With this health test, you quickly get an overview of your blood count. This overview displays the values of all important blood cells and related determinations, giving you an immediate clear impression of your general health.

What does a general blood test entail?

A general blood test at Easly consists of a finger-prick test. With this blood test, you will learn the values of various blood cells, including the values of platelets (thrombocytes), red (erythrocytes) and white (leukocytes) blood cells.

This preventive health check provides you with a clear overview of your health.

Why should I have my blood tested for everything?

A comprehensive blood test provides the most complete picture of your health. Blood consists of different components: fluid or plasma (with all sorts of dissolved substances in it) and blood cells. Therefore, in many cases, it is less useful to measure only the value of a single substance.

When something is wrong with your blood, it can lead to various symptoms, depending on where the problem occurs. Below we have listed which blood cells we test and why that is important:

Hemoglobin (Hb)
Hemoglobin is a protein and part of the red blood cell. Each red blood cell contains over 200 million hemoglobin proteins. It plays a very important role in the oxygen supply to organs and tissues. A normal hemoglobin value differs for men and women, with lower values being accepted for women, and especially pregnant women. A too low hemoglobin value will eventually lead to oxygen deficiency at the tissue level and can have serious consequences. The hemoglobin value can also be too high. This can arise as a result of dehydration, lung diseases, bone marrow disorders, and living at high altitudes.

Hematocrit (Ht)
Hematocrit measures the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. A high hematocrit value can have two causes: dehydration or an excess of red blood cells. A decreased hematocrit indicates anemia. A normal hematocrit is slightly higher for men than for women.

Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
Red blood cells are also called erythrocytes. Erythrocytes are produced in the bone marrow and contain hemoglobin. They are essential for oxygen transport to organs and tissues. A shortage of red blood cells is called anemia.

White blood cells (leukocytes)
White blood cells are also called leukocytes and are part of the immune system. The various types of leukocytes each play their own role in protecting against infections. A normal value is approximately between 4 and 10 and is not dependent on gender. An increase in leukocytes is called leukocytosis and often indicates an infection. In addition, there are other causes for a high white blood cell count, such as leukemia, severe stress, injury, or burns. Of course, a too low value of leukocytes is also possible. This is called leukopenia.

Platelets (thrombocytes)
Platelets or thrombocytes are produced in the bone marrow, just like erythrocytes. Platelets form an essential part of blood clotting – the process that ensures a wound stops bleeding. A normal value ranges between 150 and 400. A too low value (thrombocytopenia) can lead to bleeding. A value lower than 30 can lead to very dangerous situations and requires immediate attention from a doctor. A too high value (thrombocytosis) can be caused by, for example, infections, iron deficiency, and bone marrow disorders.

MCV, MCH, MCHC
The average size of the red blood cell can be measured. This measurement was named MCV, which stands for mean corpuscular volume. Based on this measurement, the cause of anemia can be determined. For example, abnormal values can indicate deficiencies in, for instance, B12 or iron. A normal MCV is approximately between 80 and 100.

Symptoms for testing blood values

Because the general blood test includes so many different values, the range of symptoms in case of a possible abnormality in one or more blood values can also be very diverse. One of the most common abnormalities in blood tests is an abnormality in hemoglobin (Hb). This usually concerns a deficiency of hemoglobin. This is also called anemia.

Symptoms associated with anemia include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath on exertion
• Pale skin
• Tinnitus
• Feeling faint
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Wounds that do not stop bleeding
• Gum bleeding
• Nosebleeds
• Bruises
• Small red dots in the skin (petechiae)

With this preventive health check of your blood count, you get a clear overview of your general health. If necessary, our doctors provide their Medical Interpretation & Advice.

Please note that normal values always differ per laboratory.

• A normal hemoglobin is different for men and women. For men, a normal Hb is approximately between 8.5 and 11, for women between 7.5 and 10.
• A normal hematocrit is also different for men and women. For men, the range is approximately 40% to 50%, for women the range is approximately 35% to 45%.
• An erythrocyte value considered normal depends on gender. For men, a range is approximately between 4.4 and 5.8, and for women, a range is approximately between 4 and 5.3.
• The leukocyte value is the same for men and women and is approximately in the range of 4 to 10.
• The thrombocyte value should normally fall within the range of 150 to 400.
• The MCV value normally falls approximately within the range of 80 to 100.