Further blood test | Laboratory examination of the blood

Further blood test

In addition to the large blood count, the blood is examined in other ways and for other indicators. The blood test can also provide information about the electrolyte balance. In this case, the blood is examined in the laboratory and it is determined whether sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and other electrolytes are present in healthy concentrations or whether there is a deficiency or an excess of a certain electrolyte.

The importance of the electrolytes is particularly clear in the case of a calf cramp: because too little magnesium circulates in the blood, a painful twitching of the muscle occurs. The electrolytes have very diverse functions and therefore it is important to keep the concentrations as constant as possible. If, for example, an increased potassium concentration in the blood is detected during a blood test, this can be the reason for cardiac arrhythmia.

Another blood test is the so-called coagulation test. A distinction is made here between the quick test and the PTT (partial thromboplastin time). If these tests are prolonged, this indicates disturbed coagulation.

A prominent example is haemopholia A or B, in which coagulation factors do not work properly for genetic reasons. As a result, coagulation does not occur quickly enough and affected patients bleed for a very long time. In such a haemopholia, the PTT in particular would be prolonged.

Blood tests can also be used to check liver, kidney and heart values. Blood tests can also be used to check for viruses (such as HIV) or possible inflammation. The blood test can also provide information about hormone activity.

Costs

The cost of a blood test varies depending on whether you are privately insured or with a statutory health insurance company. Every two years, the statutory health insurance company pays for a blood test if the patient is over 35 years old. However, if the attending physician considers it appropriate, such a blood test can be performed more often.

If a patient wants to have a test performed without complaints, the costs for the blood test amount to 80-200 €, depending on the doctor and the responsible laboratory. However, there are also values that are not covered by health insurance. These include, for example, the costs of blood tests for PSA and testosterone.

The PSA test is used to examine specific prostate antigens, which are supposed to indicate possible prostate cancer. However, since the test is controversial as an early cancer detection method and there is no agreement on whether the test can provide clues for early detection, health insurance companies do not pay for this test. The costs of this blood test amount to 15-45 €. Even if the testosterone level in the blood is examined, the cost of this blood test can be up to 80 €.