Laboratory Testing – Why We Need It

4/1/2026

by Dana Pillans, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC

Most people have their blood drawn at some point. Understanding why you need this is important, though. Getting your lab work at least yearly is an important part of maintaining your health at an optimal level. In some cases, when you carry certain diagnoses, laboratory studies may be needed more frequently—every six months or even quarterly. Blood work isn’t just necessary when you have an acute issue; it helps you and your provider understand your baseline health and track trends over time.

With routine blood work, your provider can monitor your complete blood count (CBC), electrolytes, liver function, and kidney function through a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). These labs can also help screen for diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, high cholesterol and prostate concerns in men. Medication levels can be checked when needed so adjustments can be made appropriately.

One abnormal result does not always mean something is wrong. Often, it is important to look at trends over time to form an accurate diagnosis, make treatment decisions, or determine if a specialist referral is needed. By tracking labs over time, your provider may identify a problem while you are still feeling well. For example, if your A1c continues to rise, lifestyle changes can be made early to help prevent diabetes—rather than discovering it later after symptoms or complications develop. If you already have multiple diagnoses, routine labs become even more important.

Now that many organizations use patient portals, you may see your lab results before your provider does. Seeing terms like “high,” “low,” or “abnormal” can be concerning. It’s important to understand that these results are based on set “reference ranges.” When a value falls outside that range, it is automatically flagged. However, these systems do not interpret the full clinical picture. An abnormal result does not always mean something serious, which is why discussing your labs with your provider is important.

Talk with your provider at your next appointment—or schedule a visit—to discuss what labs you need and how often you should have them checked.

Schedule your visit today with Dana Pillans, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC at Streetman Primary Clinic by calling 903-602-7324 or schedule online at https://shorturl.at/3BfEu.

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