Low values can occur from acute blood loss, infections and leukemia. High values can occur with bleeding, cigarette smoking or excess production by the bone marrow. Platelet Count (PLT) – helps prevent bleeding.This information can be used in evaluating the severity of some anemias. Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) – is a calculation of the variation in the size of your RBCs.Low levels may mean you do not have enough oxygen-carrying cells to supply your body with oxygen. Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) – is a calculation of the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin inside your RBCs.High Hgb can occur due to lung disease, living at high altitudes, or excessive bone marrow production of blood cells. Hemoglobin (Hgb) and Hematocrit (Hct) – Low Hgb or Hct suggests anemia.High levels can mean pulmonary (lung) problems. Red Blood Count (RBC) – Both high and low values can point to abnormal conditions and require further evaluations.Low white counts can be a sign of bone marrow disease or an enlarged spleen. White Blood Count (WBC) – High WBC can be a sign of infection or leukemia.Abnormal results may indicate heart or liver damage. AST, ALT and Alkaline PhosphataesĮnzymes which help all the chemical activities within cells to take place. High values might indicate bone or liver damage and require further evaluation. High values need further evaluation by a physician because of possible liver problems. Albumin/Globulin RatioĪ mathematical relationship between the above. Globulin is the “antibody” protein important for fighting disease. They are a general index of overall health and nutrition. This is a measure the amount and type of protein in your blood. If total protein is abnormal, further tests must be performed to identify which protein fraction is abnormal. This measurement can reflect nutritional status, kidney disease, liver disease, and many other conditions. Low calcium can be due to certain metabolic disorders or use of diuretics. High levels can be due to use of diuretics or kidney problems. Indicate the sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate balance in your body. Chloride generally increases or decreases in direct relationship to sodium. Important in maintaining normal levels of water in the body. Any value outside the expected range, high or low, requires medical evaluation. Important for the proper functioning of the nerves and muscles, particularly the heart. High levels may indicate excessive sodium intake or kidney disease. Low sodium levels may indicate diuretic usage or excessive water intake in patients with heart or liver disease. This is used in making a definitive diagnosis about the cause for elevated BUN and/or Creatinine levels. The mathematical relationship of the two. Low levels may indicate liver disease or decreased muscle mass. People with large muscle masses may have elevated levels. High values, especially with high BUN levels, may indicate problems with kidneys or muscle damage. Low levels may indicate an iron deficient diet. High levels may indicate kidney disease, congestive heart failure or severe burns. Abnormal values require further evaluation. This is a measure of the sugar level in your blood. High levels seem to be associated with low incidence of coronary heart disease. HDL CholesterolĪ “good cholesterol.” It protects against heart disease. An LDL level of less than 130 is recommended. LDL CholesterolĬonsidered “bad cholesterol” because cholesterol deposits form in the arteries when LDL levels are high. Our bodies need a certain amount to function properly. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart and blood vessel disease. CholesterolĬholesterol is different from most tests in that it is not used to diagnose or monitor a disease, but is used to estimate risk of developing a disease – specifically heart disease. High levels may also indicate poorly controlled diabetes. Triglyceridesīlood tests used to identify the risk of developing heart disease. I urge you to discuss your results, especially any abnormalities, with your physician. Only your doctor can determine if further testing or treatment is needed. An abnormal result does not necessarily indicate illness. Most laboratories set their normal range for a particular test so that 95% of healthy patients fall within the normal range. These variations may be due to such things as race, diet, age, sex, menstrual cycle, physical activity, medications and alcohol intake. It is important to realize that laboratory results may be outside of the so-called “normal range” for many reasons.
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