5 Questions You Should Always Ask About Your Blood Test Results

Ever get a random email or two-second phone call saying your blood test results were normal? How about a huge stack of papers you have no idea how to decode? Understanding blood test results can be one of the most confusing parts of going to the doctor.

It can be tempting to stay quiet, but knowing how to talk to your doctor about your blood test results can be key to getting the most out of the tests and learning about your personal health needs.  

It’s important that patients realize that blood tests are a routine procedure and that there’s no need to be anxious or afraid, says Karina K. Lee, M.D., an internist at Princeton Medicine. 

“It’s better to test things early,” Lee says. “If we find that your cholesterol is borderline or your sugar is borderline, it’s great to catch it early so that you can start making lifestyle changes to prevent having to take medication later or things getting more serious.”

Blood tests typically include blood counts, which look at the amount of different types of blood cells, and a chemistry profile, which looks at substances like sugar and cholesterol. These indicators can provide information including how your organs are functioning and whether you have any infections. 

But it’s important to understand that blood tests are tailored for individual patients, Lee says. Doctors often run different tests at different frequencies depending on the patient’s age, family history, and any conditions or symptoms, like a cholesterol screening for someone with high blood pressure or thyroid levels if someone has been fatigued. Before your blood test, be sure to have a candid convo with your doc about what’s being tested, says Orli Etingin, M.D., medical director of the Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill-Cornell Medicine.

Related: Do You Have a Vitamin B12 Deficiency? Answer These 5 Questions to Find Out

Here are five general questions you can ask your doctor about your blood tests results to start a conversation about your health.