Help! Resit blood test...

[Hyperlithe]

I got a call from Cranwell this morning, got to do the blood test again, notably ESR and Fasting Glucose. Can anyone with medical experience tell me what ESR is, and what I can do to make sure the results come back ok this time? (Same for the glucose, but I understand what that one's for)
Don't have to go back to Cranwell to do them, but my Dr doesn't have an appointment free til Aug 5th, and I can't leave it that long, so am gonna take it to the hospital.
Somebody please help me out here, I can't have got through OASC, and all the other aptitude testing just to fail on the blood test!

[Lance]

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is a nonspecific screening test for various diseases. This 1-hour test measures the distance (in millimeters) that red blood cells settle in unclotted blood toward the bottom of a specially marked test tube.

How the test is performed

Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a band or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and cause the veins below the band to fill with blood.

A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
Why the test is performed Return to top

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can be used to monitor inflammatory or malignant disease, rheumatic fever, and heart attack. Although it is a screening test (not considered diagnostic for any particular disorder), it is useful in detecting and monitoring tuberculosis, tissue necrosis (death), rheumatologic disorders, or an otherwise unsuspected disease in which symptoms are vague or physical findings are minimal.

Normal Values

Adults (Westergren method):
Men under 50 years old: less than 15 mm/hr.
Men over 50 years old: less than 20 mm/hr.
Women under 50 years old: less than 20 mm/hr.
Women over 50 years old: less than 30 mm/hr.
Children (Westergren method):

Newborn: 0 to 2 mm/hr.
Neonatal to puberty: 3 to 13 mm/hr.
Note: mm/hr. = millimeters per hour.

What abnormal results mean

Elevated values occur with:

Kidney disease
Pregnancy
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatoid arthritis
Severe anemia
Syphilis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Thyroid disease
Tuberculosis
Markedly elevated values occur with:
Giant cell arteritis
Multiple myeloma
Macroglobulinemia - primary
Hyperfibrinogenemia (elevated fibrinogen levels in the blood)
Necrotizing vasculitis
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Lower-than-normal levels occur with:
Congestive heart failure
Hyperviscosity
Hypofibrinogenemia (decreased fibrinogen levels)
Low plasma protein (due to liver or kidney disease)
Polycythemia
Sickle cell anemia
Additional conditions that may affect test results:
Allergic vasculitis
Atrial myxoma, left
Atrial myxoma, right
Autoimmune hepatitis
Endometritis
Eosinophilic fasciitis
Erysipelas
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Legionnaire's disease
Osteomyelitis
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Pericarditis, post-MI
Retroperitoneal fibrosis
Skin lesion of blastomycosis
Subacute thyroiditis
Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)

What the risks are

Excessive bleeding
Fainting or feeling lightheaded
Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

[Hyperlithe]

So how can it be that I need to do that one again? Would it be that I haven't got enough red blood cells or something?

[Lance]

There are an infinite number of reasons as to why they need to call you back. It is best not to worry about it until you know more.

[Hyperlithe]

Easier said than done Lance.
Now I'm not just worrying about not getting into the RAF, but what I might just possibly have wrong with me!
How much worse can today get!
I know, she said not to worry, but who could help it? I'm going up to the doctors now to get the forms, then I'm going to sit in the hospital until I can get these darn tests done again.
Will let you know...

[Lance]

I totally understand how you feel. I have been in the exact same situation myself.

Until yesterday my application to join the Army was up in the air because of a kidney infection I had 3 years ago. I had applied back in September and the Army doctor had spotted something in my records and put the brakes on my application in Feburary. I had to have an x-ray and then the doctor spotted something he didn't like and I had to have a second one.
Playing the waiting game is no fun and the level of fustration when you get to thinking that your application could be prevented by something out of your control or that you might have some illness caused me a few anxious thoughts.

The key is not to dwell on those thoughts. Keep a lid on them grin and bear it. You can do no other.

[bootneck]

Hyper, hope it all goes well for you, i know you have your heart set on becoming a Crab, if you want to borrow some blood.....................see Dracula, he has a nice cellar full i`m sure you`ll be fine though, like Lance says, don`t worry

[Cliodna]

Well Hyper,
I really hope your blood tests come back OK.

After reading what Lance said, it seems it can only be 1 of 4 things:

1. You are preggers
2. You've got the clap
3. You've got some nasty, but not untreatable disease
4. You are going to die

So, as you can see, its not all bad news

hope you find out what the problem is.
Take care

[Hyperlithe]

Well Loz, I know it can't be number one...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, it turns out that 3 of the 5 of us have told to re-do them, and the other 2 have got to re-do all 4 or 5 tests, not just 2 like me. So I feel better now. Just.
If I can't be a Crab, I'm gonna be a Chav instead, find meself a few fellas to have babies with, get a council house and live off benefits.

[Cliodna]

Well I guess its a bit like when you get recalled when your smear test comes back iffy.
You're better to have the test re-done and get an accurate result....doesn't mean to say that there is anything wrong...just means that they f@#k up somewhere along the line.

When do you get the results of todays tests then??

[Hyperlithe]

Well, the hopsicle sends them to the doctor in about 4 days time, the doctor faxes them through to Cranwell, and Cranwell sit on their hands for a while before phoning me or sending a letter, whichever they decide to do, and depending on the results. So who knows?
Hopefully by the end of next week!

[bootneck]

I'm gonna be a Chav instead, find meself a fella to have babies with, get a council house and live off benefits.

come up and see me sometime

[Hyperlithe]

You;'ve misquoted me there - if i'm gonna be a proper chav all my babies will have to have different dads!
Are you volunteering to donate to the CSA?

[rawli]

I had to retake a blood test becasue my pottassium count was too high. Apparantly it was because I had eaten too many banannas before I came away! Don't worry about it.

[Hyperlithe]

I'm not worrying any more, I've got a date on Sunday, that should take my mind off it!