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Blood tests A-Z
Blood glucose test
Blood glucose tests, also sometimes called blood sugar tests, are usually used to check for or monitor diabetes.
Calcium blood test
A calcium test provides information about how much calcium is in your blood.
Cardiac enzymes
Cardiac enzyme tests can check whether the heart muscle is damaged, and indicate if a person has had a heart attack.
Cholesterol and lipid tests
A cholesterol (or lipid profile) test looks at the various levels of cholesterol and other fats in your blood.
C-reactive protein test
The C-reactive protein test is a general blood test, which checks for infection or inflammation in the body.
D-dimer test
The D-dimer test is a blood test used to help check for or monitor blood clotting problems.
ESR test
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test checks for inflammation where red blood cells clump together in the body.
Folate test
Folate is an important nutrient for making normal red blood cells. The folate test checks whether you have enough folate in your blood.
Full blood count
A full blood count is a common blood test for general health, which can also provide information about a range of conditions.
HbA1c test
An HbA1c is a type of blood test which is used to help diagnose and monitor people with diabetes.
hCG test
The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test is usually used to confirm or monitor a pregnancy.
INR test
An international normalised ratio (INR) test measures the time taken for your blood to clot.
Iron studies
Iron studies are blood tests that look at how much iron is in your blood and other cells. Too little or too much iron can cause problems.
Kidney function tests
There are many reasons why your kidneys may not work effectively. Learn how kidney function tests can help your doctor check up on your kidneys.
Liver function tests
Liver function tests are blood tests that can provide information about how your liver is working.
Magnesium blood test
A magnesium blood test is carried out to see if your body has enough magnesium. Most people get sufficient magnesium from food.
Oestrogen blood test
Many women at some time have a blood test for oestrogen. It might be during pregnancy, if their menstrual cycle is unusual, or for some other reason.
PSA test
A PSA test can be used to help monitor prostate cancer, although test outcomes often point to other conditions.
Testosterone blood test
A testosterone blood test can show how much testosterone, an important sex hormone, is in your body. Men usually have much more testosterone than wome...
Thyroid function tests
Thyroid function tests are used to check for a number of thyroid problems. The tests usually include thyroid stimulating hormones (THSs) T4 and T3.
Vitamin B12 test
This test measures the amount of vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, in your blood.
Vitamin D test
Vitamin D deficiency is common in Australians, so your doctor may ask you to take a test as part of your general check up.
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Top results
Full blood count - Lab Tests Online AU
Why and when to get tested for a full blood count
Read more on Lab Tests Online website
Red blood cell count - Lab Tests Online AU
RBC - why and when to get tested
Read more on Lab Tests Online website
White blood cell count - Lab Tests Online AU
Why and when to get tested for a white cell count
Read more on Lab Tests Online website
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) Home / Cancer & Blood Disorders / What is Cancer? / Leukaemia / Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) There are a number of sub-types of AML, dependent on which particular white cell has become cancerous (this will be determined through a bone marrow biopsy): Acute Monocytic Leukaemia Acute Myelocytic Leukaemia Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APML) Acute Megakaryocytic Leukaemia Signs and symptoms of AML include: Bruising and bleeding Tiredness Pallor Bone pain Fever Enlarged liver, spleen, lymph nodes AML can particularly affect the bloods clotting system, further increasing the risk of bleeding (this is a particular problem in APML) Children with AML have a high risk of infections from bacteria, viruses and fungi
Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) Home / Cancer & Blood Disorders / What is Cancer? / Leukaemia / Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) Around 80% of leukaemias in children are Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemias and can be classified as standard risk, medium risk, high risk or very high risk
Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website
Idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura (ITP) information | myVMC
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is a blood disorder in which platelets do not plug blood vessels to prevent bleeding as they normally would.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Grave's disease (Basedow's disease; hyperthyroidism) | myVMC
Grave's diease is an autoimmune disorder which affects hormone production in the thyroid gland. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Sweets Syndrome - ACD
Sweets syndrome is an uncommon condition named after the English dermatologist, Dr Robert Sweet, who first described it in 1964.
Read more on Australasian College of Dermatologists website
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia - Information & Support - CanTeen
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukaemia, but only develops gradually. Learn more about causes and treatments with CanTeen.
