Exploring 4 Common Diagnostic Blood Tests

Since blood is so vital to life, it makes sense that blood testing is a common and valuable way to monitor your health. Routine blood testing is often part of regular wellness exams to ensure your body is working as it should, and some tests can be helpful to monitor progress or treatment for health conditions. 

At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, we do much of our lab work in-house, giving you fast results for a wide range of blood testing and beyond. One blood sample can be used for several common diagnostic evaluations. 

Let’s take a look at some of the diagnostic blood tests you’re most likely to encounter. 

Complete blood count (CBC)

The most common blood test, the CBC, measures blood components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The test also evaluates the condition of your red cells and their ability to transport oxygen into your system, as well as remove carbon dioxide. 

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)

Your body’s metabolism is the collection of processes that keep it running. Metabolic panels measure these processes, and the CMP is the most thorough, checking over a dozen individual indicators. These include: 

• Albumin tests: kidney and liver function
• Alanine transaminase: liver health
• Alkaline phosphatase: bone disorders and liver disease
• Ammonia level: signs of kidney or liver damage
• Aspartate transferase: liver health
• Bilirubin: bile levels
• Blood glucose: diabetes screening
• Blood urea nitrogen: kidney function
• Creatine kinase: muscle function
• CO2: carbon dioxide levels
• Chloride: electrolyte balance
• Globulin: liver function
• Serum potassium levels
• Sodium and calcium levels

The CMP provides detailed information about important organ conditions in your body. 

Lipid panel

Lipids are a chemical name for fats. A lipid panel screens levels of body fats like total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and triglycerides. These measures are a key part of assessing your cardiovascular health. 

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test

Another diabetes assessment tool, the A1C test, gives an overview of long-term blood sugar control, forming an average picture of blood glucose levels in the two to three-month period prior to your blood test. 

Red blood cells have a life span lasting up to three months, and when your blood glucose is high, these molecules bind with red blood cells, creating a blood sugar tracking indicator. 

There are other blood panels available for verifying the existence of problems, such as hormone and thyroid imbalances. 

Conveniently located

We are conveniently located near Boston and proudly extend our services to communities throughout Norfolk, Plymouth, Bristol, and Providence counties, including Braintree, Canton, Stoughton, Westwood, Norwood, and Walpole. 

Whether you're in Foxborough, Easton, Brockton, or Abington, we're just a short drive away. We also welcome clients from West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater, and Middleborough, as well as Taunton, Norton, Mansfield, and Attleboro. 

Our reach extends to Rehoboth, Somerset, Swansea, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, and even further to Wareham, Plymouth, and Pembroke. Rhode Island residents in Providence, East Providence, and Warwick can also rely on our services.

Learn more about blood testing and how it may help monitor your health by consulting with Dr. John Terzian and our team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC. Book your visit online or by calling the office directly today.