tb gold blood test :: Article CreatorAnemia Blood Test: Types And Results Explained
Different blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC), iron test, or B12 test, can help diagnose anemia, which can have different causes.
Anemia occurs when there are not enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood to transport oxygen to cells.
A CBC can reveal if a person has enough red blood cells, but further tests can confirm the cause of the anemia. Often, the cause is an iron deficiency, but it could be another nutrient deficiency or health condition.
Read on to learn more about anemia blood tests, what they measure, what the results mean, and whether it is possible to test at home.
A note about sex and gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms "male," "female," or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
There is no single set of results that indicates all types of anemia. Different forms of anemia can produce different results, which is why doctors interpret these tests.
However, the most common cause is iron deficiency anemia, which typically causes:
low hemoglobin and hematocrit low mean cellular volume low ferritin low serum iron high transferrin or total iron-binding capacity low iron saturation The table below demonstrates the expected ranges for a CBC in adult males and females:
This table shows the expected range of iron and ferritin in the blood for adults:
Levels that fall outside the expected range could indicate anemia, but other factors may influence these tests, such as:
pregnancy high altitude certain medications other medical conditions what a person has eaten that day Yes, in some cases, this may be possible.
At-home iron tests are available for people to test for iron deficiencies at home. This may only require a few drops of blood to perform, meaning individuals can carry out the test with a finger prick instead of going to a doctor's office.
People receive these kits by mail and then send them to a laboratory. They may get the results online, in an app, or via letter, which they can share with their doctor.
However, it is important to note that iron deficiency anemia is not the only type of anemia. For a full CBC and other tests, people may need to contact a doctor.
A complete blood count (CBC) can help diagnose anemia. This includes tests for red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels. If these levels are irregular, it can indicate anemia.
Doctors may confirm the cause of anemia with other tests, such as an iron test, B12 test, folate test, or blood smear.
It is possible to test iron levels at home with an at-home testing pack, but these may not cover all of the tests a doctor would perform and may miss things.
If a person suspects they have anemia or has any unexplained symptoms, they can consult a doctor.
Blood Sugar Test: How And When To Get It Done
Most people with diabetes should test their blood sugar (or blood glucose) levels regularly. Knowing the results lets you adjust your strategy for keeping the disease in check.
Regular testing can also help you avoid getting long-term health problems that can stem from the condition, like:
Heart disease Stroke High blood pressure High cholesterol Blindness Kidney disease Skin problems Research shows that in people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, sticking to your target blood sugar and HbA1c levels makes complications less likely.
A blood sugar test measures the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Most people with diabetes should test their blood sugar levels regularly. Knowing the results lets you adjust your strategy for keeping the disease in check. There are different ways to do the test, including:
Glucometers
A glucose meter, or glucometer, is a portable machine that can measure your blood sugar level from a small sample of your blood. You access your blood in different ways with different types of glucometers.
From your fingertip: You prick your finger with a small, sharp needle (called a lancet) and put a drop of blood on a test strip. Then you put the test strip into a meter that shows your blood sugar level. You get results in less than 15 seconds and can store this information for future use. Some meters can tell you your average blood sugar level over a period of time and show you charts and graphs of your past test results. You can get blood sugar meters and strips at your local pharmacy.
If you test your blood sugar with a fingertip prick, you can find out your glucose levels in 15 seconds. (Photo Credit: Moment/Getty Images)
Meters that test other sites: Newer meters let you test sites other than your fingertip, such as your upper arm, forearm, base of the thumb, and thigh. You may get different results than from your fingertip. Blood sugar levels in the fingertips show changes more quickly than those in other testing sites. This is especially true when your blood sugar is rapidly changing, like after a meal or after exercise. If you are checking your sugar when you have symptoms of hypoglycemia, you should use your fingertip if possible, because these readings will be more accurate.
Continuous glucose monitoring system: These devices, also called interstitial glucose measuring devices, are combined with insulin pumps. They are similar to finger-stick glucose results and can show patterns and trends in your results over time. There are different kinds of CGM systems. Some are separate devices, and others are attached to an insulin pump.
HbA1c home tests
Hb stands for hemoglobin, which is the protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen. When your blood sugar is high, more sugar binds to hemoglobin, so an HbA1c test can give you an estimate of the average amount of glucose in the blood over time. To take an HbA1c test, you prick your finger and put a drop of blood on a test strip for a reading. Some HbA1c tests involve mailing your blood sample to a lab.
