Having an annual blood screening is a key component for preventing various types of degenerative illnesses. By providing a snapshot of your current health, a blood screening can catch potential health problems before they fully rise to the surface so they can be managed most effectively. Blood tests are pretty straightforward to carry out and fast to do. Moreover, they provide a wealth of information that can be beneficial to you. Regular blood testing is one of the most effective ways to keep track of your overall physical well-being. Being tested at routine intervals will help you to understand how your body changes over time and allow you to make informed decisions based around your health. Here we have accumulated a few of the ways that having a blood test can be beneficial to you and your health. Read on to find out more.
Blood tests have a variety of uses and are one of the most common types of medical tests done. Moreover, a blood test can be used to:
The majority of blood tests will only take a couple of minutes to have done, and are carried out at your GP surgery or local hospital by a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist (this is a specialist in taking blood samples).
The majority of blood tests don’t require any specific preparation and take only a couple of minutes. Other types of blood testing require fasting, generally not eating anything for 8 to 12 hours prior to the test. Your doctor will inform you how to prepare for your blood test.
A blood test will involve a blood sample being taken from a blood vessel in your arm. The arm is an ideal section of the body to take a blood sample from because it can be conveniently uncovered. The typical area for a sample to be taken is from inside the elbow or wrist, this is because the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples that are taken from children are frequently taken from the back of the hand, naturally this can be a distressing experience for young children, their skin may be numbed with a special spray or cream before the sample is taken. A tight band (tourniquet) is fastened around the upper part of the upper arm. This will squeeze the arm, temporarily it will slow down the flow of blood and make the veins temporarily swell, this will make it easier for a sample to be taken. Prior to taking a sample, the doctor or nurse will sanitize the area of skin with an antiseptic wipe.
A needle that is attached to a syringe is pressed into the vein. The syringe is used to draw out a sample of your blood. You may feel a slight prick or scratching sensation as the needle goes in, but it shouldn’t be uncomfortable. If you have an aversion to needles and blood, inform the person who is taking the sample so they can make you feel more at ease. When the sample has been done, the tourniquet will be taken out, and the needle is removed. Pressure will be applied to the skin for a couple of minutes using a clean cotton-wool pad. Sometimes a plaster may be put on the area to keep it clean.
A very small amount of blood will be taken for a blood test, with this in mind, you shouldn’t feel any significantly unpleasant after-effects. Some people do however feel slightly faint during and after a blood test. If this is something you’ve experienced during a prior blood test, inform the health care professional who is carrying out the test so they are aware of this and can make you feel more comfortable. You may have a small bruise where the needle went in after the test. Bruises can be sore, but they are harmless and will fade over the next few days.
After a blood sample has been taken, it’ll be put into a bottle and labelled with your name and personal details. They will then send it to a laboratory where it will be examined under a microscope or tested, the tests depend on what’s being checked. The results are then sent back to the hospital or to your registered GP. Some test results will be ready the same day or a couple of days later, although others may not be available for a couple of few weeks, once they are ready you will be informed immediately.
In some cases, receiving results can be stressful. If you feel worried about the outcome of a test result, you may wish to choose to take a trusted friend or relative along with you. For some tests results, HIV for example, you will be offered specialist counselling to help you deal with your results.
The dedicated team at Duality Health go beyond to meet your medical needs. Consisting of UK qualified GPs and Advanced Nurse Practitioners, we are well placed to carry out a whole raft of services at our private clinics, an element of our medical screening services is that we are able to provide our patients with blood and allergy testing. If you require a blood type test, please get in touch with us. In comparison to public hospitals and GP practices you will find our clinics relaxing and perhaps more crucially, unhurried. Make an appointment online for your private test or give us a call on 02830833666 at your convenience.