Everything About Blood test and Hemoglobin

Do you need to conduct blood test? If yes, then your blood sample is taken from the body for getting it tested into a laboratory. Your doctor will suggest performing blood tests to find out your glucose level, white blood cells or hemoglobin. This will help to detect problems such as any kind of disease or medical condition. Sometimes, you need to perform blood tests to know how well your organs like kidney or liver is functioning.

About hemoglobin test

A hemoglobin test is also a blood test with which the doctor checks the level of your red blood cells. These red blood cells will deliver oxygen to different parts of your body.

Why you should conduct hemoglobin tests

A hemoglobin test can be done to detect higher or lower levels of red blood cells. It is usually done as a part of your routine checkup to detect screening for certain problems and when a child is sick. If the level of red blood cells is low, it is known as anemia. And when the level is high, it is called polycythemia.

How to prepare for a hemoglobin test

Your child should eat and drink normally unless he/she needs to conduct other tests that require fasting. You should inform the doctor about any medications your child takes as some drugs can affect the test results. Inform the doctor in case your child has had a blood transfusion or is addicted to smoking as these may affect the level of hemoglobin. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt or T-shirt can make things easy for your child, and you may bring some toy or book for distraction.

How a hemoglobin test is done

The blood tests usually require taking a small amount of blood from the vein. For this, your health care professional will:

• clean your skin properly

• insert a needle into the vein

• put an elastic band above the area so that the veins swell with blood

• extract the sample of blood into a syringe or vial

• take off elastic band and then remove needle from your vein

Hemoglobin may be tested through fingerstick test. In this test, the health professional will be cleaning the finger of your child and then prick tip of it with a small needle for collecting the blood.

In case of babies, the blood draws may be done in the form of heel stick collection. After you clean the area, your healthcare professional will prick baby's heel through a tiny needle for collecting the blood sample.

It may be uncomfortable to collect blood sample temporarily ad you can feel like a pinprick.

How you can remain with your child during a hemoglobin test

Parents can remain with their child at the time of conducting a blood test. You should encourage your child so that they feel relaxed as tensed muscles can make it difficult to draw the blood. Your child may not want to see when the needle gets inserted and the blood is being collected. It is suggested that you make your child somewhat relaxed by taking slow and deep breaths or singing their favorite song.

How much time a hemoglobin test will take

The blood tests usually require a few minutes. But it might be difficult to find a vein so the health care professional may have to try more than once.

What happens after a hemoglobin test?

The health professional removes elastic band, needle and then cover the area with a bandage or cotton to ease the bleeding. Afterward, there might be some kind of mild bruising which will go away within a few days.

When the hemoglobin test results are ready

Your blood samples will be processed through a machine that may require from a few minutes to one day for getting your desired results. If the test results detect any signs of a problem, then the doctor will ask conducting other tests to denote the problem and treat it accordingly.

Possible risks with hemoglobin tests

A hemoglobin test is considered to be a safe method that involves minimal risks. Some kids might feel lightheaded or even faint after the test. Other kids have the fear of inserting needles and if your child is extremely worried, then you should talk to a doctor before the test and know about suitable ways to make the entire process easy.

If there is mild soreness or small bruise around the site of blood test, then this may last for a few days. It is advised that you seek for medical care for your child when the discomfort becomes worse. Thus, if you are having further

questions related to hemoglobin test, then you should speak with the doctor before drawing out the blood from your body. Visit https://www.healthscreening.clinic and know everything about blood tests and hemoglobin tests.