At-home HbA1c tests aren't as accurate as lab tests, but they can be helpful if in-person visits with a doctor aren't easy for you because of distance or other reasons. You can report your results to a doctor from home so they have an idea of how your blood sugar is doing.
Laboratory tests for diabetes
Your doctor may recommend you take a laboratory test for your diabetes. Options include:
Fasting blood sugar test. Your doctor will ask you not to drink or eat for 8-12 hours before this test. In a clinic, a technician will either prick your finger or draw blood from a vein in your arm using a needle and test the result in a lab. Your fasting blood glucose level should be the lowest level you have. A normal result is under 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If your results are higher, it's a sign that you have prediabetes or diabetes.
Oral blood glucose test. Doctors also call this a glucose tolerance test. It measures your body's response to sugar. For this test, your doctor will have you drink a syrupy glucose solution that has 75 grams of sugar. A technician will take a blood sample an hour later and 2 hours later to see how your body has processed the sugar. A healthy blood glucose level, 2 hours after you drink the solution, is lower than 140 mg/dL.
HbA1c. Like the home HbA1c test, this test estimates your average blood glucose levels over a period of time. For the test, a doctor collects a blood sample by drawing blood from a vein in your arm and sends the sample to a lab for testing.
You may need to check your blood sugar several times a day, such as before meals or exercise, at bedtime, before driving, and when you think your blood sugar levels are low.
Everyone is different, so ask your doctor when and how often you should check your blood sugar. If you're sick, you'll probably need to test your blood sugar more often.
Having certain conditions, like anemia or gout, can affect your blood sugar levels. Other conditions can make a difference in your results, too, such as:
Hot or humid weather High altitude Dehydration Infection or other illness Stress Food Certain medications Poor sleep quality If you keep seeing unusual results, recalibrate your meter and check the test strips.
The chart below gives you an idea of where your blood sugar level should be throughout the day. Your ideal blood sugar range may be different from another person's and will change throughout the day.
Time of Test Ideal for Adults With Diabetes Before meals 80-130 mg/dL After meals Less than 180 mg/dL
Home blood glucose monitoring and HbA1c
Monitoring your HbA1c level is also important for diabetes control. Many home glucose monitors also display an average blood glucose reading, which can correlate with your HbA1c.
Average Blood Glucose Level (mg/dL)
HbA1c (%)
126
6
154
7
183
8
212
9
240
10
269
11
298
12
Ask your doctor about your target blood sugar range, and make a plan for how to handle blood sugar readings that are either too high or too low and when to call your doctor. Learn about the symptoms of high or low blood sugar, and know what you can do if you begin to have symptoms.
Keep good records of any blood, urine, or ketone tests you do. Most glucose monitors also have a memory. Your records can alert you to any problems or trends. These test records help your doctor make any needed changes in your meal plan, medicine, or exercise program. Bring these records with you every time you see your doctor.
Some devices send your readings to a computer or mobile device, making it easy to share the data directly with your diabetes care team.
As you're recording your blood sugar, make a note of your diet and movement (even activities like gardening can make a difference) around the time of your reading. This will give you a fuller picture of what's affecting your levels and better inform how to keep them steady in the future.
To ensure you're getting the most accurate read on your blood sugar, be sure you're doing your testing correctly. Follow these tips:
Use your device according to your doctor's instructions. Use only the test strips made for your testing method. Store your testing materials correctly. Make sure your testing strips aren't expired. Clean your device regularly. Have your doctor check your testing device from time to time to make sure it's working well. Wash and dry your hands well before you test. Testing your blood sugar is one of the most important tools for managing diabetes. You can monitor blood sugar at home with glucose meters and test strips, continuous glucose monitoring systems, and HbA1c tests. Your doctor will help you know what your target range should be and what may affect your readings.
Should I check my blood sugar if I have diabetes?
Monitoring your blood sugar levels is one of the most important parts of diabetes management. Knowing your blood sugar levels informs your daily treatment and helps you keep your levels as steady as possible as you make choices about what to eat and do during the day.
What should your blood sugar level be if you have diabetes?
