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From needle prick to results: What's the surprising science behind blood testing?
In the field of modern medicine, blood testing has become one of the most important diagnostic tools. This technology is not just a simple acupuncture process, but involves a variety of biochemical analyzes to obtain valuable information on human health. From drawing blood to interpreting results, every step of the procedure is steeped in profound scientific principles.
Blood flows throughout the body, serving as a transport medium for oxygen and nutrients and carrying waste products back to the excretory system. This is why blood tests have become the most common medical test.
Blood extraction
Blood extraction is a relatively quick and minimally invasive process. The sample is usually extracted from a vein in the arm. This process is called venipuncture. In special circumstances, a small sample may also be obtained by finger pricking blood. These samples contain cells and extracellular fluids (such as plasma), providing a direct reflection of the health status of the body.
Detection type
Biochemical analysis
The Basic Metabolic Panel is one of the most common tests. It detects sodium, potassium, chloride and other electrolytes. Cholesterol tests can help determine low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, which are important for assessing cardiovascular health.
In addition to basic blood glucose testing, there are also glucose tolerance tests that require multiple tests to determine how quickly the body processes glucose.
Normal range
The results of a blood test must be interpreted based on the normal ranges provided by the laboratory performing the test. Each indicator has its normal range, and if it is above or below it, it may indicate an abnormal health condition.
Future alternatives
Saliva test
With the advancement of technology, scientists have begun to explore the possibility of saliva testing. Not only is this method less expensive, it can also be used for some blood tests. For example, saliva can contain up to 20% of the protein in blood. However, not all physiological indicators can be obtained through saliva testing.
Microemulsification technology
Another cutting-edge technology is microemulsification, a new approach to blood testing using microchips. This technology is designed to improve the efficiency and accuracy of laboratory testing.
Automated microfluidic blood analysis system
SIMBAS (Self-Powered Integrated Microfluidic Blood Analysis System) is a new chip technology that can diagnose diseases without the need for additional pipelines, with significantly improved speed and accuracy.
Future blood testing methods will not only be more efficient, but will also bring less inconvenience and pain to patients.
Conclusion
With the development of technology, blood testing is becoming more accurate and convenient. This not only changes the way medical diagnosis is performed, but also greatly benefits patients in early detection and treatment of diseases. What impact will the future of blood testing have on our health?
