blood test

American

noun

a test of a sample of blood to determine blood group, presence of infection or other pathological condition, parentage, etc.

blood test British

noun

analysis of a blood sample to determine blood group, alcohol concentration, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of blood test

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People who get a positive stool or blood test should then undergo a colonoscopy.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

Only "a few thousand" men who have a dangerous genetic variant and a family history of cancer should be screened for prostate cancer with a blood test, according to the final recommendations of scientific advisers.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

This can push blood test readings higher without necessarily meaning the body’s cells are receiving or using more B12.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

Then, when I was 24, a blood test came back irregular.

From Slate • May 23, 2026

The hospital staff thought she meant she needed a CT scan or a blood test, but she meant a test for school.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023