The blood serves three main functions:Transport. The blood transports gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the lungs and the rest of the body. The blood also moves nutrients from the digestive tract to the rest of the body, and transports waste products, hormones, and other cells.Protection. The blood contains white blood cells that destroy invading microorganisms, as well as platelet factors to clot the blood and minimize blood loss from an injury.Regulation. The blood helps to regulate your bodys pH, water balance, and temperature.Your blood has a lot of important responsibilities, so its no wonder that people are looking for ways to keep their blood free of wastes and toxins.BloodEncyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood clots. Situations in which a blood clot is more likely to form in veins include: Being on long-term bed rest Sitting for long periods, such as in a plane or car During and after pregnancy Taking birth control pills or estrogen hormones (especially in women who smoke) Long-term use of an intravenous catheter After surgery Blood clots are also more likely to form after an injury. People with cancer, obesity, and liver or kidney disease are also prone to blood clots. Smoking also increases the risk of forming blood clots. Conditions that are passed down through families (inherited) may make you more likely to form abnormal blood clots. Inherited conditions that affect clotting are: Factor V Leiden thrombophilia Prothrombin G20210A mutation Other rare conditions, such as protein C, protein S , and antithrombin III deficiencies. A blood clot may block an artery or vein in the heart, affecting the: Heart (angina or a heart attack) Intestines ( mesenteric ischemia or mesenteric venous thrombosis ) Kidneys ( renal vein thrombosis ) Leg or arm arteries Legs ( deep vein thrombosis ) Lungs ( pulmonary embolism ) Neck or brain (stroke).Clot; Emboli; Thrombi; Thromboembolus; Hypercoagulable state.Deep vein thrombosis - discharge Taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) - what to ask your doctor Taking warfarin (Coumadin).Thrombus Thrombus Deep venous thrombosis, ileofemoral Deep venous thrombosis, iliofemoral.Anderson JA, Hogg KE, Weitz JI. Hypercoagulable states.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood culture. A blood sample is needed. The site where blood will be drawn is first cleaned with an antiseptic such as chlorhexidine. This reduces the chance of an organism from the skin getting into (contaminating) the blood sample and causing a false-positive result (see below). The sample is sent to a laboratory. There, it is placed in a special dish (culture). It is then watched to see if bacteria or other disease-causing germs grow. A gram stain may also be done. A gram stain is a method of identifying bacteria using a special series of stains (colors). With some infections, bacteria can be found in the blood only intermittently. So, a series of three or more blood cultures may be done to increase the chance of finding the infection.There is no special preparation.When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.Your health care provider may order this test if you have symptoms of a serious infection, also known as sepsis. Symptoms of sepsis can include high fever, chills, rapid breathing and heart rate, confusion, and low blood pressure. The blood culture helps identify the type of bacteria causing the infection. This helps your provider determine how best to treat the infection.A normal value means that no bacteria or other germs were seen in your blood sample.An abnormal (positive) result means that germs were identified in your blood. The medical term for this is bacteremia. This can be the result of sepsis. Sepsis is a medical emergency and you will be admitted to a hospital for treatment. Other types of germs, such as a fungus or a virus, may also be found in a blood culture. Sometimes, an abnormal result can be due to contamination. This means bacteria may be found, but it came from your skin or from the lab equipment, instead of your blood. This is called a false-positive result. It means you do not have a true infection.There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include: Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken).Culture - blood.Beavis KG, Charnot-Katsikas A. Specimen collection and handling for diagnosis of infectious diseases.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood differential test. A blood sample is needed. A laboratory specialist takes a drop of blood from your sample and smears it onto a glass slide. The smear is stained with a special dye, which helps tell the difference between various types of white blood cells. Five types of white blood cells, also called leukocytes, normally appear in the blood: Neutrophils Lymphocytes (B cells and T cells) Monocytes Eosinophils Basophils A special machine or a health care provider counts the number of each type of cell. The test shows if the number of cells are in proper proportion with one another, and if there is more or less of one cell type.No special preparation is necessary.When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.This test is done to diagnose an infection, anemia , or leukemia. It may also be used to monitor one of these