What do the results below the blood values measured by automatic machines mean? From the obtained result, information is obtained about what type of anemia the person has, a condition of excessive blood production, the presence of an inflammatory condition, indirect findings of a disease like leukemia, bone marrow diseases, and clotting.

Quick Reference: What Does Each Value Mean?

  • Sedimentation: It is the sedimentation rate of blood. It is high in inflammatory and microbial conditions, rheumatic and blood diseases, and some types of cancer; it is low in excessive blood production.
  • Uric Acid: It is the end product of protein breakdown. It is high in gout disease and kidney failure.
  • Glucose: Shows blood sugar.
  • HbA1c: Shows the average blood sugar of the last 2-3 months; the normal value should not exceed 6%.
  • GGT-ALP: High in liver and bile duct diseases. ALP is also an indicator of bone diseases.
  • Cholesterol-Triglycerides: Shows the fat ratio in the blood.
  • LDH-CK-CPK, CK-MB, Troponin, Myoglobin, AST: These are markers indicating heart diseases. They can also increase in muscle diseases and some blood diseases.
  • T Protein-Albumin: Shows blood proteins.
  • Lipase-Amylase: Indicates pancreatic diseases.
  • Na-K-Ca-P-Mg: Shows blood salt ratios. They rarely deviate from normal; can be a sign of serious diseases.
  • Iron, Iron Binding Capacity, Ferritin: Shows blood and stored iron levels.
  • CRP: It is a finding of a newly formed infection or inflammation.
  • RF, Anti-CCP, ANA/FANA, ENA: Inflammatory rheumatism screening tests.
  • ASO: It is an indicator of a past microbial throat infection; it is not a rheumatism test.
  • FT3, FT4, TSH: Shows the function of the thyroid gland.
  • Thyroid Antibodies (AntiTPO, AntiTG): Questions the presence of autoantibodies against the thyroid.
  • PT, PTT, INR: Related to blood clotting levels.
  • HBsAg, AntiHBs: Questions the presence of Hepatitis B.
  • Anti-HCV: Questions the presence of Hepatitis C.

The purpose of a blood test is not to make a diagnosis; it is to enable the physician to eliminate possibilities among potential diagnoses. A diagnosis is not made without seeing and examining the patient.

Red Blood Cells

RBC (Red Blood Cells): Gives the amount of oxygen-carrying cells. Low indicates anemia or blood loss. High suggests: high altitude, COPD, kidney disease, or polycythemia.

MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume): The average size of oxygen-carrying cells. Low means erythrocytes are small (iron deficiency anemia); high means they are large (vitamin B12 deficiency anemia).

Hb (Hemoglobin): Shows the total amount of hemoglobin in the blood. Decreases in anemias.

MCH: Shows the amount of hemoglobin in erythrocytes.

Hct (Hematocrit): A measure of the amount of hemoglobin and erythrocytes in the blood. Decreases in anemia, leukemia, and blood loss; increases in dehydration or polycythemia.

PLT (Platelets - Thrombocytes): Shows the amount of cells that enable clotting.

White Blood Cells

WBC (White Blood Cells - Leukocytes): Shows the total of the body's defense and immune cells. Increases in infection, chronic inflammatory diseases like lupus, and leukemia. Very low indicates a serious disease (some cancers, bone marrow disease, AIDS).

PNL (Neutrophils): Increases in bacterial infections.

Lymphocytes: Increases in viral infections and some chronic diseases; decreases in AIDS.

Eosinophils: Increases in allergy and parasitic diseases.

Albumin

Normal Values: 3.5-5.5 g/dL

Albumin is a protein derivative synthesized in the liver; in a healthy liver, about 12-14 grams of albumin are produced per day. Measuring blood albumin levels is especially important in individuals with edema, liver disease, or suspected nutritional disorders. High levels are usually due to water loss from the body and are not significant. Low levels (hypoalbuminemia) are seen in the elderly, liver disease, and nutritional disorders; can lead to edema formation.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Normal Values: 30-120 U/L

It is an enzyme found in almost all tissues in the body. In a normal adult, half of the ALP in the blood is of liver origin, half is of bone origin. It is a good test for liver diseases due to cessation of bile flow. It can be 2-4 times higher in children and adolescents due to rapid bone growth; it is also high in pregnant women. It can also increase in bone diseases (especially Paget's disease) and with the use of many drugs.

Amylase

Normal Values: 60-180 U/L

It is an enzyme released from the pancreas, salivary glands, and some tumors; it is excreted from the body via the kidneys. One-third of the amylase in the blood is of pancreatic origin, two-thirds are of salivary gland origin. An increase suggests pancreatitis; it can also increase in some acute abdominal diseases, severe diabetic coma, and mumps. Low values have no clinical significance.

