Blood Work Specialist

Westridge Family Clinic, P. A.

Board Certified Family Medicine Physician located in Laurel, MS

Thanks to blood work, it’s possible to identify potentially serious issues, including nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and high cholesterol. At Westridge Family Clinic, board-certified family medicine physician Christopher Mauldin, MD, and the team offer laboratory testing on-site, including blood work. To make an appointment at the practice in Laurel, Mississippi, call the office today or click the online booking feature.

601-649-7600

Blood Work Q & A

What is blood work?

Blood work is a type of laboratory testing. It analyzes a sample of your blood to measure or examine chemicals, proteins, cells, or other substances. Blood work is quick, pain-free, and provides an effective way to diagnose underlying conditions that might go unnoticed otherwise.

Why would I need blood work?

At Westridge Family Clinic, the team uses blood work to:

Diagnose certain diseases and conditions
Monitor chronic conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol
Determine if treatment for a disease is working
Check the function of your organs, like your kidneys or thyroid
Diagnose bleeding or clotting disorders

The team at Westridge Family Clinic also uses blood work to diagnose autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

What are the different types of blood work?

At Westridge Family Clinic, the team offers several types of blood work, including:

Complete blood count (CBC)

A CBC measures the different components of your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. It’s one of the most common types of blood work and is typically included with an annual physical exam.

Basic metabolic panel

A metabolic panel measures the number of certain chemicals in your blood, like electrolytes, calcium, and glucose. That type of test can identify underlying conditions like diabetes or a thyroid disorder.

Blood enzyme tests

Enzymes control certain chemical reactions in your body. A blood enzyme test can help the team determine if you’ve had a heart attack in the past.

Blood tests to check for heart disease

This group of screening procedures includes cholesterol and triglyceride tests. If your test levels come back abnormally high, the team can make recommendations to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Blood clotting tests

A blood clotting test, or coagulation panel, can determine your risk of a blood disorder that causes too much bleeding or clotting.

What does blood work involve?

At Westridge Family Clinic, getting blood work is a quick, outpatient procedure. First, your provider finds a vein in your arm to draw from.

Then, they clean your skin with an antiseptic wipe and use a small needle to collect a sample of blood. You might feel a mild stinging sensation, but it should subside quickly.

After collecting your sample, your provider sends it to a laboratory for analysis. When the team at Westridge Family Clinic receives the results of your tests, they call you or schedule a follow-up appointment to go over them.

If it’s been a while since you last had blood work, make an appointment at Westridge Family Clinic by calling the office today or clicking the online booking feature.

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