conditions, or to see if treatment is working.The different types of white blood cells are given as a percentage: Neutrophils: 40% to 60% Lymphocytes: 20% to 40% Monocytes: 2% to 8% Eosinophils: 1% to 4% Basophils: 0.5% to 1% Band (young neutrophil): 0% to 3%.Any infection or acute stress increases your number of white blood cells. High white blood cell counts may be due to inflammation, an immune response, or blood diseases such as leukemia. It is important to realize that an abnormal increase in one type of white blood cell can cause a decrease in the percentage of other types of white blood cells. An increased percentage of neutrophils may be due to: Acute infection Acute stress Eclampsia (seizures or coma in a pregnant woman) Gout (type of arthritis due to uric acid buildup in the blood) Myelocytic leukemia (a bone marrow cancer) Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatic fever (disease due to an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria) Thyroiditis (a thyroid disease) Trauma A decreased percentage of neutrophils may be due to: Aplastic anemia Chemotherapy Influenza (flu) Radiation therapy or exposure Viral infection Widespread severe bacterial infection An increased percentage of lymphocytes may be due to: Chronic bacterial infection Infectious hepatitis (liver swelling and inflammation from bacteria or viruses) Infectious mononucleosis , or mono (viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands) Lymphocytic leukemia (a type of blood cancer) Multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer) Viral infection (such as mumps or measles ) A decreased percentage of lymphocytes may be due to: Chemotherapy HIV/AIDS infection Leukemia Radiation therapy or exposure Sepsis (severe, inflammatory response to bacteria or other germs) Steroid use An increased percentage of monocytes may be due to: Chronic inflammatory disease Leukemia Parasitic infection Tuberculosis , or TB (bacterial infection that involves the lungs) Viral infection (for example, infectious mononucleosis, mumps, measles) An increased percentage of eosinophils may be due to: Addison disease (adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones) Allergic reaction Cancer Chronic myelogenous leukemia Collagen vascular disease Hypereosinophilic syndromes Parasitic infection An increased percentage of basophils may be due to: After splenectomy Allergic reaction Chronic myelogenous leukemia (a type of bone marrow cancer) Collagen vascular disease Myeloproliferative diseases (group of bone marrow diseases) Chickenpox A decreased percentage of basophils may be due to: Acute infection Cancer Severe injury.There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include: Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken).Differential; Diff; White blood cell differential count.Basophil (close-up) Basophil (close-up) Formed elements of blood Formed elements of blood.Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Differential leukocyte count (diff) - peripheral blood.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood donation before surgery. Hsu YMS, Ness PM, Cushing MM. Principles of red blood cell transfusion.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood gases. Usually, blood is taken from an artery. In some cases, blood from a vein may be used. Blood may be collected from one of the following arteries: Radial artery in the wrist Femoral artery in the groin Brachial artery in the arm The health care provider may test circulation to the hand before taking a sample of blood from the wrist area. The provider inserts a small needle through the skin into the artery. The sample is quickly sent to a laboratory for analysis.There is no special preparation. If you are on oxygen therapy, the oxygen concentration must remain constant for 20 minutes before the test. Tell your provider if you are taking any blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants), including aspirin.When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.The test is used to evaluate respiratory diseases and conditions that affect the lungs. It helps determine the effectiveness of oxygen therapy. The test also provides information about the body's acid/base balance, which can reveal important clues about lung and kidney function and the body's general metabolic state.Values at sea level: Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2): 75 to 100 mm Hg (10.5 to 13.5 kPa) Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2): 38 to 42 mm Hg (5.1 to 5.6 kPa) Arterial blood pH: 7.38 to 7.42 Oxygen saturation (SaO2): 94% to 100% Bicarbonate - (HCO3): 22 to 28 mEq/L Note: mEq/L = milliequivalents per liter; mmHg = millimeters of mercury At altitudes of 3,000 feet (900 meters) and higher, the oxygen value is lower. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.Abnormal results may be due to lung, kidney, or metabolic diseases. Head or neck injuries or other injuries that affect breathing can also lead to abnormal results.There is very little risk when the procedure is done correctly. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with this test may include: Bleeding at the puncture site Blood flow problems at puncture site (rare) Bruising at the puncture site Delayed bleeding at the puncture site Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken).Arterial blood gas analysis; ABG; Hypoxia - ABG; Respiratory failure - ABG.Blood gases test Blood gases test.Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Blood gases, arterial (ABG) - blood.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood in the semen. Most of the time, blood in the semen is caused by swelling or infection of the prostate or seminal vesicles. The problem may occur after a prostate biopsy. Blood in the semen may also be caused by: Blockage due to enlarged prostate (prostate problems) Infection of the prostate Irritation in the urethra (urethritis) Injury to the urethra Often, the cause of the problem cannot be found. Sometimes, the visible blood will last several days to weeks, depending on the cause of the blood and if any clots formed in the seminal vesicles. Depending on the cause, other symptoms that may occur include: Blood in the urine Fever or chills Lower back pain Pain with bowel movement Pain with ejaculation Pain with urination Swelling in the scrotum Swelling or tenderness in the groin area Tenderness in the scrotum.The following steps may help ease discomfort from a prostate infection or urinary infection: Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Drink plenty of fluids. Eat high-fiber foods to make bowel movements easier.Always call your health care provider if you notice any blood in your semen.The provider will perform a physical exam and look for signs of: Discharge from the urethra Enlarged or tender prostate Fever Swollen lymph nodes Swollen or tender scrotum You may need the following tests: Prostate exam PSA blood test Semen analysis Semen culture Ultrasound of the prostate, pelvis or scrotum Urinalysis Urine culture.Semen - bloody; Blood in ejaculation.Blood in semen Blood in semen.Gerber GS, Brendler CB. Evaluation of the urologic patient: history, physical examination, and urinalysis.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood pressure measurement. Sit in a chair with your back supported. Your legs should be uncrossed, and your feet on the floor. Your arm should be supported so that your upper arm is at heart level. Roll up your sleeve so that your arm is bare. Be sure the sleeve is not bunched up and squeezing your arm. If it is, take your arm out of the sleeve, or remove the shirt entirely. You or your provider will wrap the blood pressure cuff snugly around your upper arm. The lower edge of the cuff should be 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the bend of your elbow. The cuff will be inflated quickly. This is done either by pumping the squeeze bulb or pushing a button on the device. You will feel tightness around your arm. Next, the valve of the cuff is opened slightly, allowing the pressure to slowly fall. As the pressure falls, the reading when the sound of blood pulsing is first heard is recorded. This is the systolic pressure. As the air continues to be let out, the sounds will disappear. The point at which the sound stops is recorded. This is the diastolic pressure. Inflating the cuff too slowly or not inflating it to a high enough pressure may cause a false reading. If you loosen the valve too much, you will not be able to measure your blood pressure. The procedure may be done two or more times.Before you measure your blood pressure: Rest for at least 5 minutes, 10 minutes is better, before blood pressure is taken. DO NOT take your blood pressure when you are under stress, have had caffeine or used tobacco in the past 30 minutes, or have exercised recently. Take 2 or 3 readings at a sitting. Take the readings 1 minute apart. Remain seated. When checking your blood pressure on your own, note the time of the readings. Your provider may suggest that you do your readings at certain times of the day. You may want to take your blood pressure in the morning and at night for a week. This will give you at least 14 readings and will help your provider make decisions about your blood pressure treatment.You will feel slight discomfort when the blood pressure cuff is inflated to its highest level.High blood pressure has no symptoms so you may not know if you have this problem. High blood pressure is often discovered during a visit to the provider for another reason (such as a routine physical exam). Finding high blood pressure and treating it early can help prevent heart disease, stroke, eye problems, or chronic kidney disease. All adults over the age of 18 should have their blood pressure checked every year. More frequent measurement may be needed for those with a history of high blood pressure readings or those with risk factors for high blood pressure. Your provider may recommend more frequent screenings based on your blood pressure levels and other health conditions.Blood pressure readings are usually given as two numbers. For example, your provider might tell you that your blood pressure is 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mm Hg). One or both of these numbers can be too high. Normal blood pressure is when the top number (systolic blood pressure) is below 120 most of the time, and the bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) is below 80 most of the time (written as 120/80 mm Hg).If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 130/80 mm Hg, you