Acid Phosphatase

Normal Values: 0-5.5 U/L

It is found mainly in the prostate, liver, bone, and some blood cells. It is used especially in the diagnosis and follow-up of prostate cancer; it increases significantly in prostate cancer. It should not be forgotten that it can also increase with rectal examination, urinary catheterization, and constipation.

Bilirubin

Normal Values: Direct: 0.1-0.3 mg/dL; Indirect: 0.2-0.7 mg/dL

Red blood cells break down after about 120 days; the released bilirubin is taken to the liver and excreted into the intestine via bile. Bilirubin processed in the liver is called "direct," while that not yet processed is called "indirect" bilirubin. A disruption at any point in the system (excessive red blood cell destruction, liver disease, bile duct obstruction) increases blood bilirubin levels and causes jaundice.

Phosphorus

Normal Values: 3-4.5 mg/dL

It plays a role in important reactions such as acid-base balance and calcium metabolism in human cells; 85% of the phosphorus in the body is stored in bones. Phosphorus increases in hypoparathyroidism and decreases in hyperparathyroidism. Since it is affected by meals, it should be measured after 12 hours of fasting.

Glucose (Blood Sugar)

Normal Values: 75-115 mg/dL

It is measured after 12-14 hours of fasting for the diagnosis of diabetes. If high, the test is repeated and then measured again 2 hours after a meal. If necessary, a glucose tolerance test is performed. Low levels are seen in diseases with hypoglycemia.

Diagnosis of Thyroid Diseases

Measuring the levels of TSH and thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) in the blood provides important information about thyroid function. Normal results of these tests indicate normal thyroid function; however, they do not prove the absence of structural diseases such as goiter or thyroid cancer.

Antithyroglobulin antibody (ATA), anti-TPO antibody (AMA), and Anti-TSH-R (TRAb) tests are used in the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (Graves', Hashimoto's). Thyroglobulin determination provides valuable information in the follow-up of patients who have undergone thyroid cancer surgery. Thyrocalcitonin is measured in the blood for the diagnosis and follow-up of medullary cancer.

Hemoglobin and Hematocrit

Normal Values: Hemoglobin: 14-18 g/dL (male), 12-16 g/dL (female) | Hematocrit: 42-52% (male), 36-46% (female)

These are tests requested together to measure the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Hemoglobin is the substance that carries oxygen in red blood cells; hematocrit shows the percentage of red blood cells in the blood. They are the most important tests for detecting anemia. They decrease in anemias; increase in polycythemia, congenital heart disease, and excessive water loss.

Transaminases (AST, ALT)

Normal Values: AST (SGOT): 0-35 U/L | ALT (SGPT): 0-35 U/L

They are enzymes found in liver cells; they leak out of cells in liver damage. ALT is more specific to the liver; AST also increases in heart and skeletal muscle damage. If there is no known liver disease, values lower than normal are generally not significant.

Urea (BUN)

Normal Values: 5-25 mg/dL

It is a product of protein metabolism; it is excreted in urine via the kidneys. In addition to kidney dysfunction, it can also increase in heart failure, fluid-salt imbalances (vomiting, diarrhea, sweating), intestinal bleeding, burns, and excessive protein intake. It decreases in liver failure and excessive weight loss.

Uric Acid

Normal Values: Male: 2.5-8.0 mg/dL | Female: 1.5-6.0 mg/dL

It is the end product of the metabolism of purine substances in the structure of DNA and RNA. It increases in cases of excessive protein intake, increased production in the body, or kidney dysfunction. High uric acid can crystallize in joint fluids leading to gout disease, and accumulate in the kidneys leading to kidney stones and failure. Low levels within normal values are generally not significant.

Urinalysis Results

Under normal conditions, urine color is clear and light yellow. Its darkness can change depending on concentration; red urine may indicate the presence of blood or very high urea. Urine specific gravity is the ratio of formed elements in it to the water part; it varies in kidney failure and according to the amount of water consumed. Urine pH can rise above normal values in urinary tract infections. In healthy individuals, urine glucose is negative; glucose may appear in urine with increased blood sugar. Positive leukocyte esterase indicates leukocytes in urine, positive nitrite indicates bacteria. The presence of protein in urine is a finding that requires attention; it is confirmed by collecting 24-hour urine.

Creatinine

Creatinine level is closely related to muscle metabolism. It can double in advanced kidney disease; creatinine clearance calculation done in 24-hour urine provides more precise information about kidney functions. In individuals doing heavy sports, creatinine levels may also be high due to fast muscle metabolism.

Tests Required Before Surgery

Various tests are requested from patients for whom surgery is decided, according to the patient's age, type of surgery, and health condition. Except for emergencies, the patient is not taken to surgery before these tests are completed:

  • Complete blood count
  • Routine biochemistry tests
  • Complete urinalysis
  • Coagulation tests (PT, APTT)
  • ECG
  • Chest X-ray
  • Hepatitis and HIV tests (HBsAg, Anti-HCV, Anti-HIV)
  • Blood type

Physicians may request additional blood tests if they deem necessary.