Published: 9 Jul 2024

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. 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. 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. 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.Blood tests are a great tool to give medical providers a look at your overall health. 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. This test screens your white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. 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.

They also help in determining the presence of pathogens in the body. Blood test is an important laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample. Presence of various harmful chemicals, poison and even drugs can be determined through the blood test. It also performs many regulatory functions like the regulation of body pH of the body and also the regulation of core body temperature. It is therefore important that the reports of the blood test and the lab test results are properly understood by the patient so that he/she has a clear understanding of the ailment of the body.Other than this the blood being the only liquid majorly circulating in the body also performs the important hydraulic functions. The analysis is usually performed by comparing the amount of various chemical entities present in the blood under test to the standard ratio of one or more chemical entities that are actually supposed to be present in the blood. The difference in the proportion of various vital metabolites and constituents in the blood help in identifying the presence of various ailments of the body. Blood tests are mainly used to determine physiological and biochemical states, such as disease, mineral content, drug effectiveness, and organ function. This sample is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a needle or via a finger-prick. The regulation of the internal body temperature despite the changes in the outside atmosphere is particularly important in the warm blooded animals. Differences in the quantities and proportions are determined.