When a person goes to the doctor in the presence of any symptoms, the doctor prescribes him a mandatory examination. A complete blood count is just on the list of these procedures. After all, it is from the results of studies that a doctor can find out information about the state of a person as a whole. Even an experienced specialist will not be able to correctly diagnose a patient only on the basis of a blood test, but still this one shows him in which direction to move.
Preparation for blood donation for research
In order for the results of the study to give maximum information to the doctor about the patient's condition, it is necessary to prepare for him. There are certain indicators for a general blood test. The norm of these data is different in adults and children. Based on the indicators, when comparing the patient’s research data, the doctor determines whether there are deviations from these generally accepted norms. In order not to distort the results of the analysis, which can lead to an incorrect diagnosis, taking medications and alcohol on the eve of blood donation is highly undesirable. There are some more criteria for preparing the delivery of material for research, here are the main ones:
- Blood is taken from the patient in the morning on an empty stomach. It is advisable not to eat fatty or spicy foods. Smoked meats or canned foods are contraindicated.
- Drinking alcohol is prohibited about a day before blood donation.
- It is highly undesirable to smoke, drink coffee and tea before the necessary manipulation, because all this can negatively affect the performance of a general blood test, the norm of which will be far from being consistent. Just before the test, you can drink plain water without gas.
- Before the blood collection procedure, it is advisable not to be nervous. If you get to the point of delivery for a very long time, you need to relax a bit.
- It can negatively affect the result of a general blood test, the norm of these data will be discussed below, any physical education and sports, x-rays.
- It is undesirable to take medicine, but in case of emergency it is necessary to warn the laboratory assistant taking the blood for analysis in advance.
How is blood taken from patients?
In the laboratory where tests are being taken, all manipulations of antiseptic processing and hygiene, including quartzing of the room, should be carried out. A clinical or general blood test (the norm of a child and an adult is different) is done by getting it from a vein or from a finger. The laboratory assistant must work in sterile disposable gloves. To do this, they must be treated with a solution with a certain content of ethyl alcohol.
A blood test from the ring finger is done using a special tool - a scarifier. The laboratory doctor punctures the finger, then after the first drop of blood appears, brings a special pipette to the puncture and collects the material in a container that resembles a tube in shape. Venous blood is taken with a syringe or a vacuum blood sampling system, consisting of a needle, a cylinder and test tubes of different colors. For example, in order to take blood and further find out the result of a general blood test, the norm of which has long been clinically determined, they use a vacuum violet container with additives. A vacuum intake system is much preferable to a sterile syringe, as:
- Taking blood from a patient is safer for the laboratory assistant, since there is no direct contact with the material.
- The blood cells that make up blood are not damaged by contact with oxygen, since it is absent from this system.
Blood taken in such ways from patients is tested for:
- Hemoglobin level.
- Determination of ESR.
- Counting the number of blood blood cells using a microscope, etc.
Purpose of analysis
What is the norm of a general blood test? The examination determines the parameters of any person who speak about his condition and suspected diseases. According to the results, it is estimated:
- The number of red blood cells.
- Hemoglobin - the amount of substance contained in red blood cells and responsible for the movement of oxygen from the lungs to all human organs.
- The number of white bodies in the blood is determined by the special formula of white blood cells. These are the defenders of the body, an increase in their number is evidence of inflammatory processes.
- Platelets are plates that are responsible for blood coagulation when blood vessels are damaged.
- Hematocrit is a specific ratio of blood cell volume to plasma.
- The sedimentation rate of red bodies (red blood cells). When a general blood test is done, the ESR rate is estimated by the rate of fall of the red bodies to the bottom of the tank, these data allow us to evaluate some properties of the blood.
Clinical blood test. Decryption
Only a doctor can understand the meaning of all data on the diagnosis of possible diseases. Indicators of a general blood test, the norm of these data, do not always mean that a person is healthy, only a specialist can judge this. But modern man is nevertheless obliged to possess some information. Let's consider in more detail what they are.