have elevated blood pressure. If your blood pressure is higher than 130/80 but lower than 140/90 mm Hg, you have Stage 1 high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mm Hg, you have Stage 2 high blood pressure. If you have diabetes, heart disease, or kidney problems, or if you had a stroke, your provider may want your blood pressure to be lower. The most commonly used blood pressure targets for people with these medical problems are below 130 to 140/80 mm Hg. Most of the time, high blood pressure does not cause symptoms.It is normal for your blood pressure to vary at different times of the day: It is usually higher when you are at work. It drops slightly when you are at home. It is usually lowest when you are sleeping. It is normal for your blood pressure to increase suddenly when you wake up. In people with very high blood pressure, this is when they are most at risk for a heart attack and stroke. Blood pressure readings taken at home may be a better measure of your current blood pressure than those taken at your provider s office. Make sure your home blood pressure monitor is accurate. Ask your provider to compare your home readings with those taken in the office. Many people get nervous at the provider s office and have higher readings than they have at home. This is called white coat hypertension. Home blood pressure readings can help detect this problem.Diastolic blood pressure; Systolic blood pressure; Blood pressure reading; Measuring blood pressure; Hypertension - blood pressure measurement; High blood pressure - blood pressure measurement; Sphygmomanometry.American Diabetes Association. Cardiovascular disease and risk management. Diabetes Care. 2017;40(Suppl 1):S75-S87. PMID 27979896 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27979896. Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Examination techniques and equipment.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood pressure monitors for home. Hypertension - home monitoring.Elliott WJ, Peixoto AJ, Bakris GL. Primary and secondary hypertension.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood smear. A blood sample is needed. The blood sample is sent to a lab. There, the lab technician looks at it under a microscope. Or, the blood may be examined by an automated machine. The smear provides this information: The number and kinds of white blood cells ( differential , or percentage of each type of cell) The number and kinds of abnormally shaped blood cells A rough estimate of white blood cell and platelet counts.No special preparation is necessary.When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.This test may be done as part of a general health exam to help diagnose many illnesses. Or, your health care provider may recommend this test if you have signs of: Any known or suspected blood disorder Cancer Leukemia A blood smear may also be done to monitor the side effects of chemotherapy or to help diagnose an infection, such as malaria.Red blood cells normally are the same size and color and are a lighter color in the center. The blood smear is considered normal if there is: Normal appearance of cells Normal white blood cell differential Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results.Abnormal results mean the size, shape, color, or coating of the red blood cells (RBCs) is not normal. Some abnormalities may be graded on a 4-point scale: 1+ means one quarter of cells are affected 2+ means one half of cells are affected 3+ means three quarters of cells are affected 4+ means all of the cells are affected Presence of cells called target cells may be due to: Deficiency of an enzyme called lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase Abnormal hemoglobin , the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen (hemoglobinopathies) Iron deficiency Liver disease Spleen removal Presence of sphere-shaped cells may be due to: Low number of RBCs due to the body destroying them ( immune hemolytic anemia ) Low number of RBCs due to some red blood cells shaped like spheres ( hereditary spherocytosis ) Increased breakdown of RBCs Presence of RBCs with an oval shape may be a sign of hereditary elliptocytosis or hereditary ovalocytosis. These are conditions in which RBCs are abnormally shaped. Presence of fragmented cells may be due to: Artificial heart valve Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive ( disseminated intravascular coagulation ) Infection in the digestive system producing toxic substances that destroy red blood cells, causing kidney injury ( hemolytic uremic syndrome ) Blood disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels around the body and leads to a low platelet count ( thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura ) Presence of a type of immature red blood cells called normoblasts may be due to: Cancer that has spread to bone marrow Blood disorder called erythroblastosis fetalis that affects a fetus or newborn Tuberculosis that has spread from the lungs to other parts of the body through the blood ( miliary tuberculosis ) Disorder of the bone marrow in which the marrow is replaced by fibrous scar tissue ( myelofibrosis ) Removal of spleen Severe breakdown of RBCs ( hemolysis ) Disorder in which there is excessive breakdown of hemoglobin ( thalassemia ) The