Regular checkups are critical regardless of how fit you may seem. The confusion about the result from a blood test, which is part of the routine medical checks, will come with medical terms written all over the report.
The jargons are so many that you may find yourself searching for the meanings on Google. Have you also considered the structure of the laboratory report for blood tests? You will be wondering what earth do all those scribblings mean.
But can you really decipher results from a blood test in London? Yes, you can be knowledgeable about it. And that’s where this post comes in.
Today, you will learn how a blood test result is structured plus primary definitions that would better understand how to interpret your result the next time you have a blood test. Remember that this how-to doesn’t cover all the technical terms used in blood work.
Is a blood test result important?
Before an answer is given, let’s consider that your blood is a system that distributes oxygen and removes waste as well.
Some body organs like the lungs, liver and kidney process many materials that the blood contains. Normal values on a lab report show how functional body organs and systems are.
Keep top of mind that test values that look way beyond the range may not indicate a health condition. The normal range is obtained when many healthy individuals are tested.
However, the range can be impacted by personal differences like lifestyle choices, health history, medication, weight, sex, and age. This is why your doctor can determine what is most suitable or normal for you; it differs from other people.
A guide to reading results from a blood test
Three major tests are done on a sample of blood in every routine checkup:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
- Lipid panel or profile
From these tests, unique results are obtained. But rather than categorise each result based on the different tests, most reports will just carry one column of test results under “Test Name.”
Decoding your lab report is easier if you understand the link between the test results. To help you, the three primary tests and their common outcomes are discussed as follows.
Complete blood count blood test
The result of the complete blood count is typically captured under the column tagged “Test Name” as the first list in most results from blood tests. The essential blood components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, are measured by CBC.
This test measures haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen, and it also checks how many red blood cells to the number of plasma is present.
Infections, allergies, imminent diseases and conditions like leukaemia are identified in a blood test.
White blood cells (WBC) count blood test
Sometimes this count is what is initially captured in the complete blood count. Also known as leukocytes, the white blood cells are integral to the immune system in the body.
When a foreign body: infection or allergies enter the blood, more white blood cells are produced. Primary types of white blood cells are 5 in number (this will be discussed later); however, in most results from blood tests, each type is listed below the result of the complete blood count.
The condition of your heart may be diagnosed using white blood cells count. According to a study in 2018, elevated levels of white blood cells were a sign of heart disease – specifically stroke- particularly among those who smoke.
Red blood cell (RBC) count
The next item on the blood test result is the RBC. These cells supply oxygen to tissues found everywhere in the body.
When red blood cells are high in number, the reason may be a heart condition, kidney issues or dehydration. When red blood cells are reduced in number, it could signify kidney problems, anaemia, issues with bone marrow, and lack of vital nutrients.
Fatty liver disease also highlights in an increased RBC. This condition sees the formation of fat inside the liver, and it causes damage. Those who are obese, have type 2 diabetes, and increased cholesterol may look for fatty liver disease as there seems to be a connection.
Haemoglobin, hematocrit and others
We see these beneath the red blood cells section sometimes since they give further insight into the workings and health of the RBC.
The red blood cells contain a protein containing oxygen refers as haemoglobin. Measuring this substance can show whether sufficient oxygen is getting to your tissues and organs.
Hematocrit will meausure the amount of RBCs in blood. When the haematocrit level is low, it could indicate loss of blood, vitamin deficiency or anaemia. An increase can also cause by liver disease, heart disease or dehydration.
Corpuscles is another name for blood cells sometimes. And the mean corpuscular value tells us the mean size of red blood cells. When red blood cells have an unusual size, it can be due to anaemia or a deficiency in vitamin B12.
The mean corpuscular haemoglobin indicates the mean quantity of haemoglobin in red blood cells. This measurement sometimes combines with the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) – a measure of the mean percentage of haemoglobin in red blood cells.
Platelets and mean platelet values (MPV)
These are the tests that follow in line. Platelet is a blood cell fragments. Their job is to heal injuries and form clots that don’t allow wounds to bleed out severely.
When the platelet count is low, typically under 150,000 platelets per microliter (mcL), it may be a sign of severe bleeding. When the platelet count is high, usually 400,000 mcL and higher, it may highlight the chances of blood clots.
As the name implies, the mean platelet value test indicates the average quantity of platelets. This test can show bleeding or bone marrow issues and could hint at inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cardiovascular disease and more.
The types of white blood cells
Under the list of RBC results, you will find the outcome for the five types of white blood cells: basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes.
Knowing how much of and how healthy these cells are can help diagnose allergies and infections.
For instance, neutrophils link to blood EMTs. These cells offer immunity that makes up first responders to an infection site. Another immune cells type called basophils carries little particles with enzymes that react when asthma and allergic reactions show up.
Comprehensive metabolic panel
A group of tests that provides information on your body’s metabolism and chemical balance.
Metabolism refers to all physical and chemical processes in your body that utilise or break down energy. These include breathing, body temperature control and more.
Electrolytes
Those blood minerals or electrolytes that impact the muscles’ function, blood acidity, and quantity of body water are measurable from a comprehensive metabolic panel.
The following electrolytes will test for in a CMP: sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and chloride.
Bilirubin, albumin, and creatinine
The breakdown of haemoglobin leads to bilirubin formation. This is located in the blood and bike, and an excess amount can signify jaundice.
The fine, yellowish fluid component of blood containing blood cells refers to as albumin – the major protein in blood plasma. Low albumin levels indicate several conditions: kidney disease, inflammation, liver disease, and malnutrition.
Creatinine obtains from creatine as a chemical waste product. Creatine releases energy to the body muscles and is thus a common supplement for weightlifters. However, since creatinine leaves the body via the kidney, a high level of this substance can signify a kidney malfunction.
Fasting glucose test
This comes under the comprehensive metabolic panel too. Here, you have to fast for a minimum of 8 hours before the test. Your body thrives on glucose for energy. When glucose levels are not normal, it may be flagging diabetes.
Carbohydrates break down into simple sugars refers to as glucose, and eating foods containing such sugars can tell on your test result.
Our advice: Book your blood test for the morning hours as much as possible to keep hunger caused by anger at bay – it’s problematic.
Lipid panel or profile
Lipids refer to body fats. And we at Blood London are more interested in measuring how much of these substances are in your blood.
Not all body fats are bad. Besides, fats will process by the body and used as an energy source. Lipid panel is a number of tests that checks the level of two types of blood fat – cholesterol and triglycerides.
In the liver, triglycerides and other primary fats produce naturally. To detect the changes in your blood level of triglycerides, check out the primary culprits like alcohol, sugar and fat.
Aside from what you eat, your triglyceride levels can go up due to liver disease, thyroid, or genetic disorders.
As for cholesterol, there are two types of this fat: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
To keep your heart in a healthy condition, it’s good to keep up a healthy amount of triglycerides and the appropriate balance of HDL and LDL.
Elevated levels of triglycerides also heighten the risk of heart and blood vessel disease. Other conditions aside, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is responsible for heart disease risk, says research. This includes the ratio of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
In conclusion
Results from a blood test will mail to patients. Your result may come with a letter congratulating and urging you to stay healthy. It is only in cases where the doctor worry about specific results that are not in the range that a letter will not follow your results.
You may not take this seriously, but if you, as a patient, is knowledgeable, it is the beginning of a solid relationship with your doctor.
Having understood some of the terminologies and aims of a blood test in Harley Street, you are qualified to better care for your health and well-being.
