Published: 9 Apr 2024

It can tell you hundreds of things about your lifestyle and habits.
Or, they can explain why you've been "feeling off" for the last few months.
Getting blood taken can be scary for those who've never done it, especially children. You likely have lots of questions about the process and results.
A routine blood test consists of getting blood taken at your doctor's office or at a lab. In a routine blood test, it might just be to check that nothing has changed since your last healthy test result.Blood can tell you about your organ function, diet, metabolism, illnesses, and if you have certain diseases. Often you're done in less than five minutes.
What Can Blood Tests Detect? The reasons for getting your blood tested vary. That's why doctors encourage their patients to get routine blood work done.
By analyzing the blood, scientists can detect illnesses before it's too late. Usually, the technician, nurse, or doctor will have you sit down on a chair with your feet on the ground.
This might seem scary, but it's quite straightforward.

They're one of the main ways that diseases and other medical issues are diagnosed, and they can be critical in early detection.
But most people don't understand what blood work they need to get done on a regular basis and how often they should be getting lab tests done. It's also an important part of protecting against the development of a health concern.
How often should bloodwork be done?
How routine your bloodwork is will likely vary by age and your overall health. It's one of the best ways for providers to see if you have any potential indicators for infection, anemia, cancer, nutritional deficiencies, and more.
A basic metabolic panel, referred to as a BMP, looks at things like sodium, glucose, and electrolytes - elements that make up your blood. This test screens your white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Blood tests are a great tool to give medical providers a look at your overall health. It's recommended that you get a blood test done at least once a year during your annual checkup.
If you've got pre-existing conditions like hypertension, heart disease, or diabetes, you may need to increase your blood work every three or six months, depending on the recommendation of your provider.With this test, providers can gain valuable insight into your muscles, heart, organs, and bones.
Tracking your test results allows your provider to keep an eye on potential concerns and see if there are any changes that occur from year to year. With so many lab options, it can be overwhelming, so we're breaking down exactly what you need to know about blood work so you can take control of your health.
What is routine blood work?
One of the most important blood tests you can have done on a regular basis is a complete blood count test, also known as a CBC test.