If your doctor recently ordered routine blood work, you may be wondering what the results can tell you. Blood tests can give your care team helpful clues about your overall health and may help find certain conditions early, when they’re often easier to manage.
If you’re curious about the most common blood tests or trying to make sense of recent lab work, here’s a simple look at 10 tests you may hear about and what they may help show.
Types of Blood Tests
Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
A basic metabolic panel, or BMP, checks several important substances in your blood. These can include blood urea nitrogen, calcium, carbon dioxide, chloride, creatinine, electrolytes, glucose, potassium and sodium.
Doctors may use this test to get a quick look at kidney function, blood sugar and fluid balance. Abnormal results may point to issues that need more follow-up.
Blood Glucose Test
A blood glucose test measures the amount of sugar in your blood. This test can help show whether your blood sugar is in a healthy range or whether you may need more testing.
If your result is high, your doctor may recommend repeating the test or checking other labs to better understand what’s going on.
Coagulation Panel
A coagulation panel looks at how well your blood clots and how long it takes to clot. Clotting helps stop bleeding after an injury, but abnormal clotting can also lead to serious health problems.
Your doctor may order this test to help understand bleeding concerns, clotting risks or certain liver conditions.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A complete blood count, or CBC, measures the three main types of blood cells: white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
White blood cells help your body fight infection. Red blood cells carry oxygen. Platelets help your blood clot. A CBC can give your doctor a broad picture of your blood health.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A comprehensive metabolic panel, or CMP, includes many of the same tests as a BMP and adds more information about your liver function and protein levels.
This panel can help your doctor look at your kidneys, liver, blood sugar, fluid balance and electrolyte levels all at once.
C-reactive Protein (CRP) Test
CRP is a protein your liver makes when there is inflammation in the body. A CRP test can help show whether inflammation may be present, but it does not tell your doctor the exact cause.
Inflammation can happen for many reasons, including infection, chronic conditions and other health concerns.
DHEA-Sulfate Serum Test
DHEA-Sulfate is a hormone made by your adrenal glands. This test measures how much of that hormone is in your blood.
Your doctor may use it to help check for hormone imbalance or conditions that affect the adrenal glands.
Enzyme Markers
Enzyme marker tests help your doctor look for signs of tissue or organ stress, including possible heart muscle injury.
Some commonly checked enzyme markers include creatine phosphokinase, CK-MB and troponin. Your doctor will use these results along with your symptoms and other tests to understand what they mean.
Lipid Panel
A lipid panel measures cholesterol and triglycerides, which are fats in your blood. It usually includes HDL, LDL and triglycerides.
These results can help your doctor understand your heart health and your risk for conditions such as heart disease or stroke. Healthy habits, medication or both may help improve abnormal results.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Test (TSH)
A TSH test checks how well your thyroid is working. The thyroid helps control many body functions, including energy use and metabolism.
Higher or lower results may suggest hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. If your results are outside the normal range, your doctor can help explain what that means and what comes next.
When Should You Get a Blood Test?
Your doctor may recommend blood work during a yearly physical or more often if you have symptoms, a chronic condition or a health goal you want to track, such as cholesterol management.
- You’re having unusual or lasting symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss or new pain
- You want to keep an eye on your overall health, including cholesterol or blood sugar
- Your doctor wants to check for a condition early or monitor an ongoing health concern
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to fast before a blood test?
Some blood tests do require fasting, which usually means not eating or drinking anything except water for a set amount of time before your appointment. Your doctor or lab will let you know if fasting is needed.
What should I bring to my lab appointment?
Bring your photo ID, insurance card if you have one and any paperwork your doctor gave you. If you take medications, it can also help to bring a list of them.
How long do blood test results take?
Timing can vary depending on the test. Some results may be ready the same day, while others may take a few days.
What happens if my blood test is abnormal?
An abnormal result does not always mean something serious is wrong. Your doctor may repeat the test, order more testing or talk with you about next steps based on your overall health.
Blood work is just one part of understanding your health, but it can be an important one. If you have questions about your symptoms or lab results, talk with your primary care doctor.
Getting a blood test is one more step toward feeling whole. If you need care, you can schedule a lab appointment or explore our Lab Services page to learn more.
