Key Takeaways
- Yes, most primary care clinics like Helical Health offer or coordinate essential lab work and blood tests.
- Common tests include Complete Blood Counts (CBC), metabolic panels, lipid profiles, A1C for diabetes, and thyroid function tests.
- Routine lab work is a cornerstone of preventive care, helping to detect health issues early and monitor ongoing conditions.
- Helical Health provides integrated testing services to ensure seamless, doctor-led care for patients in Keller, Southlake, and surrounding communities.
The Short Answer: Yes, It’s a Core Part of What We Do
When you’re focused on maintaining your health, questions about logistics are natural. One of the most common questions is whether you need to visit a separate facility for routine blood work or if your trusted primary care doctor can handle it. The straightforward answer is yes. Integrating lab work is a fundamental part of modern primary care, and it’s something we manage every day at Helical Health.
Think of your primary care physician as the hub of your healthcare journey. To get a complete, 360-degree view of your well-being, we combine our conversations during your unhurried visits with objective data from lab tests. This combination allows us to move beyond treating symptoms and focus on proactive, preventive health. Having your lab work managed directly through our office eliminates confusion, prevents fragmented care, and ensures that the person who knows you best is involved. Your Doctor is the one interpreting the results in the context of your unique health history. It’s a seamless, patient-centered process designed to give you clarity and confidence. When you want to truly understand what’s happening inside your body, learn more about our approach to integrated, doctor-led medicine.
Common Blood Tests & Labs We Manage for Our Patients
The term “lab work” can sound vague, but it refers to a specific set of tests that provide critical information about your body’s systems. These routine screenings are powerful tools for early detection and ongoing health management. At Helical Health, we commonly order and manage a range of essential blood tests in primary care. Here are a few of the most important ones, explained in simple terms.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A CBC is one of the most frequently ordered blood tests. It measures the different types of cells in your blood, including red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which fight infection), and platelets (which help with clotting). This single test can help detect signs of anemia, infection, inflammation, and other disorders, making it a vital snapshot of your overall health.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
The CMP provides a broad overview of your body’s chemical balance and metabolism. It checks your blood sugar levels, electrolyte and fluid balance, and kidney and liver function. This panel is crucial for identifying early signs of kidney disease, liver issues, or diabetes long before symptoms might appear.
Lipid Panel (Cholesterol & Triglycerides)
Your heart health is paramount, and a lipid panel is the key to understanding your risk for cardiovascular disease. This test measures different types of cholesterol, including LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and HDL (“good” cholesterol), as well as triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood). These numbers help Dr. Mehta create a personalized plan to protect your heart.
Hemoglobin A1C (Diabetes Screening)
Unlike a simple blood sugar test that shows your level at one moment in time, the A1C test provides an average of your blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. It’s the gold standard for diagnosing prediabetes and diabetes and is essential for monitoring treatment effectiveness in patients with the condition.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Your thyroid gland acts as your body’s thermostat, regulating everything from metabolism and energy levels to mood and weight. A TSH test is a simple blood test that can determine if your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism), two common conditions that can significantly impact your quality of life.
Urinalysis
A urinalysis is a simple urine test that can reveal a lot about your health. It’s often used to diagnose urinary tract infections (UTIs) and can also provide early warnings for kidney disease, diabetes, and liver problems by checking for the presence of proteins, sugar, and blood cells.
How Lab Work Supports Your Proactive Health Journey
At Helical Health, we believe that true healthcare is proactive, not reactive. Routine blood work isn’t just about finding problems; it’s about building a detailed, personalized roadmap to keep you healthy for years to come. These tests are a cornerstone of our comprehensive primary care services, empowering you and Dr. Mehta to make informed decisions together.
First and foremost, primary care lab work is about early detection. Many serious conditions, such as high cholesterol, prediabetes, or early-stage kidney disease, develop silently without any noticeable symptoms. A routine blood test can catch these issues in their beginning stages when they are most manageable and often reversible through lifestyle changes or straightforward treatments. This preventive screening is one of the most powerful tools we have to keep small issues from becoming major health crises.
Second, lab results provide an objective way to monitor and manage chronic conditions. If you’re managing a condition like hypertension or a thyroid disorder, regular testing allows Dr. Mehta to see if your treatment plan is working effectively. It enables precise adjustments to medication or lifestyle recommendations, ensuring your care is always optimized. This is particularly valuable within our concierge care model, where we dedicate more time to closely managing every aspect of your health.
Finally, your lab results are essential for personalization. Your data helps us move beyond one-size-fits-all advice. Dr. Mehta uses your unique results to tailor recommendations for diet, exercise, and supplements specifically for your body’s needs. It transforms your annual check-up from a simple screening into a strategic planning session for your long-term wellness. To learn more about various health topics, you can explore our blog for more health tips.
Convenient, Doctor-Led Testing for Keller, Southlake & Beyond
Understanding the importance of lab work is one thing; accessing it conveniently is another. We’ve designed our primary care testing services at Helical Health to be as seamless and stress-free as possible for our patients throughout Keller, Southlake, Colleyville, and the surrounding North Fort Worth communities. Our goal is to remove barriers so you can focus on what matters most: your health.
The process is simple and fully integrated into your care. Dr. Mehta will discuss which tests are appropriate for you during your visit. We handle all the coordination, whether the sample is drawn here in our comfortable office or at a trusted, conveniently located partner lab. The most critical part of the process is what happens next: Dr. Mehta personally reviews every result. He doesn’t just glance at the numbers; he interprets them in the full context of your health history, lifestyle, and any concerns you’ve shared.
This doctor-led oversight is what sets our approach apart. You won’t be left to decipher a confusing report on your own. Instead, we’ll schedule a follow-up conversation to walk you through the findings, answer all your questions, and collaboratively decide on the next steps. This ensures you feel informed and empowered every step of the way. For residents from Grapevine to Roanoke, our clinic serves as a central point for clear, compassionate, and comprehensive health management. If you are a new patient, you can fill out your new patient forms online to save time before your first visit. From the Helical Health home page to your final results, we strive to make your experience exceptional.
Take Control of Your Health with Dr. Mehta
Ready to get a clearer picture of your health? Schedule a visit with Dr. Mehta at Helical Health to discuss your preventive care options and get the lab work you need. Call us or use our online form to connect with Dr. Mehta today.
FAQs
Do I need to fast before my primary care blood test?
Answer: It depends on the test. For example, a lipid panel (cholesterol test) typically requires fasting for 9-12 hours beforehand. We will always provide you with clear instructions before your appointment so you know exactly how to prepare.
How quickly will I get my lab results from Helical Health?
Answer: Most routine lab results are available within a few business days. Dr. Mehta will personally review them, and our office will contact you to discuss the findings and next steps as soon as they are ready.
Why is it better to get lab work done through my primary care doctor?
Answer: Getting labs through your primary care doctor ensures continuity of care. Your results become part of your complete health record, allowing Dr. Mehta to interpret them in the context of your personal and family history for a more accurate and meaningful assessment.