A complete blood count (CBC) is a common test to diagnose anemia by measuring red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels. Iron deficiency is a common cause of anemia, and doctors may ...

Pituitary tumors are atypical growths that develop in the pituitary gland. They are typically noncancerous. Doctors often use blood tests as a first step in diagnosing pituitary tumors. The pituitary ...

Dr. Omar Al-Heeti is an assistant professor of medicine at Southern Illinois University and practices internal medicine with a specialty in infectious diseases. He received his medical degree from the ...

Your doctor may recommend the creatine phosphokinase (CPK) test if there's a need to measure CPK enzyme levels in your blood. The cells in your body require this creatine kinase enzyme to generate ...

Immunoglobulins (antibodies) are Y-shaped proteins made by plasma cells that help fight infection. They neutralize invaders, tag them for macrophages, and trigger other immune responses. Each antibody ...

Detecting cancer early before it spreads throughout the body can be lifesaving. This is why doctors recommend regular screening for several common cancer types, using a variety of methods.

What Does a Hematocrit Test Measure? A hematocrit test is a blood test that measures the level of red blood cells in your blood. Your blood is made up of plasma and blood cells. Plasma is the liquid ...

Blood draws for several kinds of diagnostic tests require you to fast for several hours. Eating or drinking anything besides water can skew the results, leading to you needing to be retested. You may ...

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed by testing your blood glucose (sugar) levels. These tests, such as the fasting plasma glucose test and the A1C blood test, are usually done in a healthcare provider's ...

Blood sugar checks are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of every form of diabetes. “Glucose monitoring is critical for preventing short-term and long-term complications of diabetes,” says ...