• A routine complete blood count (CBC) test checks for levels of 10 different components of every major cell in your blood: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Important components measured by this test include red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.
  • nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B-6 or B-12
  • iron deficiency
  • bone marrow issues
  • tissue inflammation
  • infection
  • heart conditions
  • cancer

• • A basic metabolic panel (BMP) checks for levels of certain compounds in the blood, such as:
  • electrolytes
  • calcium
  • glucose
  • sodium
  • potassium
  • carbon dioxide
  • chloride
  • blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
  • creatinine

• A complete metabolic panel (CMP) includes all the measurements of a BMP as well as additional proteins and substances related to liver function:

• albumin
• total protein
• alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
• alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
• aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
• bilirubin

• This test checks levels of two types of cholesterolTrusted Source:
  • high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol
  • low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol

A thyroid panel, or thyroid function test, checks how well your thyroid is producing and reacting to certain hormones, such as:

• Triiodothyronine (T3). Along with T4, this regulates your heart rate and body temperature.
• T3 resin uptake (RU). This measures how well a hormone called thyroxin-binding globulin is binding.
• Thyroxine (T4). Along with T3, this regulates your metabolism and how you grow.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). This helps regulate the levels of hormones your thyroid releases.

Enzymes are proteins that help your body accomplish certain chemical processes, such as breaking down food and clotting blood. They’re used throughout your body for many vital functions. Abnormal enzyme levels can indicate many different conditions.

Common enzymes tested include:

• Creatine phosphokinase (CPK-1). This is found in your lungs and brain. High levels can indicate brain injuries or cancer.
• CPK-2 (CK-MB). These enzymes are found in your heart. They often increase in your blood after a heart attack or other heart injury.
• CPK-3. These enzymes are also found in your heart. They often result from muscle inflammation, injury, or intense exercise.
• Troponin. This is a heart enzyme that can leak into your blood and results from heart injury.

Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be diagnosed using a blood sample. These tests are often combined with urine samples or swabs of infected tissue for more accurate diagnoses.

The following STDs can be diagnosed with blood tests:

• chlamydia
• gonorrhea
• herpes
• HIV
• syphilis

Coagulation tests measure how well your blood clots and how long it takes for your blood to clot.

Results from this test can be used to diagnose:

• acute myeloid leukemia
• excessive bleeding (hemophilia)
• thrombosis
• liver conditions
• vitamin K deficiency

The dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone comes from your adrenal glands. This test measures whether it’s too high or too low.

Low levels in men are called DHEA deficiency, which can be caused by:

• type 2 diabetes
• kidney disease
• anorexia nervosa
• AIDS

C-reactive protein (CRP) is made by your liver when tissues in your body are inflamed. High CRP levels indicate inflammation from a variety of causes, including:

• artery inflammation
• infection
• inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• heart disease
• rheumatoid arthritis
• lupus
• cancer

Influenza vaccines, also known as flu shots, are vaccines that protect against infection by influenza viruses. New versions of the vaccines are developed twice a year, as the influenza virus rapidly changes. While their effectiveness varies from year to year, most provide modest to high protection against influenza.