HOW  TO  READ  YOUR  LAB  RESULTS  
 

 
Overview:  
Laboratory  tests  are  tools  helpful  in  evaluating  the  health  status  of  an  individual.    It  is  important  to  realize  that  laboratory  
results  may  be  outside  of  the  so-­‐called  “normal  range”  for  many  reasons.    These  variation  may  be  due  to  such  things  as  race,  
dietetic   preference,   age,   sex,   menstrual   cycle,   degree   of   physical   activity,   problems   with   collection   and/or   handling   of   the  
specimen,  non-­‐prescription  drugs  (aspirin,  cold  medications,  vitamins,  etc.)  prescription  drugs,  alcohol  intake  and  a  number  
of  non-­‐illness  factors.    Any  unusual  or  abnormal  results  should  be  discussed  with  your  physician.    It  is  not  possible  to  diagnose  
or   treat   any   disease   or   problem   with   this   blood   test   alone.     It   can,   however,   help   you   to   learn   more   about   your   body   and  
detect  potential  problems  in  early  stages  with  treatment  or  changes  in  personal  habits  can  be  most  effective.  
 
Our   lab,   like   almost   all   labs,   sets   the   normal   result   for   a   particular   test   so   the   95%   of   our   healthy   patients   fall   within   the  
normal   range.     That   means   that   5%   of   our   healthy   patients   fall   outside   of   the   normal   range,   even   when   there   is   nothing  
wrong   with   them.     Thus   an   abnormal   test   does   not   necessarily   mean   that  there   is   something   wrong   with   you.     Statistically,   if  
you   have   20   or   30   individual   tests   run   as   part   of   a   panel,   chances   are   1   or   2   will   be   slightly   outside   the   normal   range.     Part   of  
what  you  see  your  doctor  for  is  to  interpret  whether  or  not  these  changes  are  significant.  
 
This  review  is  a  brief  summary  and  is  not  intended  to  be  comprehensive  or  replace  discussion  of  your  results  with  your  health  
care  team.  
 
Complete  Blood  Count  (CBC)  
The  CBC  typically  has  several  parameters  that  are  created  from  an  automated  cell  counter.    These  are  the  most  relevant:  
Ø White  Blood  Count  (WBC)  is  the  number  of  white  cells.    High  WBC  can  be  a  sign  of  infection.    Low  white  
counts  can  be  a  sign  of  bone  marrow  suppression.  
Ø Hemoglobin   (Hgb)   and   Hematocrit   (Hct)   The   hemoglobin   is   the   amount   of   oxygen   carrying   protein  
contained  within  the  red  blood  cells.    The  hematocrit  is  the  percentage  of  the  blood  volume  occupied  by  
red  blood  cells.    Low  Hgb  or  Hct  suggest  an  anemia.    Anemia  can  be  due  to  nutritional  deficiencies,  blood  
loss,  destruction  of  blood  cells  internally,  or  failure  to  produce  blood  in  the  bone  marrow.  
Ø Mean   Corpuscular   Volume   (MCV)   This   helps   diagnose   a   cause   of   anemia.     Low   values   suggest   iron  
deficiency,   high   values   suggest   either   deficiencies   of   B12   or   Folate,   ineffective   production   in   the   bone  
marrow,  or  recent  blood  loss  with  replacement  by  newer  (and  larger)  cells  from  the  bone  marrow.  
Ø Platelet   count   (PLT)   This   is   the   number   of   cells   that   plug   up   holes   in   your   blood   vessels   and   prevent  
bleeding.     High   values   can   occur   with   bleeding.     Low   values   can   occur   from   premature   destruction   states  
such  as  Immune  Thrombocytopenia  (ITP),  acute  blood  loss,  drug  effects  (such  as  Heparin),  infections  with  
sepsis,  entrapment  of   platelets  in  an  enlarged  spleen,  or  bone  marrow  failure.    Low  platelets  also  can  occur  
from   clumping   of   the   platelets   in   a   lavender   colored   tube.     You   may   need   to   repeat   the   test   to   confirm  
results.  
 
Enzymes  and  Proteins  
AST,  ALT,  SGOT,  and  GGT  and  Alkaline  Phosphatase  are  abbreviation  for  proteins  called  enzymes  which  help  all  the  chemical  
activities  within  cells  to  take  place.    Injury  to  cells  release  enzymes  into  the  blood.    They  are  found  in  muscles,  the  liver  and  
heart.    Damage  from  a  number  of  diseases  is  reflected  in  high  values.  
 Ø Alkaline  Phosphatase  is  an  enzyme  found  primarily  in  bones  and  the  liver.    Expected  values  are  higher  for  
those  who  are  growing  (children  and  pregnant  women)  or  when  damage  to  bones  or  liver  has  occurred  or  
with  gallstones.  
Ø GGT   is   also   elevated   in   liver   disease,   particularly   with   obstruction   of   bile   ducts.     Unlike   the   alkaline  
phosphatase  it  is  not  elevated  with  bone  growth  or  damage.  
Ø AST/SGOT,   ALT/SGPT   are   also   liver   and   muscle   enzymes.     They   may   be   elevated   from   liver   problems,   or  
muscle  injury.  
 
Electrolytes  and  Waste  Products  
These  are  your  potassium,  sodium,  and  creatinine  and  BUN  levels.  
Ø Potassium   is   controlled   vary   carefully   by   the   kidneys.     It   is   important   for   the   proper   functioning   of   the  
nerves   and   muscles,   particularly   the   heart.     Any   value   outside   the   expected   range,   high   or   low,   requires  
medical  evaluation.  
Ø Sodium  is  also  related  by  the  kidneys  and  adrenal  glands.    
Ø Blood   Urea   Nitrogen   (BUN)   is   a   waste   product   produced   in   the   liver   and   excreted   by   the   kidneys.     High  
values   may   mean   that   the   kidneys   are   not   working   as   well   as   they   should.     BUN   is   also   affected   by   high  
protein  diets  and/or  strenuous  exercise  which  raise  levels,  and  by  pregnancy  which  lowers  it.  
Ø Creatinine  is  a  waste  product  largely  from  muscle  break  down.    High  values,  especially  with  high  BUN  levels,  
may  indicate  problems  with  the  kidneys.  
 
Thyroid  
Ø Throxine  (T4)  This  shows  the  total  amount  of  the  T4.    High  levels  may  be  due  to  hyperthyroidism.  
Ø Thyroid  Stimulating  Hormone  (TSH)  This  protein  hormone  is  secreted  by  the  pituitary  gland  and  regulates  
the   thyroid   gland.     A   high   level   suggests   your   thyroid   is   under   active,   and   a   low   level   suggest   your   thyroid   is  
overactive.  
 
Inflammatory  Markers  
Ø Erythrocyte   Sedimentation   Rate   (SED   Rate)   This   test   is   based   on   the   fact   that   inflammatory   and   necrotic  
processes   cause   an   alteration   in   blood   proteins.     An   elevated   SED   Rate   can   occur   with   inflammatory  
processes,  infections,  severe  anemia,  collagen  diseases  and  cell  or  tissue  damage.  
Ø C-­‐Reactive   Protein   (CRP)   Almost   any   disease   that   brings   about   inflammatory   condition   of   any   tissue   will  
result  in  quantities  of  CRP  being  elevated  in  the  blood.  
Ø Iron   and   Total   Iron   Binding   Capacity   (TIBC)   In   condition   where   the   body   is   deficient   in   iron   the   TIBC   is  
increased.  
4/30/16