Guide to blood testing

Blood tests can be used to assess your general health. Learn more about blood testing.

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Testosterone blood test

A testosterone blood test can show how much of the sex hormone testosterone is in your body. Men usually have more testosterone than women.

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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.

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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.

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Blood tests A-Z

From the fasting blood glucose test to the prostate (PSA) test, there are many kinds of blood tests. Browse the index and learn how to prepare for your test.

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Calcium blood test

A calcium test provides information about how much calcium is in your blood.

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C-reactive protein (CRP) test

The C-reactive protein test is a general blood test, which checks for infection or inflammation in the body.

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HbA1c test

An HbA1c is a type of blood test which is used to help diagnose and monitor people with diabetes.

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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.

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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.

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Pancreatitis diagnosis

The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is often reasonably straightforward. The doctor will talk to you, examine you and take some blood tests. Learn more about a pancreatitis diagnosis here.

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Fasting for medical tests

For some medical tests, fasting may be required for a period of time before a test. Learn more about different tests and when fasting may be necessary.

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Pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Your doctor may use a range of tests and techniques to indicate the likelihood of pancreatic cancer but to get a definite diagnosis, a biopsy is required.

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Understanding pathology tests

Pathology tests help medical professional to prevent, diagnose and manage many health issues. Find out more about understanding pathology tests.

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Liver function tests

Liver function tests are blood tests that can provide information about how your liver is working.

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Bowel cancer screening

Bowel cancer screening is important for early detection. A national screening process is in place called the faecal occult blood test (FOBT).

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Syphilis causes and diagnosis

Syphilis can be contracted by a variety of different causes and is diagnosed with a blood test. Learn more about the different causes of syphilis.

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Haemochromatosis

Haemochromatosis causes the body to absorb too much iron, leading to organ damage. Blood tests will diagnose it, and treatments are available.

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D-dimer test

The D-dimer test is a blood test that checks for, or monitors, blood-clotting problems. Find out what a positive result means for you.

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Hand, foot and mouth disease diagnosis

Your doctor can usually diagnose hand, foot and mouth disease based on age, symptoms and the appearance of sores. Laboratory tests, such as blood tests, are not usually needed.

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Vitamin B12 test

This test measures the amount of vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, in your blood.

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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.

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Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test checks for inflammation where red blood cells clump together in the body.

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Cardiac enzymes

Cardiac enzyme tests can check whether the heart muscle is damaged, and indicate if a person has had a heart attack.

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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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Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test

A PSA test can be used to help monitor prostate cancer, although test outcomes often point to other conditions.

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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.

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Blood glucose test

Blood glucose tests, also sometimes called blood sugar tests, are usually used to check for or monitor diabetes.

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hCG test

The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test is usually used to confirm or monitor a pregnancy.

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International normalised ratio (INR) test

An international normalised ratio (INR) test measures the time taken for your blood to clot.

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