Blood tests are an essential tool in modern medicine to diagnose and treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions. However, Blood testing innovations can often be confusing and raise many questions and doubts. What tests are included in a blood test? What do the results mean? How are normal and abnormal values interpreted? Is it required to do any type of preparation before the Blood test? These are just some of the most frequently asked questions that arise when undergoing a blood test.
In this blog, Voltadiagnostic will address questions related to blood tests. From explaining the different tests and values measured in analysis to the steps you should take to properly prepare for a blood draw, we will provide detailed and clear information so you can better understand the results and the process as a whole.
Additionally, Voltadiagnostic explores some of the most common causes of abnormal results and what they can mean for your health. Ultimately, this blog is your complete guide to understanding everything you need to know about blood tests. Let's go a little deeper into the rise of blood testing technology and innovations and the origin of its usefulness in Medicine.
Rise of Blood Testing Technology
At the heart of innovations in blood testing lab are advanced collection technologies. Less invasive lancing devices, automated systems and improved processing methods have revolutionized efficiency and safety in the testing process. Smart needles, for example, minimize pain and allow for faster blood collection, reducing barriers perceived by potential donors.
Blood test innovations for diagnostics
Blood tests have undergone significant improvements which help in storage and transportation to ensure that blood samples are available when they are most needed. State-of-the-art refrigeration systems and real-time tracking technologies ensure that the cold chain is maintained, preserving the viability of blood components and ensuring their safe delivery to hospitals and clinics.
Virtual Blood Testing and Testing
The digital age has brought with it new ways to involve the community in blood testing. Online platforms and apps allow people to register as donors, receive reminders, and contribute to the cause from the comfort of their homes. This virtual approach has proven especially effective in reaching segments of the population who may not have otherwise considered testing.
Promotion of blood testing
Effective promotion of blood testing is crucial to maintaining a constant supply. Creative marketing campaigns, community events, and strategic partnerships with nonprofit organizations play a critical role in raising awareness and motivating potential donors. Human participation is key to overcoming chronic blood shortages in many places around the world.
Safety and quality in blood tests
Safety remains a priority in blood testing in today's world. Current standards, including testing for communicable diseases, are critical to ensuring the safety of blood samples.
Additionally, the implementation of traceability technologies improves the ability to track each unit of blood from donor to recipient.
Blood tests and pandemics
Pandemic events, such as the recent COVID-19 crisis, have affected blood testing in various ways. Mobility restrictions and safety concerns have led to significant declines in testing. Learning from these experiences and developing strategies to maintain testing during similar crises is essential to ensure the resilience of the blood testing technology and system.
How is Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) Impact in Blood Tests?
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) works by breaking DNA or RNA into many small pieces and reading the letters on each piece. NGS then uses a computer to put the pieces back together and compare them to a reference sequence. This way you can find out what is different about the DNA or RNA of a particular sample.
NGS is used in pathology to help diagnose and treat diseases caused by changes in DNA or RNA. For example, some Blood Tests are caused by mutations (small changes) or rearrangements (large changes) in the DNA of certain genes that cause cells to grow uncontrollably. After examining a tissue sample under a microscope, a pathologist may perform NGS to narrow or confirm the diagnosis. Next-generation sequencing is often combined with different types of tests such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or flow cytometry.
Understanding CRISPR-based therapy in blood testing
Casgevy is an ex vivo cell therapy with cells modified to produce functional Blood Tests. The treatment consists of obtaining hematopoietic stem cells (those that generate different types of blood cells) from patients, modifying them using CRISPR tools, amplifying them in the laboratory and then introducing them back into the patients.
The approval of Casgevy marks a milestone for gene therapies. It is the first CRISPR-based therapy approved for the treatment of a genetic disease. The recent development of CRISPR and derived genome editing systems represents an opportunity of great interest for numerous genetic diseases. Proof of this are the numerous CRISPR-based therapies that use some of these technologies to correct genetic errors responsible for blood testing and diseases.
Blood Testing and AI
We will see changes in several segments of the trusted traditional blood testing process:
- For blood tests requiring smaller sample sizes (such as allergies, food intolerances, DNA, microbiome), maintaining a point-of-care facility will become unnecessary, as patients will provide samples from home
- The era of incomprehensible lab results is over, as various AI algorithms will help anyone interpret the results
- Laboratories are not going to disappear completely, but their roles may change with the rise of technology and innovation
- Point-of-care blood draws, over time, are expected to be increasingly performed by robots, freeing up human staff for other tasks
Conclusion
In short, these are just some of the most common types of blood tests in clinical practice , although there are others specialized in the study of different substances found in the bloodstream.
Remember that in the Master in Clinical Analysis At Voltadiagnostic the best center in Wagholi can delve deeper into these and other techniques so that, in the future, with continued advances and the active participation of society, we can ensure a robust and reliable blood supply for generations to come. Blood, the true essence of life, deserves our constant attention and commitment. If you want more information, do not hesitate to contact us.