presence of cells called burr cells may indicate: Abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood ( uremia ) The presence of cells called spur cells may indicate: Inability to fully absorb dietary fats through the intestines ( abetalipoproteinemia ) Severe liver disease The presence of teardrop-shaped cells may indicate: Myelofibrosis Severe iron deficiency Thalassemia major Cancer in the bone marrow Anemia caused by bone marrow not producing normal blood cells due to toxins or tumor cells (myelophthisic process) The presence of Howell-Jolly bodies (a type of granule) may indicate: Bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells (myelodysplasia) Spleen has been removed Sickle cell anemia The presence of Heinz bodies (bits of altered hemoglobin) may indicate: Alpha thalassemia Congenital hemolytic anemia Disorder in which red blood cells break down when the body is exposed to certain drugs or is stressed because of infection ( G6PD deficiency ) Unstable form of hemoglobin The presence of slightly immature red blood cells may indicate: Anemia with bone marrow recovery Hemolytic anemia Hemorrhage The presence of basophilic stippling (a spotted appearance) may indicate: Lead poisoning Disorder of the bone marrow in which the marrow is replaced by fibrous scar tissue (myelofibrosis) The presence of sickle cells may indicate sickle cell anemia.There is little risk involved with having your blood taken.Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include: Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken).Peripheral smear; Complete blood count - peripheral; CBC - peripheral.Red blood cells, sickle cell Red blood cells, sickle cell Red blood cells, tear-drop shape Red blood cells, tear-drop shape Red blood cells, normal Red blood cells, normal Red blood cells, elliptocytosis Red blood cells, elliptocytosis Red blood cells, spherocytosis Red blood cells, spherocytosis Acute lymphocytic leukemia - photomicrograph Acute lymphocytic leukemia - photomicrograph Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells Malaria, microscopic view of cellular parasites Malaria, microscopic view of cellular parasites Malaria, photomicrograph of cellular parasites Malaria, photomicrograph of cellular parasites Red blood cells, sickle cells Red blood cells, sickle cells Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer Red blood cells, sickle and Pappenheimer Red blood cells, target cells Red blood cells, target cells Formed elements of blood Formed elements of blood.Bain BJ. The peripheral blood smear.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood sugar test. A blood sample is needed.The test may be done in the following ways: After you have not eaten anything for at least 8 hours (fasting) At any time of the day (random) Two hours after you drink a certain amount of glucose ( oral glucose tolerance test ).When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of diabetes. More than likely, the doctor will order a fasting blood sugar test. The blood glucose test is also used to monitor people who already have diabetes. The test may also be done if you have: An increase in how often you need to urinate Recently gained a lot of weight Blurred vision Confusion or a change in the way you normally talk or behave Fainting spells Seizures (for the first time) Unconsciousness or coma SCREENING FOR DIABETES This test may also be used to screen a person for diabetes. High blood sugar and diabetes may not cause symptoms in the early stages. A fasting blood sugar test is almost always done to screen for diabetes. If you are over age 45, you should be tested every 3 years. If you're overweight (body mass index, or BMI, of 25 or higher) and have any of the risk factors below, ask your health care provider about getting tested at an earlier age and more often: High blood sugar level on a previous test Blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher, or unhealthy cholesterol levels History of heart disease Member of a high-risk ethnic group (African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander) Woman who has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes Polycystic ovary disease (condition in which a woman has an imbalance of female sex hormones causing cysts in the ovaries) Close relative with diabetes (such as a parent, brother, or sister) Not physically active Children age 10 and older who are overweight and have at least two of the risk factors listed above should be tested for type 2 diabetes every 3 years, even if they have no symptoms.If you had a fasting blood glucose test, a level between 70 and 100 mg/dL (3.9 and 5.6 mmol/L) is considered normal. If you had a random blood glucose test, a normal result depends on when you last ate. Most of the time, the blood glucose level will be below 125 mg/dL (6.9 mmol/L). The examples above show the common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.If you had a fasting blood glucose test: A level of 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) means you have impaired fasting glucose, a type of prediabetes. This increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A level of 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) and higher usually means you have diabetes. If you had a random blood glucose