Target blood sugar levels vary by person. Your doctor will be able to tell you the healthiest range for your age, size, lifestyle, and other medical conditions. Your target range may also change as you age. In general, most (non-pregnant) adults should have a range of 80-130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal.
What blood sugar level confirms diabetes?
To diagnose diabetes, your doctor will look at your HbA1c levels, which give a measurement of your blood sugar levels over time. An HbA1c level of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests means you have diabetes. An HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4% means that you have prediabetes. Below 5.7% is considered normal.
How often should I check my blood sugar for type 2 diabetes?
Your doctor will tell you when it's most important to check your blood sugar. It's important to test when you have symptoms of high or low blood sugar. In general, it's good to check when you first wake up, before and after meals, before and after exercise, and before you go to sleep.
What is the normal range for a blood sugar test?
A normal range for a fasting blood sugar test is 70 to 99 mg/dL. A non-fasting blood test will give variable results, depending on when you last ate, but should be below 125 mg/dL.
Are non-invasive blood sugar tests accurate?
Researchers are still honing methods for testing blood sugar that don't involve getting a blood sample. These include passing a type of radiation into a part of the body with lots of veins, or analyzing sweat, saliva, tears, or urine. Developers are still working on accurate ways to do this. Data from blood is still the most reliable method today.
Blood Tests Boom In Medicine
Blood tests are booming as a way to diagnose a variety of diseases.
This year, the FDA approved two blood tests to detect colon cancer, a blood test was developed to diagnose Alzheimer's, and a blood test was found to accurately predict cardiovascular events in women up to 30 years in advance.
More health systems and private companies are exploring the possibilities of blood tests this year.
Blood tests
Here are some of the recent news around blood tests Becker's has covered in the past year:
A single blood test was found to predict cardiovascular events in women over a 30-year period. Swedish researchers found a blood test can diagnose Alzheimer's disease with a 91% accuracy — about 20% higher than dementia specialists. The FDA approved Guardant Health's Shield blood test for colon cancer screening. Renton, Wash.-based Providence is launching a first-of-its-kind study to examine the real-world implementation of multi-cancer early-detection blood tests. FDA advisers recommended the approval of Guardant Health's blood test to detect colon or rectal cancers — but it also raised some concerns that Guardant's test was not as accurate as colonoscopy and noted Shield detected only 13% of advanced adenomas, or precancerous tumors. Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center researchers found a blood test could detect colorectal cancer with 83.1% accuracy. The blood tests had a similar accuracy rate as at-home stool tests but are not as sensitive as a colonoscopy, researchers said. Minneapolis-based Allina Health Cancer Institute launched a first-of-its-kind clinical trial using artificial intelligence and a simple blood draw to find and diagnose breast cancer. Results from a pilot study led by New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggest that a single blood test may be able to detect the presence of 50 different cancer types. The Prostate Cancer Foundation released new guidelines for prostate-specific antigen-based screening in Black men, including using PSA blood tests as the first-line method of detection. The CDC on Jan. 18 issued updated guidance for clinicians regarding exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, urging them to consider a patient's individual history and possible exposure to the chemicals and to order blood tests as needed to detect both recent and past exposures. Blood tests are gaining popularity and in some cases appear to be a new avenue for better diagnosis. However, in cancer, criticism has arisen that throws doubt onto the accuracy of blood tests for cancer.
Criticism
Four years ago, a study found that cancer has unique microbial signatures that would allow a blood test to diagnose cancer. The research has been cited more than 600 times. Dozens of groups have based new work on the data and even the private sector has taken notice, with several companies attempting to create blood screening tests.
But in June, the paper was retracted following criticism from other scientists who brought up issues with its methodology and findings. Skeptics say that some of the microbes flagged as components of cancer signatures weren't known to exist in humans.
The "near-perfect association between microbes and cancer types reported in the study is, simply put, a fiction," an analysis published October 2023 in the journal mBio stated. The analysis also found the researchers incorrectly deployed a genomic tool to match tumor data to microbial sequencing.
"It wasn't a close call," Steven Salzberg, PhD, a computational biologist at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University, told the Journal. "This data is completely wrong."
When Nature retracted the study, it cited the above critiques and noted that the paper's authors agreed with its retraction. But the retraction has created a ripple effect, with many other studies having to correct or retract their work due to the original piece's flawed science.
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