IF YOU had a blood test last year, you're not alone. According to Pathology Awareness Australia, more than 500 million pathology tests were ordered in the last 12 months for Australian patients.
If letters like LFT, FBE, FBC, TSH and INR look familiar, it's because they are among the six most common tests performed.
But what do they actually reveal about your health?
Liver Function Tests (LFTs) are a group of tests that measure some enzymes, proteins and substances produced or excreted by the liver.
When performed together, the tests give the doctor a snapshot of the liver and provide a starting place for any further diagnostic testing. More than 14.5 million LFTs were conducted last year.
Full Blood Examinations (FBE) and Full Blood Counts (FBC) provide important information about the blood cells, including the number and correct development of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Abnormalities can indicate anaemia, infections, some blood cancers and inherited conditions.
Last year more than 11 million FBE tests were conducted.
Iron studies are another common test, with nearly five million conducted in 2014-15. They are usually ordered if the doctor suspects too much or too little iron in the system.
Low levels of iron can lead to anaemia, while too much increases the risk of liver disease, heart failure, arthritis and diabetes.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Qualification is the fourth most common pathology test, with more than 4.5 million performed last year.
It allows the doctor to screen, diagnose and monitor thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism by measuring the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormones present. These hormones regulate a range of vital bodily functions including breathing, energy levels, heart rate and temperature.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can occur spontaneously or as a result of tumours, pregnancy, infections and sometimes medications.
Urinalysis tests a sample of urine to look for metabolic disorders such as diabetes, as well as kidney disorders. Nearly 4.5 million urinalysis tests were conducted in 2014-15.
The tests can screen for urine proteins, red cells and markers of infections.
Anyone taking warfarin will be familiar with the International Normalized Ratio (INR).
The test is used to check how well the clot-preventing medication is working.
It measures how long it takes patients taking warfarin to convert one protein (prothrombin) to another (thrombin) compared to someone not taking the medication.
The chemical reaction is vital to clot formation.
More than three million INRs were performed last year.