Hemoglobin
This is the main respiratory protein contained in red blood cells, it is he who carries oxygen for human organs. Its main part is iron, when red blood cells enter the lungs, it mixes with oxygen and moves through the tissues and organs of the body. Low hemoglobin is anemia, leading to oxygen deficiency in the body. A higher rate indicates that the body is dehydrated. Therefore, all indicators of the general blood test are very important. The norm of hemoglobin level:
- in men: 132-153 g / l;
- in women: 119-141 g / l;
- in newborns: 211-216 g / l;
- children under one year: 126-128 g / l;
- older than 2 years: 117-133 g / l.
Protein
This is an indicator of its metabolism, that is, it is the total number of protein contained in serum. It is very important to perform a general blood test for protein. Protein (normal, high, low) is the most important laboratory indicator, with which you can determine:
- Blood fluidity and viscosity.
- Blood volume.
- Participation in immune responses.
- Coagulation factors, etc.
Elevated protein in the blood is less common than low protein . This indicator can talk about infectious diseases, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc. Chronic bleeding, inflammatory processes, fever, poisoning, etc. provoke a decrease in protein.
Determining plasma protein concentration is an important blood test. Total protein, the norm of which is an average number and varies from age: adult - 64-85 g / l; child - 45-80 g / l. In common people it is called biochemistry.
Red blood cells
These are the breadwinners of the human body with oxygen, in addition, red blood cells remove carbon dioxide. A low rate leads to various anemia. And increasing them can lead to thrombosis. The increase in red blood cells can be caused by physiology and pathology. In the first case, an increase in red blood cells can occur during physical exertion, excessive sweating, emotional stress. And pathological erythrocytosis can talk about blood diseases, such as Wakez’s disease. In addition, these data may indicate heart disease, chronic lung diseases, etc. The correct diagnosis is very important at the initial stage of the disease, therefore it is very important to identify the number of red blood cells by making a general blood test. The norm of a child and an adult is different from each other. The number of red blood cells in men is 4.01-5.07 * 10 in the twelfth degree / l; in women - 3.7-4.6 * 10 in the twelfth degree / l; in children older than 2 years, 4.1 * 10 in the 12th degree / l.
Hematocrit
Blood is a mixture of the liquid component, that is, plasma and cells. This ratio is hematocrit. This number is expressed as a percentage, for example, the hematocrit rate:
- for women - from 34-45% (this means that the number of red blood cells in the blood is 38-49%);
- for men - 37-49%.
Increased hematocrit occurs with dehydration. A decrease in this indicator signals a possible anemia.
Red blood cell sedimentation rate
General blood test - ESR norm - a number that tells how quickly the blood is distributed to the plasma and lower layer. Previously, it had another abbreviation - ROE. Complete blood count (ROE), the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation reaction is also different for children and adults, for example, for men it is 2-8 mm in 1 hour, for children - 2-12 mm / h. The presence of increased indicators indicates inflammatory processes of the body, poisoning, infections. Low readings of the sedimentation rate can be associated with starvation, loss of muscle mass, etc.
Bilirubin
For the normal functioning of the human body, various components and vitamins are necessary, which, for obvious reasons, come not only with air. A person needs food, along with it he receives the bulk of nutrients, including iron. It is the lack of this component or its insufficient metabolism in the body that can lead to icteric syndrome - this is the main characteristic of overestimated bilirubin in the blood. Therefore, a blood test is very important. General bilirubin (normal, high or low) will help identify the pathology of various diseases. This pigment, which is part of bile, is excreted from the body with it.
Not all types of jaundice are a pathology, for example, in newborns, the bilirubin indicator is overestimated, but this is just a physiological condition, which will pass very soon. But, if nothing has changed within a couple of days, an urgent blood test is needed: total bilirubin. Norm or increased value - this analysis will show. With an irregular rate, urgent treatment is necessary.
Each laboratory has its own data analysis standards, this may be due to a different methodology for calculating general indicators. In these cases, the decoding of the results is carried out according to the specified standards.