What Your Blood Can Reveal: The Power of Blood Tests

From detecting illness to diagnosing disease, a blood test gives your doctor the perfect opportunity to obtain a clear picture of your health.

It can provide us with important details about your organs, their functions, diet, metabolism, and so much more.

InvestMed’s medical-grade blood work focuses on overall health and areas of improvement. It also includes advanced testing for specific conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular health, and nutrition.

Our blood tests are done in your home, on your schedule, by our visiting nurse.

Every 24 hours, more than 20 Canadians die from diabetes-related complications.

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Test : Blood Work
Early Detection Of : Diabetes, Heart Disease, Blood Clotting Disorders, High Cholesterol, Immune System Infections

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Blood Work

Blood tests are used to monitor your overall health or help diagnose a medical condition.

They measure or examine cells, chemicals, proteins, or other substances in the blood.

Blood testing, also known as blood work, is one of the most common types of lab tests. Blood work is often included as part of a regular checkup, or because you have certain symptoms.

There are many different types of blood tests. While some tests focus on your blood cells and platelets, others evaluate substances in your blood such as electrolytes, proteins and hormones.

Detecting and Monitoring Diseases and Conditions

Blood tests are performed to evaluate your overall health, as well as detect and monitor certain diseases and conditions.

Advanced blood testing for specific conditions include testing for diabetes, cardiovascular health, and nutrition.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Basic Metabolic Panel

Diabetes

Cardiovascular Health

Nutrition

A complete blood count (CBC) test is the most common blood test that is performed. It can help detect a variety of disorders, including infections, diseases of the immune system, anemia, and blood cancers.

They count and measure your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
They measure your hemoglobin levels.
They measure variations in your red blood cells’ size and volume.

Complete blood count tests are usually done as part of an annual checkup, or to monitor your overall health.

A basic metabolic panel is a blood test that measures several chemicals in your blood, including glucose, calcium, and electrolytes. It is performed to monitor any health issues and to check several body functions and processes, including:

Liver and kidney health
Blood sugar levels
Blood protein levels
Fluid and electrolyte balance
Metabolism

It can also be used to monitor the side effects of certain medications.

Since symptoms of certain diabetes and prediabetes may come on more gradually, or may be difficult to detect, it is recommended for patients to get screened for diabetes through a blood test.

Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes. Your doctor may recommend different tests depending on whether you have symptoms or not.

Blood Glucose Test: Screens for diabetes. It measures the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It is mostly used to screen for Type 2 diabetes, which is a common condition.
A1C Test: A blood test that shows your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. It measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.

Certain blood tests can evaluate your cardiovascular health by determining your risk of developing heart disease.

A cardiac blood test can be performed if you are at risk of having a heart attack or developing heart disease.
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to diagnose acute heart failure and cardiac arrest.

Blood tests can be used to evaluate a person’s nutritional status, measuring the amounts of essential nutrients in the body to detect nutritional deficits, including vitamin deficiency.

An example would be a comprehensive nutrition panel, which measures levels of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other nutrients essential for our overall health and well-being.

Nutritional testing can help you identify any nutrients that you may not be getting enough of, and identify any you may be consuming too much of. It provides you with the nutritional information you need to optimize your health.

Benefits of Blood Work

Help Diagnose Health Issues

Blood work can help healthcare providers diagnose certain diseases and conditions. It aims to provide a clearer picture of the state of your health, clearing up any uncertainties you may have had about your health.

Blood work also helps diagnose bleeding or blood clotting disorders.

Monitor Chronic Diseases and Conditions

Blood testing can be used to monitor a chronic disease or condition, such as diabetes or high cholesterol. It can track changes over time and help you determine if your condition has improved, stayed the same, or worsened.

Blood testing can also be performed to find out if a specific treatment for a disease is working.

Check Health of Organs

Blood work is able to check how well your organs are functioning. These include your liver, kidneys, heart, and thyroid.

Blood work can also help determine if your immune system is having trouble fighting infections.

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How Blood Tests Work

Before the Procedure

You will begin by sitting in a chair and stretching your arm out in front of you on the armrest. The nurse will wipe an antiseptic liquid in the bend of your arm and put an elastic band around your arm (above your elbow). You may be asked to make a fist to encourage the flow of blood.

During the Procedure

The nurse will insert a needle into your arm. It is injected into your vein, which is also known as venipuncture. The blood flows into a tube that is sealed and sent to a lab for analysis. Depending on the type of blood test you receive, the nurse may need to take several samples of your blood.

After the Procedure

Once the nurse has obtained enough blood, both the needle and the elastic band are removed from your arm. A bandage will then be placed on the area of your skin where the needle was inserted into your arm.

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Reasons to Get Blood Work Done

Your blood plays a big role in your overall health and contains a lot of information about what may be going on in your body.

