Blood Work Specialist
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Jeffrey M Saylor, MD MPH
Family Medicine & Acute Care located in Guntersville, AL
Routine lab tests, like blood work and urinalysis, can provide key insights into your health. At his eponymous practice, family medicine physician Jeffrey Saylor, MD, MPH, has an in-house laboratory that offers blood work, urinalysis, COVID-19 testing, and more. To make an appointment, call the practice in Guntersville, Alabama today.
Blood Work Q&A
What is blood work?
Blood work refers to laboratory testing. These tests analyze samples of your bodily fluids, like urine, blood, or saliva, to diagnose underlying issues that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
You don’t have to be sick to benefit from blood work. Dr. Saylor recommends everyone undergo testing at least once a year. Blood work can catch potentially serious issues like diabetes, high cholesterol, and nutritional deficiencies early on when they respond best to treatment.
What are some common types of blood work?
Dr. Saylor offers various types of blood work, including:
Complete blood count (CBC)
A complete blood count analyzes the number of cells in your blood, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. It’s a quick and effective way to screen for various health problems, including vitamin deficiencies, anemia, and infection.
Basic metabolic panel
A basic metabolic panel analyzes the number of certain nutrients in your blood, including potassium, sodium, and chloride. To ensure accurate results, it’s important to fast for at least 12 hours before undergoing this type of blood work.
Lipid panel
A lipid panel analyzes the number of fats and triglycerides in your blood. If you have high cholesterol levels, you’re more likely to experience a heart attack or a stroke.
Glycated hemoglobin (A1C)
A glycated hemoglobin test is a type of blood work that determines your average blood sugar level over the past few months. If you receive a reading of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests, it means you have diabetes.
COVID-19 testing
For COVID-19 testing, Dr. Saylor collects a sample of saliva or mucus from your throat or nose. The in-house laboratory offers polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) tests, allowing for same-day diagnosis.
Urinalysis
Urinalysis analyzes a sample of your urine for early signs of disease. Dr. Saylor might recommend urinalysis on a regular basis if you have diabetes or kidney disease.
What type of blood work might benefit me?
To determine the type of blood work that will most benefit you, Dr. Saylor reviews your health history and conducts a physical exam. After gathering the necessary information, he orders a series of lab tests based on your age, gender, and lifestyle.
If it’s been more than a year since you last had blood work done, make an appointment at the practice of Jeffrey Saylor, MD, MPH, by calling the office or using the online booking feature today.
