Blood Tests | Lab

Blood tests at Clínica Hispana Nueva Salud Hammerly show how your sugar, cholesterol, organs and blood cells are doing. They're meant for adults who want a checkup, for anyone keeping a chronic condition under control and for people who need lab work for paperwork, right here in Spring Branch, Houston.

Which tests can our lab run for you?

• Complete blood count (CBC): tallies the cells in your blood, a quick way to spot anemia or a body fighting an infection.
• Blood chemistry: glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, the starting point for keeping an eye on diabetes and heart risk.
• Liver and kidney function: often ordered when you take medication every day, since it shows how your body is handling it.
• Thyroid panel: worth checking if you feel tired, gain or lose weight or notice hair loss; it pairs with our thyroid visit.

Do you need to fast first?

It depends on what's being measured. Glucose and the lipid panel usually call for fasting from the night before, and plain water is fine during that time. A CBC or thyroid test normally doesn't. If you're not sure which applies to you, call ahead and our staff will tell you how to come in. Keep taking your usual medication unless the medical team says otherwise, and bring a note with the names and doses.

What is the draw like?

You sit down, the skin on your arm is cleaned and the sample is taken with a thin needle in a short process. Then you press the cotton ball for a moment to avoid a bruise and go on with your day. If needles make you anxious or you've ever fainted, tell us before we start so we can take it slowly.

What happens once the numbers come in?

We let you know when they're ready, and the clinic's medical team goes over every value that came out high or low with you in plain language. If you live with diabetes or high blood pressure, those numbers help adjust your chronic conditions plan. When a result needs a closer look, we guide the referral to the right specialist.

If you're fasting, stop by 8538 Hammerly Blvd Suite B early so you're not stuck without breakfast all morning.