test: A level of 200 mg/dL (11 mmol/L) or higher often means you have diabetes. Your provider will order a fasting blood glucose, A1C test , or glucose tolerance test , depending on your random blood glucose test result. In someone who has diabetes, an abnormal result on the random blood glucose test may mean that the diabetes is not well controlled. Other medical problems can also cause a higher-than-normal blood glucose level, including: Overactive thyroid gland Pancreatic cancer Swelling and inflammation of the pancreas ( pancreatitis ) Stress due to trauma, stroke, heart attack, or surgery Rare tumors, including pheochromocytoma , acromegaly , Cushing syndrome , or glucagonoma A lower-than-normal blood glucose level ( hypoglycemia ) may be due to: Hypopituitarism (a pituitary gland disorder) Underactive thyroid gland or adrenal gland Tumor in the pancreas ( insulinoma - very rare) Too little food Too much insulin or other diabetes medicines Liver or kidney disease Weight loss after weight loss surgery Vigorous exercise Some medicines can raise or lower your blood glucose level. Before having the test, tell your provider about all the medicines you are taking. For some thin young women, a fasting blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) may be normal.There is little risk involved with having your blood taken.Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include: Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken).Random blood sugar; Blood sugar level; Fasting blood sugar; Glucose test; Diabetic screening - blood sugar test; Diabetes - blood sugar test.Type 2 diabetes - what to ask your doctor.Blood test Blood test.American Diabetes Association. 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: standards of medical care in diabetes - 2018. Diabetes Care. 2018;41(Suppl 1):S13-S27. PMID: 29222373 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29222373. Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Glucose, 2-hour postprandial - serum.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood transfusions. The most common source of blood is from volunteers in the general public. This kind of donation is also called homologous blood donation. Many communities have a blood bank at which any healthy person can donate blood. This blood is tested to see if it matches yours. You may have read about the danger of becoming infected with hepatitis, HIV, or other viruses after a blood transfusion. Blood transfusions are not 100% safe. But the current blood supply is thought to be safer now than ever. Donated blood is tested for many different infections. Also, blood centers keep a list of unsafe donors. Donors answer a detailed list of questions about their health before they are allowed to donate. Questions include risk factors for infections that can be passed on through their blood, such as sexual habits, drug use, and current and past travel history. This blood is then tested for infectious diseases before it is allowed to be used.This method involves a family member or friend donating blood before a planned surgery. This blood is then set aside and held only for you, if you need a blood transfusion after surgery. Blood from these donors must be collected at least a few days before it is needed. The blood is tested to see if it matches yours. It is also screened for infection. Most of the time, you need to arrange with your hospital or local blood bank before your surgery to have directed donor blood. It is important to note that there is no evidence that receiving blood from family members or friends is any safer than receiving blood from the general public. In very rare cases, though, blood from family members can cause a condition called graft-versus-host disease. For this reason, the blood needs to be treated with radiation before it can be transfused.Although blood donated by the general public and used for most people is thought to be very safe, some people choose a method called autologous blood donation. Autologous blood is blood donated by you , which you later receive if you need a transfusion during or after surgery. You can have blood taken from 6 weeks to 5 days before your surgery. Your blood is stored and is good for a few weeks from the day it is collected. If your blood is not used during or after surgery, it will be thrown away.Hall BA, Chantigian RC. Blood products, transfusion, and fluid therapy.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood typing. A blood sample is needed. The test to determine your blood group is called ABO typing. Your blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Then, the sample is checked to see whether or not the blood cells stick together. If blood cells stick together, it means the blood reacted with one of the antibodies. The second step is called back typing. The liquid part of your blood without cells (serum) is mixed with blood that is known to be type A and type B. People with type A blood have anti-B antibodies. People with type B blood have anti-A antibodies. Type O blood contains both types of antibodies. The 2 steps above can accurately determine your blood type. Rh typing uses a method similar to ABO typing. When blood typing is done to see if you have Rh factor on the surface of your red blood cells, the results will