What are some of the common laboratory uses for blood collection tubes?
Hundreds of blood tests are performed every day in today’s modern labs. In general, there are four main types of blood tests: • Hematology tests • Microbiology tests • Biochemistry tests • Serology tests Hematology tests examine the blood to identify: • The types and numbers of blood cells that are present (e.g., red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) • The appearance of the cells, especially their maturity • The ability for the blood to form a blood clot and the speed at which clotting occurs Biochemistry tests measure the amounts of normally occurring chemicals and biochemicals in the blood, both individually and in relation to other chemicals. These measurements are compared to normal ranges for that test and are used to determine whether blood biochemicals are in a proper and healthy balance. Biochemicals and other substances that may be studied include the following: • Sodium • Hormones • Recreational drugs • Cholesterol and other fats • Blood gases • Alcohol • Vitamins
