Guide to blood testing

Find out all about blood tests, including where to get a blood test in Australia, what happens when you have a blood test, and how long it takes.

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Testosterone blood test

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

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Oestrogen blood test

Oestrogen blood tests help us to understand hormone balance. Read more if you are planning pregnancy, are pregnant or your menstrual cycle is unusual.

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Magnesium blood test

A magnesium blood test checks your magnesium levels. Find out how to prepare for a magnesium blood test and what your results may mean.

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Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) blood test

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test that can check for inflammation in your body. Find out more about ESR blood tests here.

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Folate blood test

Folate is an important nutrient for making red blood cells. The folate blood test checks whether you have enough folate in your blood.

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Iron studies blood test

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 health problems.

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C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test

The C-reactive protein (CRP) test is a blood test that checks for inflammation in the body. Find out when it may be done and what your results mean.

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Calcium blood test

A calcium test indicates how much calcium is in your blood. Find out how this test helps doctors diagnose or monitor and treat your illness.

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Full blood count (FBC)

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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Cholesterol and lipid tests

Read about cholesterol (or lipid profile) blood tests, which look at cholesterol and other fats in your blood, and what the results mean.

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HbA1c test

Find out about the HbA1c test — a type of blood test used to help diagnose diabetes and monitor blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

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Understanding pathology tests

Find out what pathology tests are used for, the different types of tests, why they are important, how to prepare for them, and what the results mean.

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Fasting for medical tests

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

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Troponin blood test

Troponin blood tests can help work out if your heart muscle is damaged due to a heart attack. Read about troponin blood tests and when they are used.

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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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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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Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test

A prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test can be used to test for prostate cancer. It can also be used to monitor prostate cancer

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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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Thyroid function tests

A thyroid function blood test is used to check your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) blood levels.

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Bowel cancer screening

Bowel cancer screening is important for early detection of bowel cancer. Get the answers to FAQs on screening with faecal occult blood testing (FOBT).

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Vitamin B12 test

Find out why you might need a Vitamin B12 blood test. Vitamin B12 is also called cobalamin or VitB12. Vitamin B12 can be low in vegetarians.

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Vitamin D test

Vitamin D is important for bone health. A vitamin D blood test checks the level of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D in your blood – find out more here.

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Liver function tests

Liver function tests are blood tests that can check how your liver is working. Find out what LFTs test for and what your results may mean

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International normalised ratio (INR) test

The international normalised ratio (INR) test is a measure of the time taken for your blood to clot. Find out more about this test and what it means.

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hCG test

The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test is usually used to confirm or monitor a pregnancy. It can be a blood or a urine test. Learn more here.

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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.

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Blood glucose test

Blood glucose tests (blood sugar tests) are used to diagnose and monitor diabetes. Find out how to prepare for this test and what your results mean.

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Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia (also spelt thrombocytopaenia) is low platelets, which can result in bleeding problems. Learn more about its causes and symptoms.

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Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) tends to develop slowly, so you could have CLL for years without noticing any symptoms or needing treatment. Learn more here.

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