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Why is it necessary? of Blood tests

It is sometimes necessary to do a blood test when your illness cannot be confirmed from the outward physical symptoms. This might happen because you have only recently started developing symptoms, if the symptoms are similar to lots of other conditions, or because the particular condition doesn’t have many outward symptoms.

You might need a blood test if you have a disorder of the blood itself, because taking a sample of the blood is the only sure way of finding out if it is healthy. They can also be used if information is needed about your genetic structure, the inherited characteristics you get from your parents.

Blood tests are also used to find out if you have immunity to certain diseases. You can become immune by being exposed to a disease or by being vaccinated. This creates disease-fighting particles (antibodies) that circulate in your blood.

Babies are given a blood test (heel prick test or Guthrie test) when they are born, to look for some serious conditions such as sickle cell disease, under-active thyroid, phenylketonuria, and cystic fibrosis. This is to make sure the best treatment can be given as quickly as possible.

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