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Uric acid blood test explained: what serum urate means, why levels rise, and how the result fits with gout and kidney testing.

Magnesium blood test explained: what serum magnesium means, why it’s ordered, and what low or high magnesium may suggest.

Albumin blood test explained: what albumin does, why low or high albumin happens, and how the result is interpreted with other tests.

Bilirubin blood test explained: what bilirubin measures, why it rises, and how direct and indirect bilirubin are interpreted.

Ferritin blood test explained: what ferritin measures, why it’s ordered, and how low or high ferritin is interpreted in context.

A D-dimer test is a blood test that looks for D-dimer, a small protein fragment made when a blood clot breaks down. It is often used when healthcare professionals are assessing whether a person may need further testing for a blood clotting disorder. D-dimer is closely linked to clot formation and clot breakdown. MedlinePlus explains … Read more

A troponin test is a blood test that measures troponin, a protein found in heart muscle cells. When heart muscle is damaged, troponin can leak into the bloodstream. This is why troponin is one of the most important blood tests used when a heart attack is suspected. MedlinePlus explains that troponin is normally present in … Read more

A PSA blood test measures prostate-specific antigen in the blood. PSA is a protein made by cells of the prostate gland. It can be produced by normal prostate cells as well as prostate cancer cells. This is why PSA is useful, but also why it can be misunderstood. A raised PSA does not automatically mean … Read more

eGFR stands for estimated glomerular filtration rate. It is a blood-test-based estimate of how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. Many people first notice eGFR when it appears beside creatinine on a kidney function test report. The number can feel worrying, especially if it is highlighted as low. But eGFR is not … Read more

PT, INR and APTT are blood tests that help assess how long it takes blood to form a clot. They are often grouped under the wider heading of coagulation tests, clotting tests, or haemostasis tests. If you see these acronyms on a blood test report, the laboratory is checking part of the blood clotting system. … Read more