be one of these: Rh+ (positive), if you have this cell surface protein Rh- (negative), if you do not have this cell surface protein.No special preparation is necessary for this test.When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.Blood typing is done so you can safely receive a blood transfusion or a transplant. Your blood type must closely match the blood type of the blood you are receiving. If the blood types do not match: Your immune system will see the donated red blood cells as foreign. Antibodies will develop against the donated red blood cells and attack these blood cells. The two ways that your blood and the donated blood may not match are: A mismatch between blood types A, B, AB, and O. This is the most common form of a mismatch. In most cases, the immune response is very severe. Rh factor may not match. Blood typing is very important during pregnancy. Careful testing can prevent a severe anemia in the newborn and jaundice.You will be told which ABO blood type you have. It will be one of these: Type A blood Type B blood Type AB blood Type O blood You will also be told whether you have Rh-positive blood or Rh-negative blood. Based on your results, your health care providers can determine which type of blood you can safely receive: If you have type A blood, you can only receive types A and O blood. If you have type B blood, you can only receive types B and O blood. If you have type AB blood, you can receive types A, B, AB, and O blood. If you have type O blood, you can only receive type O blood. If you are Rh+, you can receive Rh+ or Rh- blood. If you are Rh-, you can only receive Rh- blood. Type O blood can be given to anyone with any blood type. That is why people with type O blood are called universal blood donors.There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include: Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Excessive bleeding Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken).There are many antigens besides the major ones (A, B, and Rh). Many minor ones are not routinely detected during blood typing. If they are not detected, you may still have a reaction when receiving certain types of blood, even if the A, B, and Rh antigens are matched. A process called cross-matching followed by a Coombs test can help detect these minor antigens. It is done before transfusions, except in emergency situations.Cross matching; Rh typing; ABO blood typing; ABO blood type; A blood type; AB blood type; O blood type; Transfusion - blood typing.Erythroblastosis fetalis, photomicrograph Erythroblastosis fetalis - photomicrograph Blood types Blood types.Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Type-and-crossmatch blood.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Bloodborne pathogens. HEPATITIS Symptoms of hepatitis B and hepatitis C may be mild, and not start until 2 weeks to 6 months after contact with the virus. Sometimes, there are no symptoms. Hepatitis B often gets better on its own and sometimes does not need to be treated. Some people develop a long-term infection that leads to liver damage. Most people who become infected with hepatitis C develop a long-term infection. After many years, they often have liver damage. HIV After someone is infected with HIV, the virus stays in the body. It slowly harms or destroys the immune system. Your body's immune system fights disease and helps you heal. When it is weakened by HIV, you are more likely to get sick from other infections, including ones that would not normally make you sick. Treatment can help people with all of these infections. Hepatitis B can be prevented by a vaccine. There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C or HIV.If you are stuck with a needle , get blood in your eye, or are exposed to any bloodborne pathogen: Wash the area. Use soap and water on your skin. If your eye is exposed, irrigate with clean water, saline, or a sterile irrigant. Tell your supervisor right away that you were exposed. Get medical help right away. You may or may not need lab tests, a vaccine, or medicines.Isolation precautions create barriers between people and germs. They help prevent the spread of germs in the hospital. Follow standard precautions with all people. When you are near or are handling blood, bodily fluids, body tissues, mucous membranes, or areas of open skin, you must use personal protective equipment (PPE). Depending on the exposure, you may need: Gloves Mask and goggles Apron, gown, and shoe covers It is also important to properly clean up afterward.Bloodborne infections.Beekman SE, Henderson DK. Occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus and other bloodborne pathogens.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Blood of sheep.Latin name: Sanguis Naemorhedi.Pinyin name: SHAN YANG XUE.Properties: Minor Warm,Sweet,Salty.Meridians: Liver,Heart.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Bloodflower Milkweed.Latin name: Asclepias curassavica.Pinyin name: LIAN SHENG GUI ZI HUA.Effect(s): To clear heat and resolve toxin, quicken blood and stanch bleeding, disperse swelling and relieve pain.Plant part: herb.Encyclopedia Entry for Blood :Bloodred Iris.Latin name: Iris sanguinea.Pinyin name: DOU CHI CAO.Effect(s): To disperse accumulation and move water.Plant part: rhizome and root.