1. You can fast before the blood test

Some types of blood tests may require you to fast before the test. As a general rule, you should not eat for 8–12 hours before a blood test. However, you need to thoroughly confirm with your doctor about this. You should also not smoke, chew gum, or exercise before the blood test.

2. Blood volume may vary by test

If you’ve ever wondered why some clinics draw more blood than others, don’t worry. There are many tests that will require a little more blood.

If you pay attention, you will notice that each blood collection tube has a different colored cap so your blood samples don’t get mixed up. Some tubes of blood have preservatives, some are kept at room temperature while others need to be frozen. Because each blood test requires different blood conditions, it is normal to have more blood drawn.

3. Results may vary by gender

Once you have your blood test results, you should not go online to check if your numbers are normal because each person’s test results can be very different. This is especially true when comparing blood test results between men and women. For example, a normal total blood count (CBC) in men is about 5–6 million cells per microliter, while women have only about 4–5 million blood cells per microliter.

4. Results may vary by age

The difference in test results by age is very large, especially between adults and children. For example, a normal hemoglobin concentration for children is 11–13g/deciliter (gm/dl) but for adults it is 13.5–17.5 gm/dl (for adult women it is 12–15.5 gm). /dl). Besides, cholesterol and calcium levels also differ with age.

5. Results may vary by test site

In fact, each laboratory will set different reference ranges for blood tests. So your test results may be good in one lab, but there may be problems in another.

Also, the difference in results depends on the time of day of the test and what you ate before the test.

6. You will be able to draw blood without a needle

If you are one of those people who are afraid of blood tests because of needles, here is good news for you. A device is now available that allows you to draw blood without the need for an injection and without pain. Not only that, you can also draw blood yourself at home without the guidance of a doctor.

You just need to put this blood collection device on your hand and you will get the desired amount of blood as quickly as using a needle.

7. Doctors often don’t interpret results

Doctors can only return the results without explaining more about blood sugar, total blood cell count, thyroid health … if the above indicators are good. However, you should still ask your doctor to compare the results you just received with previous blood test results to see if there is anything unusual.

8. Blood test results can be wrong

Just like pregnancy test results, blood test results can be wrong. Sometimes, there are viruses that show up right after you get tested so you can still get sick even if the result is negative. So if you notice any unusual symptoms, get tested again.

If you were infected with the hepatitis C virus a few months ago, your blood test results may not show anything, but you will still have some symptoms. False-positive results are also very common when testing for HIV. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a community where 1% of people have HIV, about 2 out of 10 tests performed will show a positive result. falsity.

9. Results may not reflect the correct disease

Not all blood test results are a true reflection of your condition. This result also depends on environmental factors such as what you eat and drink. If you eat sweets or drink alcoholic beverages, the blood test results may be wrong.

In addition to learning what you should know about blood tests, you also need to inform your doctor about your health situation for better results. Also, compare the new results with the older results to keep track of your metrics.