Read more on CanTeen website
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia - Information & Support - CanTeen
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) develops when damaged myeloid white blood cells grow out of control. Learn more about causes and treatments with CanTeen.
Read more on CanTeen website
Top results
The effectiveness of blood testing in the management of pyelonephritis in pregnancy for improving outcomes | Cochrane
The effectiveness of blood testing in the management of pyelonephritis in pregnancy for improving outcomes
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Screening for colorectal cancer using the faecal occult blood test, Hemoccult | Cochrane
Regular screening of faeces for blood can detect colorectal cancer earlier and hence may reduce mortality in populations at risk, such as older patients. The screening test used in these trials to detect colorectal (bowel) cancer was the faecal occult blood test (FOBT). If the FOBT is positive, the bowels are examined closely with further diagnostic test (coloscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double-contrast barium enema), but these tests often cause discomfort and can cause serious adverse consequences. As blood identified in faeces may be due to several reason (unrelated to cancer), it may cause people unnecessary stress and expose them to possible harm. This review found that FOBT screening is likely to avoid approximately 1 in 6 colorectal cancer deaths.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Blood biomarkers for the non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis | Cochrane
How accurate are blood tests in detecting endometriosis? Can any blood test be accurate enough to replace or reduce the need for surgery in the diagnosis of endometriosis?
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Screening for nasopharyngeal cancer | Cochrane
Does screening individuals without symptoms using an Epstein-Barr virus blood test or nasopharyngoscopy (or both) reduce the mortality associated with nasopharyngeal cancer?
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Vapocoolants (cold spray) for pain treatment during intravenous cannulation | Cochrane
Intravenous cannulation for blood tests or treatment is a common, often painful, procedure. Vapocoolant sprays or "cold sprays" are delivered onto the skin just before needle insertion to provide some pain relief. Vapocoolants offer several advantages over other pain relief techniques, particularly their rapid effects (a few seconds).
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Comparison of two methods used in screening for colorectal cancer | Cochrane
Cancer in the large intestine (colon) and rectum is one of the most frequent cancers in developed countries. The disease develops from benign lesions over a time span of about 10 years. If the lesion has turned into cancer, the prognosis is far better if the disease is detected at an early stage. Screening and detection for early cancers and benign precursors may therefore reduce the number of deaths caused by this disease. Cancers and benign precursors may bleed, and the blood can be detected in the stool by specific tests, the so-called faecal occult blood tests (FOBT). If the test is positive (that is blood is detected), the person will be offered a colonoscopy to find the source of bleeding. Unfortunately, FOBT fails to discover a considerable number of cancers and precursor lesions. Therefore, endoscopic examination of the rectum and lower large intestine (the sigmoid colon) has been advocated (called flexible sigmoidoscopy). Flexible sigmoidoscopy is performed with a flexible instrument inserted through the anus and introduced about 50 centimetres into the lower large intestine after cleansing with a small enema. This allows direct visual inspection of the interior wall of the intestine, and benign lesions and malignant tumours may be detected. Benign lesions may be removed in the same session without anaesthesia and without any discomfort for the patient, and a follow-up colonoscopy may be offered.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Does employing general practitioners to provide care for patients with non-urgent problems in emergency departments decrease resource use and costs? | Cochrane
Does employing general practitioners to provide care for patients with non-urgent problems in emergency departments decrease resource use and costs?
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Blood tests for acute pancreatitis | Issue 4 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis requires the presence of at least two of the three diagnostic criteria characteristic abdominal pain, elevated serum...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
A new, non-invasive diagnostic blood test - polymerase chain reaction - for people at risk of an invasive mould infection (aspergillosis) | Cochrane
A new, non-invasive diagnostic blood test - polymerase chain reaction - for people at risk of an invasive mould infection (aspergillosis)
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Does pre-transfusion washing of red blood cells for preterm babies improve their health outcomes? | Cochrane
Background: Babies born preterm or with a low birth weight may be given blood transfusions for a number of reasons. For example, they are sometimes unable to make their own blood well yet; they may need several blood tests to monitor their condition; or they may need extra blood if they become critically unwell.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
