A blood test is a test that is conducted on a sample of blood to check the various components and contents of the blood. Blood is the chief transport agent in the body which transports nutrients, hormones, enzymes and wastes around the body. A blood test is typically conducted on a vein in the upper forearm of the patient who is being tested. This blood is stored in a vial and sent to a laboratory for analysis. In most cases, iron deficiency blood tests are conducted as part of regular blood work assessments. Iron deficiency blood tests usually take just a few seconds as far as the patient is concerned. The area around where the needle will enter is cleaned to reduce the risk of infections. The needle is then quickly placed and the blood collection process begins.
Iron deficiency blood tests are conducted when an individual has symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. This is a condition where the functioning of the blood as an oxygen carrier is slightly impaired. Iron helps hemoglobin perform its functions as a carrier of oxygen around the body. For the purpose of energy production, oxygen is needed. During the process of breathing, oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the lungs. The oxygenated blood then flows throughout the body to provide this necessary gas to the tissues and organs that need it. Energy is required for every single body function. Iron deficiency blood tests will establish if the individual is suffering from symptoms of anemia because of iron or because of some other underlying problem. As mentioned above, the iron deficiency blood tests diagnosis is done as a part of a larger diagnosis of medical conditions based on a standard blood test. During this test, the same sample of blood will be tested for various different parameters associated with many illnesses and conditions. This includes all the basic information on the quality of the blood. Detecting low iron in the blood during the test would therefore help provide for a better cure. Read more on iron levels in blood test
Some symptoms of anemia include fatigue and generally pale skin. Fatigue occurs whenever the individual tries to do any simple physical task. Most people suffering from anemia will find themselves tiring out much faster than they normally would. It is therefore necessary to perform an iron deficiency blood test to understand what the cause of the anemia is and to what extent iron is involved in the problem. You could speak to your doctor on the consumption of iron rich foods before or after the blood test. Besides this all other preparations required for the test could also be discussed with the doctor.