We've all had that dreaded needle put to our arm for a much-needed blood test. But what happens to that blood once it leaves our arm, and what do the test results really tell us?

First things first: when it comes to drawing your blood, laboratory manager Gail Edelen says the most important step is making sure the right person is getting the right tests. "When the blood sample is drawn the nurse will check 2 different types of identification, they'll ask patient for name, they'll check date of birth, arm bands, make sure that they are drawing the right patient and then when they label that blood, they do it at the same time they draw it."

Gail also says that the safety checks don't stop there. When it comes to drawing your blood you're at no risk of catching a disease; the lab technicians always wear gloves and use special safety needles. "Is in a sealed package and is safe and sterile and that will protect the patient."

Jean Buss says that "The blood is taken from your arm, it is put into a tube or many tubes, brought to a laboratory, spun for a certain amount of time depending on what test it is."

Gail explains that the blood test results can tell you and your doctor a lot about your health. They broaden the range of your doctor's senses, providing more in depth information, which cannot be readily seen, heard or touched. "Once we get that tube of blood here in the lab and we put that on our chemistry analyzer we can often tell right away and help that physician make his diagnosis."

Knowing how important these tests are to you and your physician may help you feel better the next time your doctor orders blood work.

And if you find that lab techs normally have some difficulty drawing blood from you try, drinking eight to 10 glasses of liquid a day for a day or two before your test. This helps blood flow better and makes the veins easier to find.