Blood Work Specialist

What is a complete blood count?

A complete blood count (CBC) test evaluates your health and identifies an array of health problems, including infection, cancers like leukemia, and anemia. Dr. Lopez-Sepulveda uses a CBC to measure different components of your blood, including:

• Red blood cells that carry oxygen
• White blood cells that fight infection
• Platelets that help with blood clotting
• Hemoglobin – a protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells
• Hematocrit – the proportion of red blood cells to fluid, or plasma

Dr. Lopez-Sepulveda might also recommend a complete blood count to check if a treatment is working or to monitor a preexisting health condition.

What can I expect during a blood test?

Most blood tests involve a small sample of blood that’s drawn from your arm with a needle, usually at the bend in your elbow. While many people fear needles, the needle is small and the process is quick. The staff at Clinica tu Salud ensure you’re as comfortable as possible. The blood work is then analyzed at the on-site lab to give you faster and more accurate results.

What blood work can I get when I visit my primary care doctor?

When you visit a primary care physician like Dr. Lopez-Sepulveda, he might recommend some of the following blood tests depending on your individual needs:

• Pregnancy blood test
• Lipid panel to measure your cholesterol
• Glucose test to screen for diabetes and prediabetes
• STD test to check for certain sexually transmitted diseases
• Complete blood count (CBC) for an overall look at your health
• Prostate-specific antigen test, or PSA, for men at risk of prostate cancer

Dr. Lopez-Sepulveda might also recommend a comprehensive metabolic panel or CMP. This series of blood tests show your metabolism, how your liver and kidneys are working, your blood sugar and electrolyte levels, and how much protein is in your blood.

What are the benefits of blood work for preventive care?

General blood work can reveal many important factors about your health.

Through blood tests, Dr. Lopez-Sepulveda can identify inflammatory markers and obtain an overall picture of your health, while assessing your risk for certain chronic diseases. Widespread inflammation that shows up on an inflammatory marker test can indicate an underlying health problem, such as an autoimmune disease.

Learn more about blood work and find out your risks and the state of your health. Clinica tu Salud offers an on-site laboratory for your convenience. Call the office or book your appointment online.