Editing Blood test (section)

===Biochemical analysis===
A [[basic metabolic panel]] measures [[sodium]], [[potassium]], [[chloride]], [[bicarbonate]], [[blood urea nitrogen]] (BUN), [[magnesium]], [[creatinine]], [[glucose]], and sometimes [[calcium]]. Tests that focus on cholesterol levels can determine [[LDL cholesterol|LDL]] and [[HDL cholesterol]] levels, as well as [[triglyceride]] levels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Belargo |first=Kevin |title=Cholesterol Levels |url=http://ldlhdlcholesterollevels.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118114849/http://ldlhdlcholesterollevels.org/ |archive-date=18 January 2012 |access-date=17 January 2012 |publisher=Manic EP}}</ref>

Some tests, such as those that measure glucose or a [[lipid profile]], require fasting (or no food consumption) eight to twelve hours prior to the drawing of the blood sample.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fasting blood samples |url=http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1018.aspx?CategoryID=69&SubCategoryID=693 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621000111/http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1018.aspx?CategoryID=69&SubCategoryID=693 |archive-date=June 21, 2012 |access-date=June 21, 2012 |publisher=NHS UK}}</ref>

For the majority of tests, blood is usually obtained from the patient's vein. Other specialized tests, such as the [[arterial blood gas]] test, require blood extracted from an [[artery]]. Blood gas analysis of arterial blood is primarily used to monitor [[carbon dioxide]] and [[oxygen]] levels related to [[pulmonary]] function, but is also used to measure blood [[pH]] and [[bicarbonate]] levels for certain metabolic conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blood gases |url=http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-gases-test/Pages/Introduction.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506082818/http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-gases-test/Pages/Introduction.aspx |archive-date=May 6, 2012 |access-date=June 21, 2012 |publisher=NHS UK}}</ref>

While the regular [[glucose test]] is taken at a certain point in time, the [[glucose tolerance test]] involves repeated testing to determine the rate at which [[glucose]] is processed by the body.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glucose tolerance test |url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003466.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609040705/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003466.htm |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |access-date=June 21, 2012 |publisher=Medline}}</ref>

Blood tests are also used to identify autoimmune diseases and [[Immunoglobulin E]]-mediated food allergies (see also [[Radioallergosorbent test]]).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/77830546 |title=Handbook of nutrition and food |date=2008 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |others=Carolyn D. Berdanier, Johanna T. Dwyer, Elaine B. Feldman |isbn=978-0-8493-9218-4 |edition=2 |location=Boca Raton |oclc=77830546}}</ref>{{Rp|page=1118}}

====Normal ranges====
{{Main|Reference ranges for blood tests}}
Blood tests results should always be interpreted using the ranges provided by the laboratory that performed the test. Example ranges are shown below.
{| class="wikitable"
 !Test<ref>C. A. Burtis and E. R. Ashwood, ''Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry'' (1994) 2nd edition, {{ISBN|0-7216-4472-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Blood tests normal ranges |url=http://www.empr.com/reference-values-for-commonly-ordered-blood-tests/article/123621/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621070222/http://www.empr.com/reference-values-for-commonly-ordered-blood-tests/article/123621/ |archive-date=June 21, 2018 |access-date=June 21, 2012 |publisher=Monthly Prescribing Reference}}</ref>|| Low || High || Unit || Comments
 |-
 | [[Sodium]] (Na) || 134 || 145 || mmol/L ||
 |-
 | [[Potassium]] (K) || 3.5 || 5.0 || mmol/L ||
 |-
 | [[Urea]] || 2.5 || 6.4 || mmol/L || [[Blood urea nitrogen]] (BUN)
 |-
 | Urea || 15 || 40 || mg/dL ||
 |-
 | [[Creatinine]] - male || 62 || 115 || μmol/L ||
 |-
 | Creatinine - female || 53 || 97 || μmol/L ||
 |-
 | Creatinine - male || 0.7 || 1.3 || mg/dL ||
 |-
 | Creatinine - female || 0.6 || 1.2
 || mg/dL ||
 |-
 | [[Blood sugar|Glucose]] (fasting) || 3.9 || 5.8 || mmol/L || ''See also'' [[glycated hemoglobin]]
 |-
 | Glucose (fasting) || 70 || 120 || mg/dL ||
 |-
 |}

====Common abbreviations====
Upon completion of a blood test analysis, patients may receive a report with blood test abbreviations. Examples of common blood test abbreviations are shown below.
{| class="wikitable"
!Abbreviation<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations |url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/appendixb.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425091357/https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/appendixb.html |archive-date=2016-04-25 |access-date=2016-04-16 |website=MedlinePlus |publisher=U.S. National Library of Medicine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Understanding Blood Tests Online |url=https://www.labtestsportal.com/online-blood-test/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409214339/https://www.labtestsportal.com/online-blood-test/ |archive-date=2016-04-09 |access-date=2016-04-16 |website=Lab Tests Portal}}</ref>
!Stands for
!Description
|-
|HDL
|[[High Density Lipoprotein]]
|Level of "good cholesterol" in the blood (ratio of HDL:LDL is usually more significant than actual values)
|-
|LDL
|[[Low Density Lipoprotein]]
|Level of "bad cholesterol" in the blood (ratio of HDL:LDL is usually more significant than actual values)
|-
|PV
|[[Hyperviscosity syndrome|Plasma Viscosity]]
|Plasma Viscometry (PV) is the measurement of the viscosity of blood plasma. The result is a number given in milliPascal seconds (m.Pas.s) – known as the PV, or plasma viscosity.
|-
|CRP
|[[C-Reactive Protein]]
|Level of inflammation with the body. If the immune system is fighting an infection or illness, CRP will be higher.
|-
|CBC
(UK: FBC)
|[[Complete Blood Count]]
(UK: Full Blood Count)
|Analysis of 15 different blood test readings to provide information about overall health.
|-
|TSH
|[[Thyroid-stimulating hormone]]
|Thyroid regulates the function of metabolism. Low levels can lead to weight loss, while high levels lead to weight gain.
|-
|PTH
|[[Parathyroid hormone]]
|Regulates [[Calcium in biology|serum calcium]]
|-
|ESR
|[[Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate]]
|Indicates the time it takes for red blood cells to move down a tube. This shows signs of inflammation within a body.
|-
|INR
|[[International Normalized Ratio]]
|This is a blood clotting test.
|-
|LFT
|Liver Function Test
|This test reveals the levels of waste products, enzymes and proteins that are processed by the liver.
|-
|U+E
|Urea and Electrolytes
|This test is performed to measure the function of kidney.
|-
|CMP
|[[Comprehensive Metabolic Panel]]
|This analysis provides an overall picture of the metabolism and chemical balance of the body.
|-
|WBC
|[[White Blood Cell]] Count
|The level of white blood cells.
|-
|RBC
|[[Red Blood Cell]] Count
|The level of red blood cells.
|-
|HBC
|[[Hemoglobin]]
|Level of hemoglobin molecules.
|-
|HCT
|[[Hematocrit]]
|Similar to RBC but in percentage.
|-
|PLT
|[[Platelets]]
|Platelets levels in the blood.
|}