There are many situations in which testing blood samples can be helpful. A common use would be as part of a preventative health care program. For instance, a veterinarian might recommend that a newly adopted cat be blood tested for certain viral diseases. Or a veterinarian might advise pre-anesthetic blood screening before any elective surgery. Such screening tests help identify hidden problems and also serve as a baseline for future monitoring of the cat’s health. Blood testing is also used to diagnose medical conditions and then to monitor the progress of treatment. A variety of very specialized blood tests are available and the list is growing each year. Different commercial labs and university labs have developed specialized tests for certain diseases and situations. Many infectious diseases have specialized blood tests. In some cases, there are various types of tests available to detect one disease and the veterinarian will have to choose the test most applicable to the patient.
1) Complete Blood Count (CBC): The complete blood count is one of the most commonly employed blood tests in veterinary medicine. This test is designed to evaluate the red and white blood cells. A total white blood cell count is determined and then the individual types of white blood cells are examined and counted as a percentage of the total count (the “differential”).
2) Serum Chemistries: One of the most useful diagnostic aids in veterinary medicine is the serum chemistry panel. This is a collection of blood tests used to assess the function of major organs and body systems. Chemistry panels vary in size by the number of tests ordered and the focus of the tests. .... [Read complete article]
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Blood and Urine Tests for Cats
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