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specifically : a laboratory test in which a sample of blood is withdrawn from the body to analyze the level of substances or cells (such as glucose, hemoglobin, or white blood cells) that indicate the presence or probable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

Gould’s symptoms seemed uncannily similar to those of patients known to have this new disease, and a blood test confirmed the scientists’ hunch: Gould had the mutation. —Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025

Fox News Digital spoke with a doctor about how to be prepared for your next blood test. —Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2024

While more fine-tuning needs to be done to the blood test, this could drastically change patients' lives in the long run. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024

And the test results, from both blood tests and computerized analyses, are remarkably detailed and predictive. —Laurie Werner, Forbes, 14 Dec. 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: a laboratory test in which a sample of blood is withdrawn from the body to analyze the level of substances or cells (as glucose, hemoglobin, or white blood cells) that indicate the presence or probable development of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)