How does getting a blood test online work?
Receiving a blood test is a very common medical practice. Often, your doctor will order you a blood test to verify if you have a medical condition, including things like sexually transmitted diseases, a nutritional deficiency (e.g. iron), hormonal problems or a general disease. They can also be used to evaluate if your organs are functioning to the best of their ability.
You can easily organise your blood tests online, saving you time and money because you won’t have to go to your regular GP. If you use an online platform, like Instant Consult, you can head straight to the blood centre after your online video call appointment and have your test done – simple.
So, what happens?
If you have never had your blood examined before, there is no need to fret. During the process, a small sample of blood is taken from your body by the phlebotomist. The blood is taken using a needle being inserted into the vein in the arm to draw the blood. This is seen as the only stage of discomfort during the whole process, since some people have a fear of needles, while others get squeamish at the sight of blood.
Once the blood has been drawn, it is stored and then sent to the centre’s laboratory. Here, the lab workers will assess various aspects of the blood, looking at things like the red and white cell count, along with the plasma level. The purpose of this is to assess whether the person has any serious health problems, and from this, devise effective treatments to help alleviate the problem.
Tips to remember
Before you have your blood test, there are a few things you should remember. Make sure you have fasted for the required time, as that is sometimes a requirement. Likewise, don’t forget to stay hydrated before your blood test. Drinking water helps with blood flow and makes it easier for the phlebotomist to draw.
If you are someone who is prone to fainting at the sight of blood or panicking around needles, you need to let the phlebotomist know straight away so they can prepare. The last thing anyone wants is for you to hit your head on the floor because you fainted during the test and nobody was prepared for it.
Precautions can be as simple as making sure you face away as the blood is being drawn or positioning yourself in such a way that you won’t be injured if you do faint. Sometimes you might have what is called a ‘shy’ vein which means the phlebotomist might need to tighten the tourniquet a little more to coax the vein to the surface.
Since you won’t be eating prior to the test, make sure you bring a snack along with you so you can start refuelling straight after the blood is drawn. It’s normal to feel a little woozy when you have blood taken, so don’t be in a rush to run out the clinic doors and make sure you take 10 to 20 minutes to rest and refocus (especially before you try to drive again).
You can use Instant Consult to access your blood tests online from a fully qualified Australian doctor.
by Instant Consult
Source: https://www.instantconsult.com.au/how-does-getting-a-blood-test-online-work