Plain-English guides to common laboratory tests, what they measure, why clinicians may order them, and why results should be interpreted with clinical context.
Biomedical Science vs Medical Laboratory Science: What Is the Difference? Biomedical science and medical laboratory science are closely related terms, but they do not always describe the same type of degree. The biggest mistake is assuming that the course title alone proves professional eligibility. A programme called Biomedical Science may be a professionally accredited diagnostic … Read more
Blood Sample Collection Explained: From Preparation to Transport Accurate blood testing begins before the sample reaches the analyser. The pre-analytical phase includes preparing the patient, confirming identity, selecting the correct specimen and tube, collecting the blood, filling and mixing tubes correctly, labelling the specimen, and storing and transporting it appropriately. Errors during this phase can … Read more
What Is a Reference Interval in Laboratory Tests? A reference interval is the range printed beside many numerical laboratory results. It gives a lower and upper limit that the laboratory uses as a comparison point. It is often called a reference range or “normal range”, but reference interval is the more precise scientific term. For … Read more
Blood Test Results Glossary: Common Report Terms Explained Blood test reports contain more than numbers. You may also see comments such as high, low, borderline, haemolysed, fasting, positive, inconclusive or repeat sample required. These terms describe how the result compares with a laboratory interval, whether the target of a test was detected, whether the specimen … Read more
Medical Lab Abbreviations: Blood Test Acronyms A–Z Medical laboratory reports often use shortened test names. You may see FBC, CRP, ALT, TSH or eGFR instead of the complete test name. These abbreviations help laboratories and healthcare teams display large amounts of information clearly. However, they can make a report difficult to understand when you are … Read more
Chronic Kidney Disease Blood Tests Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is usually assessed using a combination of blood and urine tests. The most important markers are often creatinine, eGFR and urine albumin, but other blood tests help monitor complications and overall kidney-related health. This page explains the laboratory tests commonly used in CKD investigation and … Read more
Iron Deficiency Anaemia Explained Iron deficiency anaemia happens when the body does not have enough iron to make healthy red blood cells and haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Iron deficiency can develop before anaemia appears. This means someone may have low iron stores first, then later develop low … Read more
Hypothyroidism Blood Tests Explained Hypothyroidism, also called an underactive thyroid, happens when the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormones. Blood tests are essential because symptoms such as tiredness, weight gain, feeling cold, constipation or low mood can be caused by many conditions. The main blood tests used in hypothyroidism assessment are: TSH Free … Read more
Type 2 Diabetes Blood Tests Explained Type 2 diabetes is usually investigated and monitored using blood tests that measure glucose control and related health risks. The most familiar tests are HbA1c and blood glucose, but diabetes care may also include kidney, cholesterol and liver-related blood tests. This page explains the main blood tests used in … Read more
Lupus Blood Tests Explained Lupus is an autoimmune condition that can affect different parts of the body, including the skin, joints, blood, kidneys, heart, lungs and nervous system. Because lupus can look different from person to person, blood tests are used as part of a wider clinical assessment. There is no single blood test that … Read more