Glucose Fasting- This test directly measures glucose levels and is commonly used in the evaluation of diabetes.
Bun (Blood Urea Nitrogen)-This test is used to measure liver function and to indirectly assess renal function and glomerular filtration rate.
Creatinine-This is a renal function test used to estimate glomerular filtration rate and to follow progression of renal disease.
Bun/Creatinine Ratio-This test is used to diagnose impaired renal function. With creatinine, BUN is used to monitor patients on dialysis.
Sodium-This routine test is used to evaluate and monitor fluid and electrolyte balance and therapy.
Potassium-This routine test is used to evaluate and monitor electrolyte balance and is especially important for cardiac patients.
Chloride-This test by itself does not provide adequate information. However, as part of a multiphasic testing for electrolytes, it can give an indication of acid-base balance and hydration status.
Carbon Dioxide-This test is used to assist in the evaluation of pH and electrolyte status.
Calcium-This test is used to evaluate parathyroid function and calcium metabolism.
Protein/Albumin/Globulin-This test is used to assist in the diagnosis of many diseases that affect blood proteins as a whole or one single fraction of protein.
Albumin/Globulin Ratio- This test is used to evaluate renal disease and other chronic diseases.
Bilirubin-This test is used to evaluate liver function.
Alkaline Phosphatase-This test is used to detect and monitor liver or bone disease.
AST (SGOT)- This test is used to evaluate the possibility of coronary occlusive heart disease or liver disease.
ALT (SGPT)-This test is used to identify liver disease and to distinguish between liver and red blood cell hemolysis as the source of jaundice.
Lipid Panel
Cholesterol, Total-This test is used to determine the risk of developing coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemias. Cholesterol is a sterol in the blood. Knowing your cholesterol may be as important as knowing your blood pressure. Elevated cholesterol is associated with an increasing risk of coronary heart disease. Reference Range: 100-199 mg/dL
Triglycerides (Blood Fats) –This test is used to identify the risk of developing coronary heart disease, or when disorders in fat metabolism are suspected. Triglycerides are fat in the blood responsible for providing energy to the cells in the body. Reference Range: 0-149 mg/dL
HDL Cholesterol (“Good” Cholesterol)- This test measures alpha lipoprotein and is used to predict heart disease. High-density lipoproteins are believed to take cholesterol away from cells and transport it back to the liver for processing or removal. They have become known as the “good” cholesterol. Persons with high levels of HDL may have less risk of heart disease. Low levels of HDL could be the result of smoking or lack of exercise. Reference Range: 40-59 mg/dL
VLDL Cholesterol (Very Low-Density Lipoprotein)-This test measures very low density lipoprotein, which contains the highest amount of triglycerides (blood fats). Elevated levels are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Reference Range: 5-40 mg/dL
LDL Cholesterol (“Bad” Cholesterol)- This test measures beta lipoproteins and is also used to predict heart disease. Low-density lipoproteins contain the greatest percentage of cholesterol and are responsible for depositing cholesterol on the artery walls. Reference Range: 0-99 mg/dL
Complete Blood Count (CBC)-
WBC-White blood cells are the body’s primary defense against disease. White blood cells help fight infection.
RBC – Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide to all cells. Iron deficiency will lower RBC.
Homoglobin- A chemical compound inside red cells that transports oxygen through the blood stream to all cells of the body. Oxygen is needed for healthy organs. Hemoglobin gives the red color to blood.
Hematocrit- Hematocrit measures the amount of space red blood cells take up in the blood. It is reported as percentage.
MCV-Corpuscular volumes measure red blood cell volume.
MCH- corpuscular hemoglobin is one way to measure the average hemoglobin concentration within red blood cells, which varies from normal with different diseases.
RDW-Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a calculation of the variation in the size of your RDC’s. In some anemias, such as pernicious anemia, the amount of variation (anisocytosis) in RBC size (along with variation shaped-poikilocytosis) causes an increase in the RDW. (*this result does not appear in some lab results)
Platelets-Blood cell particles involved with the forming of blood clots.
Neutrophils-The results of this and basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes deal with white blood cell function. Important to the body’s defense against infection. Also important in the assessment of nutritional status.
Lymphs-The results of this and basophils, eosinophils, monocytes and neutrophils deal with white blood cell function. Important to the body’s defense against infection. Also important in the assessment of nutritional status.
Monocytes- The results of this and basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and neutrophils deal with white blood cell function. Important to the body’s defense against infection. Also important in the assessment of nutritional status.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)-Critical to your metabolism, thyroid function affects your energy level, heart rate, weight control, plus more. The thyroid-stimulating hormone is produced in the pituitary gland and serves to stimulate the production and release of thyroid hormones thyroxine(T4)and triiodothyronine (T3). The TSH helps identify an overactive or underachieved thyroid state.
Thyroid Panel -Thyroxine (T4) is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. This test measures the amount of T4 in your blood. This test should be ordered if you have signs of a thyroid disorder. Thyroid function is complex and depends on the action of many different hormones, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and T3 (triiodothyronine). T4 levels are important, because T4 increases numerous substances that produce energy for the body. Most T4 is transported by proteins. If T4 is not attached to a protein, it is called "free" T4.
Normal Results: 4.5 to 11.2 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL)
T3 uptake (THBR) Thyroid Hormone-Binding Ratio. This test measures the level of thyroid hormone-binding proteins in the blood. This test helps estimate the availability of thyroxin binding globulin (TBG), which is the protein that carries most of the T3 and T4 in the blood. The higher the level of TBG , the lower the value of T3. A higher T3 value means less TBG is available, possibly as a result of hyperthyroidism.
Normal Results: 24-37%
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)-The prostate specific antigen(PSA) is a protein made only in the prostate gland. PSA is produced by normal, abnormal and cancerous prostatic tissue. The PSA blood test is an accurate measure of this amount. The theory is that cancer causes more of the protein to be made and leaked into the blood than normal prostate tissue, so PSA is now used for assisting in the diagnosis and monitoring of prostatic carcinoma.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)-NO Exercise for 48 hours!A high or increasing amount of CRP in your blood suggests that you have an acute infection or inflammation. Because CRP increases in cases of inflammation, the test is ordered when acute inflammation is a risk (such as from an infection after surgery) or suspected based on patient symptoms. It is also ordered to help diagnose conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The lab tests may be repeated often to learn whether treatment of an inflammatory disease is effective (CRP levels drop as inflammation subsides) C-Reactive protein is a substance in the blood that indicates the presence of inflammation and could warn of a heart attack in advance. Elevated amounts of the protein in men may triple their risk for heart attack and double their risk for stroke, whereas elevated amounts in women can increase their heart attack risk up to seven times. Cardio (also specific or high sensitivity) C-Reactive Protein is a marker of inflammation to the blood vessels and a strong predictor of risk for future myocardial infarctions. Cardiovascular tests ordered vary based on patient symptoms as well as family history.
Urinalysis (U/A)-Urinalysis can disclose evidence of diseases even some that have not caused significant signs or symptoms. Urinalysis is commonly used to diagnose a urinary tract or kidney infection. To evaluate causes of kidney failure, to screen for progression of some chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure (hypertension). It also may be used in combination with other tests to diagnose some diseases. Examples of this include kidney stones, inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonephritis), or muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis). Interpretation of urinalysis is generally based on reviewing all the components of the test as well as the clinical symptoms and signs of the patient
