Have
you thought what happens to your blood sample after it is collected? Yes, it is
sent to the lab, but what does that entail? We know that blood tests can
provide us insight on our health issues what we are unable to see from outside.
After the blood test, the samples are sent in the laboratory where trained
laboratorians use different methods for analyzing the blood sample according to
the types of tests you are prescribed by the doctor. But many of us are still
unaware of how this whole process is conducted so we will discuss in this
article how blood tests are analysed.
Collecting blood sample
Generally,
a doctor, nurse, laboratorian, phlebotomist or other medical professional will
draw your blood depending on the facility available, where you will draw your
blood. At first, a nurse will rub distilled spirit on the outer portion of the
arm near the elbow and then insert a needle into your vein. Even sometimes,
more than one sample is collected when multiple tests are ordered. Different
collection tubes with special preservatives are drawn in a specific order. If
you are unable to visit your doctor, then you can even Book Blood Test Online, according to your schedule.
Labelling the blood samples
As
soon as the blood is drawn, then the tubes are taken for labelling. It is
important that the person who is drawing the sample should label the tube
properly. In many labs, the labels are printed with different identification
details like unique patient identification number, patient's name and a
barcoded label that carries information that is needed for the test.
Documentation
Once
the sample has been collected and labelled then all the samples are transported
to the lab to be logged in. After the specimen arrives in the lab, your blood
sample goes into the laboratory's tracking system. In that tracking system, all
necessary information is read to ensure that the sample is analyzed for
particular tests that match your name. Sometimes along with your information,
your practitioner’s information is also included so that the results can be
sent back to the proper address and to the appropriate person as well.
Processing
Depending
on the level of urgency, your blood sample is processed sometimes before
analyation. In general, routine laboratory tests are performed either on
plasma or serum. First of all, the blood is collected in a tube without
anticoagulant then it left for spinning for some time. After spinning the tube
in the centrifuge, the serum is left on the top of the tube while the clot
moves down with the cells to the bottom of the tube.
Automated testing
In
recent times, there is an instrument called a blood analyzer that analyzes the
blood sample. The tube is placed directly into the machine. Even some of the
state-of-the-art analyzer is capable of running up to 120 samples per hour.
Usually, the chemistry analyzers use a serum or plasma, while the haematology
and coagulation analyzers use blood containing anticoagulant in order to
prevent clotting.
In
case, due to your busy schedule, you fail to book a blood test appointment with
your doctor, then you can look for an
online blood test procedure. Your blood test results generally arrive in
three to seven days. If you just had a standard blood test and results don’t
show any signs of disease, then there are no next steps. In case if any signs
of disease are found, then you should contact your doctor immediately.
