Routine blood testing is usually part of regular health checks. They help doctors keep an eye on your general health and check for certain diseases before they become worse. Here’s a quick rundown of the routine blood tests in Australia:

  • Full Blood Count (FBC): This test measures different parts of your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, haemoglobin, and platelets. It’s great for spotting conditions like anaemia or infections.
  • Liver Function Tests: These tests check how well your liver is working. They look at enzymes and proteins produced by the liver. It’s a way to catch liver disease or hepatitis early.
  • HbA1c: This test measures your average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. It’s a key test for managing and diagnosing diabetes.
  • Cholesterol Test: High cholesterol can clog blood vessels. That’s why routine cholesterol tests are essential for assessing heart disease risk.
  • Kidney Function Tests: These tests check how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood. They’re crucial for spotting kidney disease.
  • Thyroid Function Tests: Including Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) tests, these help identify if your thyroid is working as it should. They can reveal conditions like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
  • Iron Studies and Vitamin Levels: These tests check for iron deficiency or overload and measure levels of essential vitamins like Vitamin D and B12. They’re important for spotting nutritional gaps.
  • Calcium and Electrolytes: These tests measure calcium, potassium, and magnesium levels in your blood. They’re vital for bone health and ensuring your muscles and nerves function properly.
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Why Are Routine Blood Tests Important?

As mentioned, blood tests give doctors a heads-up on what’s going on inside your body. Routine blood tests, in particular, look for general health markers, and they’re crucial for a bunch of reasons:

  • Spotting Problems Early: Before any major symptoms show up, these tests can catch signs of trouble.
  • Monitoring Health Conditions: If you’ve got a chronic condition, regular tests help keep an eye on how things are going.
  • Checking Organ Function: Your internal organs do a lot of heavy lifting. Routine tests make sure they’re in top health.
  • Understanding Your Health: These tests give you and your doctor a clear picture of your overall health.
  • Guiding Treatment Plans: If you’re on medications, routine blood tests tell your doctor if your treatments are effective or if they need some tweaking.
  • Preventive Care: When imbalances and abnormalities are caught early on, they’re easier to treat and manage. This prevents more serious problems down the line.

Other Non-Routine Blood and Pathology Tests

Aside from routine blood tests, there are pathology tests that dive deeper into specific health concerns. These specialised tests are not usually part of regular annual health checks, but they’re still crucial for diagnosing and managing particular conditions.

Here are some of the specialised pathology tests you can get in Australia:

  • Coagulation Tests: Including international normalised ratio (INR) and tests for blood clotting. They’re important if you’re on blood thinners or have conditions affecting blood clotting.
  • Cancer Markers: These tests can signal the presence of cancer. They’re often used alongside other diagnostics to monitor cancer treatment progress.
  • Autoimmune Disease Tests: Designed to detect autoimmune disorders. They look for specific antibodies that might be attacking your body’s own tissues.
  • Infectious Disease Tests: Beyond the basic checks, these tests can identify specific viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens causing illness.
  • Advanced Cardiac Markers: Go beyond cholesterol tests to look at specific markers of heart health and disease risk.
  • Hormone Panels: Essential for understanding issues related to thyroid, reproductive health, or adrenal function. They can explain a lot about various symptoms.

How to Get a Blood Test in Australia

Getting a blood test in Australia is pretty straightforward. Whether it’s for a routine check-up or to investigate specific symptoms, here’s how you go about it:

1. See a Doctor

First up, you’ll need to chat with a doctor. They’ll assess your needs and decide which tests are right for you.
No time to go to a clinic? No worries. With Instant Consult, you can chat with an AHPRA-accredited doctor right from the comfort of your own home. Just download the Instant Consult app, request a consult, and you’ll be connected to one of our doctors in 15 minutes or less.

2. Get a Referral

Though routine blood tests are typically part of annual physical check-ups, you’ll still need a referral to get any of them done. This is especially true if you have Medicare coverage. Australian Medicare laws cover certain blood tests only if they are requested by qualified healthcare professionals.

If, during your video consultation, the doctor deems that a blood test is needed, they’ll write you a referral immediately after. It will be sent directly to your device, and you can print it or send it directly to the pathology lab right from the app.

3. Get Your Blood Test

With your blood test referral in hand, pick a pathology collection centre. Instant Consult referrals are valid all over Australia, so you can find one that’s convenient for you. Depending on the test, you might need to fast or avoid certain foods and medications.

Instant access to chat with a doctor with a comprehensive range of services

With Instant Consult, you can chat with a doctor and get help for a wide range of medical requests, all from the comfort of your home!

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Medical Certificates

Are you too ill to come into work and need to give your boss a medical certificate? With Instant Consult you can chat with a doctor and get a medical certificate sent directly to your app’s inbox, all without getting out of bed!

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Prescriptions

If you need a new prescription or need to update an ongoing one then you can use our app to instantly chat to a doctor who can prepare your prescription promptly!

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Referrals

If you have a medical condition that needs treatment from a specialist, one of our GP’s can send a digital referral straight to your app’s inbox.

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Pathology Requests

If you need a blood cell count or to check for STDs/STIs or need any other kind of bloodwork you can easily get a pathology request sent to your inbox by any of our fully licensed online GPs. You can then take the request to the clinic of your choice.

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Radiology Requests

If you require any special kind of diagnostic imaging such as a CAT scan or an MRI you can get a request from one of our online GPs which you can then take to your preferred provider.

Getting Your Test Results

After your test, the results will be sent back to your doctor. This is the first thing you need to keep in mind. You cannot get your test results directly from the laboratory. They will be sent directly to your GP or the doctor who wrote the referral. That’s because blood tests can be complicated and involve lots of medical jargon. So, a professional eye is necessary to read and interpret the results.

If you got your referral from Instant Consult, we will promptly inform you via SMS, email, or app notification once your results are available. You then have to book a video consultation where our doctors will explain your results and any next steps you need to take.

They will look at your results and take into account your medical history and symptoms to provide medical advice tailored to your needs. Depending on their diagnoses, they may provide prescriptions, request another round of pathology tests or diagnostic imaging, or refer you to a specialist.

Again, all these can be done online. You don’t have to step out the door, travel for miles, or even wait for your GP’s regular clinic hours. All you need is a stable internet connection and a device with video calling capabilities and you’re good to go. It’s the gold-standard healthcare you need at your convenience. Book your online consultation today!

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