Monitors Your Overall Health

During a routine checkup, your doctor may recommend you take a blood test in order to check on your overall health. They may order certain tests that evaluate many parts of your blood, such as a complete blood count (CBC), a basic metabolic panel, or a comprehensive metabolic panel.

Screens for Possible Diseases

Screening tests are done before you experience any symptoms. Your doctor may recommend screening tests if you are at risk of developing certain conditions, such as cancer. For example, if you are at risk for developing coronary artery disease, your healthcare provider may order several blood tests to evaluate that risk.

Helps Find a Diagnosis

If you are experiencing specific symptoms, your doctor may order blood tests to determine what is causing them. For example, if you have symptoms that may be signs that you are pregnant, your healthcare provider will do a blood pregnancy test. The blood test looks for a specific hormone that your body will only ever make when you are pregnant.

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Packages

InvestMed offers thorough health packages designed to meet the individual needs of our patients.

You can choose between a risk-specific package or a comprehensive package to analyze your health and wellbeing. Each package includes a comprehensive 1 hour physical exam and 1 hour review of results with recommendations to achieve optimal health.

Package costs will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Risk-Specific Screening Packages

Cancer Screening Package

Mitigate your cancer risk with preventive screening.

Package starting at $3,999*

MRI
DNA testing – 84 genes for cancer
Mole mapping
Advanced blood work
CT scan
Virtual colonoscopy

Proactive testing can detect changes in your body that could become cancer.

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*Package cost will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Stroke Screening Package

Knowing your risk for stroke can save your life.

$5,999*

MRA – Magnetic resonance angiography
DNA testing – 83 genes for heart conditions
Advanced blood work
Carotid doppler ultrasound
Echocardiogram

Detect your risk of stroke early, even before symptoms present themselves.

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*Package cost will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Heart Disease Screening Package

Early screenings are essential for heart disease prevention.

Package starting at $3,999*

Coronary calcium score
DNA testing – 83 genes for heart conditions
Advanced blood work
Exercise stress test
Echocardiogram
CT coronary angiography

Screening for cardiovascular risk factors before you develop heart disease, can help you prevent it.

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*Package cost will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Comprehensive Screening Packages

Comprehensive Screening Package

Get the right screening tests at the right time.

Packages from $5,999 - $11,999*

Whole body MRI
Coronary calcium score
DEXA scans
Microbiome gut testing
Genetic testing+
Heart health workup
Cancer risk review
Mole mapping
Screen for all material risks

Prevention is key to longevity, whether or not you are presenting symptoms or risk factors.

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*Package cost will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Corporate Services

Please contact us for a custom corporate package. Specialized corporate rates available.

Comprehensive, proactive health plans
Customized screening tests
Extensive medical risk assessments
Preventive approach to healthcare

Proactively manage executive wellness.

FAQ

When should I have a blood test?

It depends on your situation and your overall health. Most doctors recommend annual physical examinations that may include a complete blood count test. In general, healthcare providers will recommend blood tests based on what they know about you. For instance, they may recommend regular blood glucose tests if you are overweight (BMI over 25) or struggling with obesity (BMI over 30).

What should I do to prepare for my blood test?

It depends on the type of blood test you are preparing for. Some blood tests require you not to eat for several hours prior to the test, while others require that you do not drink any liquids before the test aside from a few sips of water. Ask your healthcare provider how to prepare for the blood test you are having.

Are there different ways to do blood tests?

All blood tests involve obtaining samples. Venipuncture, or extracting blood from a vein, is the most common way. Other procedures include:

Finger stick: Your finger is pricked with a needle to collect a tiny amount of blood. The blood sample is then saved on a strip of paper that is sent to a lab for analysis.
Heel stick: In some cases, the heel of your foot is pricked with a needle to obtain a blood sample.
Arterial blood gas test: Your blood is taken from one of your arteries instead of a vein.

How much blood is taken during a blood test?

The amount of blood depends on the type of blood test being done.On average, a complete blood count test may take around 30 mL of blood.

Do blood tests hurt?

To a certain extent they can, depending on the type of blood test you have. Tests that take blood from an artery typically cause more pain than those that take blood from a vein. A test with venipuncture may hurt if the nurse has difficulty inserting the needle into your vein. Let your doctor know if you have any discomfort, and they will try to find different ways to obtain samples of your blood.

I’m feeling anxious about having a blood test. What can I do to relax?

Feeling anxious about getting a blood test is perfectly normal. Here are some ways to cope with your stress:

Looking away so you do not see the needle entering your arm
Taking deep breaths as the needle is inserted into your arm
Finding a way to distract yourself, such as counting down from 10

When will I know my test results?

The time it takes for you to receive your results will depend on the type of blood test you take. Some blood test results are available within a few hours, while others take longer, such as genetic tests.

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