From “Just a Pinch” to Patient Diagnosis
Many people don't realize how much information blood tests taken during a checkup can provide, or how crucial a role they play in helping doctors reach medical diagnoses. About 50 percent of the information in the average medical chart comes from laboratory data, and diagnostic test results, including blood tests, inform approximately 70 percent of medical decisions.1
“Many patients consider having a blood test to be a simple procedure, but don’t understand what takes place behind the scenes between when the blood is drawn and when the doctor makes a diagnosis,” said Dr. David Spindell, internist and divisional vice president of Medical Affairs, Diagnostic Products, Abbott. “Laboratory blood tests are a vital part of the diagnostic process, helping physicians make the correct diagnosis and determine the appropriate course of treatment.”
Today’s blood-testing systems make advanced diagnostic technology widely accessible, enabling doctors to provide the best possible care more quickly and accurately than in the past.
To learn more about what happens to blood after it is drawn to help doctors make a diagnosis:
For more information:
| 1 | The Essentials of Diagnostics whitepaper, DX Insights, January 2012. |
Last updated January 2013
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