blood test

noun

: a test of the blood

specifically : a laboratory test in which a sample of blood is withdrawn from the body to analyze the level of substances or cells (such as glucose, hemoglobin, or white blood cells) that indicate the presence or probable development of a particular disease or medical condition (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer) or serve to indicate the degree of function of a specific organ (such as the liver or kidney)

Examples of blood test in a Sentence

He had a blood test, and the doctor who did it said his cholesterol was too high.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2020, a study from the University of Pennsylvania found that a blood test to screen for certain biomarkers associated with pancreatic cancer was 92% accurate in its ability to detect disease. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024

If so, a simple blood test from a medical provider can provide this information. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

blood test

noun

: a test of the blood (as to detect the presence of disease-causing agents or determine the number of blood cells)

Medical Definition

blood test

noun

: a laboratory test in which a sample of blood is withdrawn from the body to analyze the level of substances or cells (as glucose, hemoglobin, or white blood cells) that indicate the presence or probable development of a particular disease or medical condition (as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer) or serve to indicate the degree of function of a specific organ (as the liver or kidney)