate or masters degree.

  • Education and training requirements may vary depending on location services.

 

Daily Activities and Responsibilities:

  • Collects blood from patients

  • Analyzes blood

 

Salary Range:

There are various salary ranges depending on state. The mean salary of a phlebotomist starts at $24,000 to $30,000.

References

 

Blood test: complete blood count. (1995-2014). Retrieved April 11, 2014, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/labtest4.html

 

Job descriptions. (2014). Retrieved April 11, 2014, from http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions

 

Kids health. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2014, from http://kidshealth.org/es of blood tests.

 

Types of blood tests. (2012, January 6). Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bdt/types.html

 

Mann, D., & 2011, C. (2010, January 29). Blood test may predict rheumatoid arthritis. CNN. Retrieved April 11, 2014, from http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/29/arthritis.blood.test/ Clinical Applications

Blood: The Drop of Life Design Team:

Alissa Till                      Vyvy Tran

Alyssa Costa                  Jenica Quiroz

Nicole McGill                Indya Harris

We would like to thank the WCTA BMS Center, Patient Education Division.

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