Many people dislike going for blood tests and that's understandable. It can be a little painful, especially for those who are a little more sensitive to needle pokes. However, if your doctor decides, during your health check, that you need some blood testing completed, you really do want to follow through with the testing. To learn a little bit about some of the blood tests that you may be sent for over time, continue reading the following:

Complete Blood Count

This is a routine test that is ordered when the doctor feels the need to get a broad overview of their patient's health or if they are trying to pinpoint the problem. The three major components of a complete blood count are platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. If the levels of any of those is off, the doctor will want further testing to rule out infection, blood cancer, vitamin deficiencies, iron deficiency, and autoimmune disorders. 

Thyroid Test

If the doctor sends you for thyroid testing, he or she may be concerned about possible issues with your thyroid levels. If the thyroid levels are not within the proper range, it could be a sign of low protein, abnormal levels of estrogen or testosterone, and thyroid disorders. For example, someone might be sent for thyroid testing if the doctor believes that there are very over or underweight for their age, lifestyle, and diet. Thyroid issues can make it difficult for some people to lose weight while it can make it near impossible for other people to gain weight.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

You can specifically ask your doctor for an STI test if you feel that you were possibly exposed to someone that had a sexually transmitted disease. This type of testing can help doctors diagnose HIV, herpes, chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. If you have one of those infections, your doctor will prescribe medication for it.

Always make sure that you are following up with the blood test orders and that you are following the directions. For example, some testing requires that you fast from the night before the test until after you have completed the testing. Be sure to follow up with your medical provider if you have not heard from them in a couple of days. The exception to that would be if your doctor told you that they will only call you if there is a problem and that not hearing from them was a good sign.

Reach out to a company like Randox Health California to learn more.