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specifically : a laboratory test in which a sample of blood is withdrawn from the body to analyze the level of substances or cells (such as glucose, hemoglobin, or white blood cells) that indicate the presence or probable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

Just as blood tests help identify problems with cholesterol or liver disease, salivary tests could become another way for busy people to keep tabs on their health — potentially during a dentist visit. —Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026

In the new study, Schindler and her colleagues tested how well a blood test for p-tau217 could predict the age at which people who had the protein would develop symptoms of the disease. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026

Grail’s test has been the standard bearer for new technologies that promise a blood test can be used to detect many different types of cancer early and eventually even to indicate to scientists where in the body to look for tumors. —Angus Chen, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026

There are newer cholesterol blood tests that can better assess your risks, Bhandari said. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blood test

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

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: a laboratory test in which a sample of blood is withdrawn from the body to analyze the level of substances or cells (as glucose, hemoglobin, or white blood cells) that indicate the presence or probable development of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