What Those Results Mean

How many times have you gone to the doctor and been given your results from a blood test? More importantly how many of those words or abbreviation of words did you know? More than likely if you did not know what they meant you did not know if the value that corresponded was good or bad.

Shouldn’t we know what those values are for? I think so. Below I have given you a brief overview of so of the hematology and chemistries you would typically come across. If this still has you confused then ask you doctor to explain it to you. Don’t be afraid to take up 2 more minutes of their time. For the most part this will give you a good start to understanding all those numbers.

WBC – How strong your immune system is, if you have an infection or not.

RBC, HGB, HCT – Provides information on the amount of red blood cells present in the blood. Decreased levels means anemia from hemorrhage, parasites, nutritional deficiencies or chronic disease process, such as liver disease or cancer. Increased levels are often seen in dehydration. Greatest change may be seen in premenopausal women because monthly blood loss. You need to take iron supplements or eat more red meat.

RDW – This will tend to be higher when red blood count is low

Lymph # - Increase value indicates viral infection

Mono#, Gran# - Increase in valve may mean bacterial infection

PLT – Play an important role in blood clotting. Decrease in number occurs in bone marrow depression, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, systemic lupus, severe hemorrhage or intravascular coagulation. Increased number may occur with fracture or blood vessel injury, or cancer.

MCV - Measurement of the average size of the red blood cells. Elevated volumes can be due to B-12 folic acid deficiency and reduced volumes are from an iron deficiency.

AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT) - An enzyme that becomes elevated with liver disease.

Total Bilirubin - A component of bile, bilirubin is secreted by the liver into the intestinal tract. High levels can lead to jaundice and indicate destruction in the liver and bile duct. In short, has to do with liver function.

ALK – An enzyme produced by the biliary tract (liver). High levels indicate bone disease, liver disease or bile flow blockage.

BUN - Is produced by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Decreased levels are seen with low protein diets, liver insufficiency, and the use of anabolic steroid drug. Increased levels indicate any condition that reduces the kidney's ability to filter body fluids in the body or interferes with protein breakdown. Or function of the kidneys.

Creatinine - A by-product of muscle metabolism and is excreted by the kidneys. Elevated levels can indicate kidney disease or urinary obstruction, muscle disease, arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes. An increased BUN and normal creatinine suggest an early or mild problem. An increased creatinine and increased BUN with elevated phosphorus indicate a long standing kidney disease.

Calcium - Blood calcium levels are influenced by diet, hormone levels and blood protein levels. Decreased levels indicate acute damage to the pancreas or undersctive parathyroid. Muscle twitches may occur in decreased level. Increased levels can be an indicator of certain types of tumors, parathyroid or kidney disease. Low calcium level may indicate deficiency of pancreatic enzymes, and high calcium level may indicate poor metabolism of fats and protein.

Total Protein - Increases indicate dehydration or blood cancer, bone marrow cancer; decreases indicate malnutrition, poor digestion, liver or kidney disease, bleeding or burns.

Albumin – Produced by the liver, reduced levels of this protein can point to chronic liver or kidney disease, or parasitic infections such as hookworm. High levels indicate dehydration and loss of protein. Has to do with nutrition status.

Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, CO2 – Electrolytes levels, kidney control status. Certain drug can affect levels.

Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride) - The balance of these chemicals is vital to health. Abnormal levels can be life threatening. Electrolyte tests are important in evaluating vomiting, diarrhea and cardiac symptoms.

Cholesterol (CHOL) - Decreased levels are found in an overactive thyroid gland, intestinal malabsorption. Elevated levels of cholesterol are seen in a variety of disorders including hypothyroidism and diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular, diabetes, and stress.

Urinalysis - Normal color is yellow to amber. Red is caused by blood, dark yellow to brown with yellow form are caused by bilirubin, reddish brown is caused by hemoglobin / myoglobin. Transparency - Normal is clear. Cloudy urine is caused by crystals, cells, blood, mucous, bacteria or cast. PH Levels - It should be 6.2~6.5, little on the acidic side.