A doctor's visit often ends with you leaving with a pathology request form in hand. The request form soon has you filling a sample pot, having blood drawn, or perhaps even a tissue biopsy taken.

A blood osmolality test measures the blood for the concentration of certain dissolved particles. This test can show whether a person has an irregular balance of fluids in their body. Osmolality tests ...

A serum immunofixation test measures specific proteins in your blood. It helps to identify certain illnesses that are otherwise hard to detect, such as multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. The test is ...

Lindsay Modglin is a nurse and professional writer who regularly writes about complex medical topics, as well as travel and the great outdoors. She holds a professional certificate in scientific ...

Mark Gurarie is a writer covering health topics, technology, music, books, and culture. He also teaches health science and research writing at George Washington University's School of Medical and ...

Brad Reisfeld is a professor of chemical and biological engineering, biomedical engineering, and public health at Colorado State University. Your blood serves numerous roles to maintain your health.

Steffini Stalos, DO, FCAP, is a pathology and lab medicine physician. She is also the chief medical officer of the lab consultancy firm Blood Associates, LLC. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration ...