Male and female panel charts

Test What this test measures What test results may indicateLow valuesHigh valuesMean corpuscular Amount of hemoglobin Microcytic or normocytic anemia Macrocytic anemiahemoglobinper red blood cellIron deficiencyFolic acid or B12 deficiencyDifferential diagnosis of anemiasMean corpuscular Concentration of hemoglobin per Hypochromic anemia Hereditary spherocytosishemoglobin concentrationred blood cellIron deficiencyUsed for laboratory quality controlThalassemiaRBC distributionwidth (RDW)Measures size variability ofred blood cell populationDistinguishes iron-deficiencyanemia from anemia ofchronic diseaseImproves early detectionof iron, B12, or folate deficiencyNo subnormal valueshave been reportedRDW LOW NORMAL HIGHNormalHighMEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME (MCV)Anemia ofchronic diseaseIrondeficiencyAnemia ofChronic diseaseEarly deficiencyof iron, vitaminB12, or folateMyeloplasticsyndromeDeficiency ofiron, vitamin B12,or folateWhite blood cell count Measures total white blood cell Bone marrow failure Infectious diseasescomponent of whole blood(bacterial, viral, parasitic,or protozoal)Presence of toxic substanceInflammatory diseaseAutoimmune diseasesLeukemiaAplastic anemiaSevere emotional orLiver or spleen diseasephysical stressRadiation exposureTissue damageNeutrophils The first white blood cells Chronic infections Bacterial, viralto respond to infectionand parasitic infectionsBone marrow depressionEmotional and physical stressVitamin B12 orfolic acid deficiency Hypersensitivity reactionsSystemic lupus erythematosisDiabetic acidosisPolycythemia veraRheumatoid arthritis

Test What this test measures What test results may indicateLow valuesHigh valuesLymphocytes Assesses immune function Chemotherapy Viral Infections:(eg., mononucleosis,Corticosteroidshepatitis, mumps,rubella, varicella)Congestive heart failureRecovery from acute infectionAplastic anemiaAddison’s diseaseMalignancyInflammatory bowel diseaseAIDSDrug hypersensitivityRenal failureMonocytes Monocytes provide a defense Rheumatoid arthritis Bacterial, viral, parasiticagainst infectious organismsor protozoal infectionsthrough the process ofPrednisone treatmentingestion, or phagocytosisLeukemia (AML, CML)High levels often signify infectionHodgkin’s andnon-Hodgkin’s lymphomaMyeloproliferative diseaseAutoimmune disordersEosinophils Eosinophils are usually Cushing’s syndrome Systemic parasiticfound in the tissuesinfestation or fungal infectionPresence in the blood usuallyindicates allergy or infectionFood allergiesHay fever, asthma,or allergiesPulmonary syndromesVascular diseasesImmune deficienciesDrug reactionsInflammationBasophils Often the first sign of blast Hyperthyroidism Chronic myelogenous leukemiacrisis or an accelerated phase ofchronic myelogenous leukemia Pregnancy Basophilic leukemiaPost irradiation or chemotherapyFollowingglucocorticoid administrationAcute phase of infectionPolycythemiaMyeloid metaplasiaHodgkin’s diseasePost-splenectomyChronic hemolytic anemiaChronic sinusitisVaricella, variola infectionsIonizing radiation

Test What this test measures What test results may indicateLow valuesHigh valuesPlatelet count Platelets are necessary for Chemotherapy Post-splenectomy syndromenormal blood clotting,and counts may be Hemolytic anemia Primary thrombocytosisaffected by several disease statesHypersplenismCertain malignanciesIdiopathicthrombocytopenia purpuraVitamin B12 or folate deficiencyLeukemiaEarly chronicmyelogenous leukemiaPolycythemia veraRheumatoid arthritisChemistry PanelProsthetic heart valvesSequelae of massiveblood transfusionDisseminatedintravascular coagulationTest What this test measures What test results may indicateLow valuesHigh valuesGlucose, fasting Direct measure of glucose Pancreatic disorders Diabetes mellitusCommon evaluation of Endocrine disorders Increased circulatingdiabetes and hypoglycemia (e.g., early diabetes mellitus) epinephrine(e.g., due to emotion,Malnutritionburns, shock, anesthesia)Liver damage (alcoholism)Insulin overdoseHypoglycemiaAcute or chronic pancreatitisVitamin B1 deficiencyDrug interactionsUric acid Evaluation of gout, recurrent Overhydration Gouturinary stones, or kidney failureSevere liver damage Impaired kidney functionMalnutritionLow protein intakeLeukemiaDehydrationShockUrinary tract obstructionHigh protein intake

Test What this test measures What test results may indicateLow valuesHigh valuesBUN (blood urea nitrogen) Measures liver function, Low protein intake Chronic renal diseaseprovides indirect assessmentof kidney function and Overhydration Urinary tract obstructionfiltration rateLiver diseaseCongestive heart failureMalnutritionCeliac diseaseAnabolic steroid useShockKetoacidosisDehydrationAcute myocardial infarctionBleeding from the GI tractMuscle wastingCreatinine Creatinine is a byproduct of Decreased muscle mass Impaired kidney functioncreatine phosphate breakdownfrom energy metabolism Liver disease High consumption of red meatEstimates kidney Inadequate dietary protein Muscle diseasesfiltration rate and follows(e.g., muscular dystrophy,progression of renal diseaseacromegaly, gigantism)More specific of renal diseasethan BUN – tests usedsimultaneously for morecomplete pictureCongestive heart failureDehydrationBUN/creatinine ratio Assesses kidney With low BUN: With normal creatinine:function, monitorsrenal disease Low-protein diet Heart failureStarvationOverhydrationSevere liver diseaseRepeated dialysisPregnancyWith high creatinine:Rhabdomyolysis(severe muscle injury)Muscular patients whodevelop renal failureSalt depletionDehydrationBlood lossCatabolic states(increased tissue breakdown)GI hemorrhageHigh protein intakeImpaired kidney functionDrug interactionsWith high creatinine:Postrenal azotemiaPrerenal azotemia

Test What this test measures What test results may indicateLow valuesHigh valuesSodium Evaluates and monitors fluid Excessive fluid loss Dehydrationand electrolyte balance and due to sweating, vomiting,therapy diarrhea Primary aldosteronismPyloric obstructionMalabsorptionAdrenal cortical insufficiencyDiabetic acidosisDiureticsHypothyroidismChronic or acute renal failurePotassium Evaluates and monitors Diarrhea or vomiting Acute renal failureelectrolyte balanceExcessive sweatingDehydrationEspecially important forcardiac patients Pyloric obstruction Adrenal cortical insufficiencyStarvationMalabsorptionPrimary aldosteronismDiureticsChloride Evaluates and monitors Pulmonary emphysema Dehydrationelectrolyte balanceCongestive heart failureHyperventilationMay indicate acid-basebalance and hydration status Excessive sweating Diabetes insipidusDiarrheaAdrenal cortical insufficiencyKidney disordersHyperparathyroidismDiabetic acidosisDiureticsCarbon dioxide Evaluates blood pH Respiratory alkalosis Respiratory acidosis(e.g., hyperventilation) (e.g., chronic obstructivepulmonary disease)Metabolic acidosis(e.g., diabetes)Severe diarrheaKidney or heart failureMetabolic alkalosis(e.g., severe vomiting)

Test What this test measures What test results may indicateLow valuesHigh valuesCalcium Evaluates parathyroid function Magnesium deficiency Hyperparathyroidismand calcium metabolismHyperphosphatemiaHyperthyroidismHypoparathyroidismVitamin D deficiencyMalabsorptionHypoalbuminemiaPaget’s diseaseExcess ingestionof vitamins A or DCancerBone fracturecombined with bed restPhosphorus Measures serum Hyperparathyroidism Hypoparathyroidismphosphorus levelsRicketts or osteomalaciaBone cancerVitamin D deficiency Excessive vitamin D intakeHyperinsulinemiaAntacidsDiureticsLong-term steroid useSevere malnutritionLow blood calcium levelsExerciseDehydrationHealing bone fracturesDiabetes mellitus with ketosisLiver disease, cirrhosisRenal insufficiencyProtein Measures total Diarrhea Dehydrationprotein in the blood, includingalbumin and globulin Malnutrition Chronic liver diseaseEvaluates nutritional status, Malabsorption Neoplasmsblood osmotic pressure, renaland other chronic diseases Liver disease Tropical diseases (e.g., leprosy)Crohn’s disease orulcerative colitisThyroid diseaseSevere burnsSevere skin diseaseHeart failureChronic alcoholismGranulomatous diseasesChronic infectionInflammatory diseasesAlbumin/globulin ratio Evaluates renal disease Liver dysfunction Hypothyroidismand other chronic diseasesMultiple myelomaUnderproductionof immunoglobulinsAutoimmune diseaseGlucocorticoid excess(from drugs or tumors)

Test What this test measures What test results may indicateLow valuesHigh valuesBilirubin Evaluates liver and Drug interference Liver diseasegallbladder function(e.g., barbiturates)HepatitisCirrhosisBiliary duct obstructionGilbert’s diseasePernicious anemiaHemolytic anemiaAlkaline phosphatase Detects and monitors liver and Bone growth/healingbone disease; also usedfracturesas a tumor markerAcromegalyLiver or bone metastasesLeukemiaHypervitaminosis DHyperthyroidismHyperparathyroidismChronic alcohol ingestionBiliary obstructionLiver diseaseDiabetes mellitusCongestive heart failureEstrogens, birth control pills,oral hypoglycemic agents, etcLDH Measures intracellular enzyme X-ray irradiation Muscle injury(lactic acid dehydrogenase) LDH, which when presentmay signify injury or diseaseBurns or traumaKidney diseaseCardiac diseaseLiver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis)Hemolytic anemiaPernicious anemiaMalignant tumorsInfectious mononucleosisInflammation