What do doctors check for in "routine blood work"?

Question

What do doctors check for in "routine blood work"?

Answer 1

I'm assuming you mean a blood test which requires you to fast overnight. Such tests check your cholesterol levels, your full blood count, sugar level, liver function etc. Sometimes it can tell if you have an infection too (for example by checking your ESR or white cell count [don't know the proper term for this sorry])

Answer 2

Usually in a routine blood work they are doing a

  CBC = complete blood count which measures your blood components such as platelet count, white cell count and red cell count

   Glucose = your blood sugar level

Most of the time they will also run a routine urinalysis at the same time as a rountine blood workup

Other tests can be added to check your throid funtion, liver function, and more

Answer 3

Routine blood investigations also help in diagnosis .To eliminate certain diseases and to diagnose, it is done. .

Answer 4

This is what I test when people come in to the ER:

Electrolytes- Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, Bicarbonate- these are required for nerve, muscle, and heart function. The levels are controlled by the kidneys so it gives you some idea of kidney function and water balance.

BUN/Creatine- measures kidney function and looks for dehydration

Glucose- Gives you an idea of diabetes

White Blood Cell count- goes up if you have an infection. Also can be effected by blood cancers

Hemoglobin/Hematocrit- Looks for anemia, can reveal iron deficiency and certain vitamin deficiencies. Also can be effected by GI tract bleeds and blood cancers.

Platelets- Important for blood clotting, levels can be effected by certain medications and blood cancers.

Liver enzymes- like AST/ALT/GGT/alk phos- signs of liver damage from things like alcoholism, hepatitis B or C, etc...

Urinanalysis- can find infections, diabetes, certain kidney diseases

Urine Drug screen- amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, opiates, benzodiazepines

On a routine check up you would also check TSH which measurses thyroid function (metabolism, etc...)

Answer 5

Sometimes they check for thyroid levels.  If you are experiencing lethargy, unexplained weight gain and loss of hair, you may have an under-active thyroid.

Answer 6

routine lab work depends upon the doctor's speciality.

generally it consists of a CBC, Basic Chemistry panel or a Comprehensive Chemistry panel, urinalysis, and perhaps a Protime and PTT.