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What is Blood Work?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

The term blood work is used in the medical community to describe the act of analyzing blood for certain characteristics or in order to determine whether the person from whom the blood was drawn is suffering from a certain disease. The first step in the blood work process is for a doctor or medical professional to deem the testing or analysis necessary. At this point blood is drawn from the patient and stored in sealed capsules until it undergoes the required tests or analysis. There are various kinds of laboratory equipment that are used to carry out blood testing. The results of blood work are used to inform a patient about his health, rule out the causes of certain symptoms, and possibly gather more information about an existing condition.

In order to gather blood samples, blood is taken from a patient by a doctor, nurse, or phlebotomist. It is most common for the blood to be collected from a vein in the arm. In cases where just a small amount of blood is needed, it may be collected by pricking the the pad on one of the patient's fingers. In some cases, the patient's blood is taken right in his doctor's office. In other cases, he will go to have his blood taken at a special diagnostic center.

A diagram of the composition of the blood.
A diagram of the composition of the blood.

Depending on the type of blood test that is being administered and whether the results are needed urgently, the amount of time that it takes to complete blood work can vary. Routine blood work can often be completed in a matter of days. If a doctor requires the results more quickly, it may be possible to get blood work results on the same day that the blood is drawn.

Blood work involves testing a blood sample.
Blood work involves testing a blood sample.

In some cases, the cost of blood work is covered by health insurance providers. Depending on the policies of the health insurance company, however, patients may be required to pay for all or part of the costs of their blood work in some cases. It is also common for health insurance providers to complete blood work on their own when they are in the process of extending a policy to a new client. In so doing, the insurance company can test for a number of diseases and conditions and base the terms of the health insurance policy on this collected information.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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    • A diagram of the composition of the blood.
      By: Balint Radu
      A diagram of the composition of the blood.
    • Blood work involves testing a blood sample.
      By: Alexander Gospodinov
      Blood work involves testing a blood sample.
    • The blood is tested by highly-trained technicians working in a lab.
      By: motorlka
      The blood is tested by highly-trained technicians working in a lab.
    • The first step in blood work is to draw the blood from the patient.
      By: inkaone
      The first step in blood work is to draw the blood from the patient.
    • Sometimes it is necessary for a patient to have her blood taken and analyzed at a special blood diagnostic center.
      By: luchshen
      Sometimes it is necessary for a patient to have her blood taken and analyzed at a special blood diagnostic center.
    • Blood work is the act of taking and analyzing blood for diagnostic purposes.
      By: luchschen_shutter
      Blood work is the act of taking and analyzing blood for diagnostic purposes.
    • Blood work is the process of screening blood and analyzing certain characteristics to determine whether someone has an illness or health condition.
      By: weim
      Blood work is the process of screening blood and analyzing certain characteristics to determine whether someone has an illness or health condition.
    • Some blood tests require only a drop of blood from a finger prick.
      By: spflaum
      Some blood tests require only a drop of blood from a finger prick.