Could someone please explain these tests to me.?!
Question: I'm getting my blood drawn and tested for: Basic Metabolic (CHEM 8), CBC, Platelet, and Diff, Sed Rate, Iron & TIBC, T4,Free, TSH, and under additional tests it says :Prolactin.
I will say, I don't understand what they are (my doctor didn't tell me what they mean/what the results could be).
I'm really nervous, just because I've never had blood drawn before.
Also does anyone know, about how much/how many vials they may take?
(My mom has had her blood drawn before, and she told me about the vials and stuff. I'm still more nervous than ever).
Answers: I'm getting my blood drawn and tested for: Basic Metabolic (CHEM 8), CBC, Platelet, and Diff, Sed Rate, Iron & TIBC, T4,Free, TSH, and under additional tests it says :Prolactin.
I will say, I don't understand what they are (my doctor didn't tell me what they mean/what the results could be).
I'm really nervous, just because I've never had blood drawn before.
Also does anyone know, about how much/how many vials they may take?
(My mom has had her blood drawn before, and she told me about the vials and stuff. I'm still more nervous than ever).
They will take a vial or two..it is not painful. They will check your electrolytes, all levels of functioning fluids, plus your white and red blood cell count, your thyroid.... Just relax it is standard and hopefully precautionary. Good luck. Let me know how it went. God bless
Theresa,.......#1. Even if they take 5 vials of blood or just one, they will take it from just one location so, don't worry.
Many of your tests are aimed at looking at you metabolism and for Anemic type deals as well as several Hormone.
Prolactin is a natural hormone that comes from your Pituitary Gland and is actually the Hormone that triggers Milk production in Pregnant Woman. However elevated Prolactin in women not pregnant or in men can signal Pituitary or other Endocrine problems.
T-4 and such will check Thyroid, Thymus, Adrenal, along with other tests will check Kidney and other connected symptoms.
The stick may smart for a second, look away from the vials if blood bothers you, but, a lot more tests can be done nowadays without lots of blood.
Don't be surprised if they draw just 1 vial for all this but, I imagine 2-3 will be taken.
She's testing your blood glucose, electrolytes, creatinine, calcium, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The ESR is testing your red blood sedimentation rate- it's looking for nonspecific inflammation, she's testing the thyroid hormone called thyroxine, she's testing your prolactin, a hormone associated with breastfeeding and in some cases specific disorders, and she's testing the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone. Those are the ones I can identify, I didn't get them all.
I'd say you can expect 5 at the absolute most, although it's far more likely they'll take a few less. That said.. once the needle is in your arm, it's not painful to take more or less vials. She's not going to change needles between tests.
Basal Metabolic Profile: BMP\
Measures BUN, creatinine, sodium, potassium, albumin, chloride, C02 (bicarb). BUN is blood urea nitrogen (nitrogenous waste). A BMP is a good measure of kidney function and hydration and nutritional status as well. CBC, is a complete blood count and it measures white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, mean corpuscular volume. A differential will tell you what percent of each type of white blood cell is found, such as lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. ESR or, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, is used commonly as a test for inflammation or autoimmune problems, such as with temporal arteritis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc, but ESR will usually be elevated with injury or illness as well. Iron & TIBC- tests for anemia in combination with the CBC. These tests can guide as to what type of anemia is present (if any). T4, Free T3 and TSH are thyroid tests. TSH is thyroid stimulating hormone. These tests are sometimes called a thyroid panel. In some labs, if the TSH is normal, they won't test the T4 or T3.
These are basic blood tests that we health care practitioners use to screen for many abnormalities and diseases. Usually, only one or two vials for these tests.
The Chem8 looks at electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chlorine), and kidney function (BUN and creatinine).
The CBC and diff measures the red and white blood cells in your blood. Platelets are responsible for helping your blood clot.
The iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) can give more insight into the cause of an anemia.
T4 and TSH are thyroid function tests, sort of your body's thermostat: if overactive, your heart rate is fast, you lose weight, your body temperate is high.
Prolactin is involved in breast-feeding. It can be elevated by certain medications (some anti-depressants) or by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. If elevated, it causes discharge from the nipples.
When your blood is drawn, they will probably take several tubes, but will take it all from the same site. Don't drink caffeine that day, as it causes your veins to constrict, and could make it more painful.