Blood tests help doctors check for certain diseases and conditions. They also help check the function of your organs and show how well treatments are working.
Specifically, blood tests can help doctors:
Evaluate how well organs, like the kidneys, liver, and heart, are working
Diagnose diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, anaemia, and heart disease
Learn whether you have risk factors for heart disease
Check whether the treatment are working
Blood tests show whether the levels of different substances in your blood fall within a normal range.
For many blood substances, the normal range is the range of levels seen in 95 percent of healthy people in a certain group. For many tests, normal ranges vary depending on your age, gender, race, and other factors.
Your blood test results may fall outside the normal range for many reasons. Abnormal results might be a sign of a disorder or disease. Other factors—such as diet, menstrual cycle, physical activity level, alcohol intake, and medicines (both prescription and over the counter)—also can cause abnormal results.
Many diseases and medical problems can't be diagnosed with blood tests alone. However, blood tests can help you and your doctor learn more about your health. Blood tests also can help find potential problems early, when treatments or lifestyle changes may work best.
Albumin
Albumin is the major constituent of serum protein (usually over 50%). It is manufactured by the liver from the amino acids taken from the diet. It helps in osmotic pressure regulation, nutrient transport, and waste removal.
High levels are rarely seen and are primarily due to dehydration. Low levels are seen in poor diets, diarrhea, fever, infection, liver disease, inadequate iron intake, third-degree burns and edemas, and hypocalcemia.
Clinical Adult Range : 3.0 g/dL - 5.5 g/dL
Calcium / Albumin Ratio
Elevated in malnutrition or visceral protein loss.
Globulin
Globulins have many diverse functions such as, the carrier of some hormones, lipids, metals, and antibodies. High levels are found in chronic infections, liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, myelomas and lupus. Lower levels may be seen in immune compromised patients, poor dietary habits, malabsorption, liver and kidney disease.
Clinical Adult Range : 2.0 g/dL - 4.0 g/dL
A / G Ratio
A/G Ration is an important indicator of disease states although a high level is not considered clinically significant. It is the ratio of albumin to globulin in the blood serum.
On the basis of differential solubility with a neutral salt solution, the normal values are 3.5 to 5 g/dL for albumin and 2.5 to 4 g/dL for globulin. Although albumin is made exclusively in the liver, globulins are produced in many sites throughout the body.
CLinical Adult Range : 1.1 - 2.5
Alkaline Phosphatase
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that is found in all body tissue, but the most important sites are bone, liver, bile ducts and the gut.
A high level of alkaline phosphatase in your blood may indicate bone, liver or bile duct disease. Certain drugs may also cause high levels. Growing children, because of bone growth, normally have a higher level than adults do.
Clinical Adult Range : 30 U/L - 115 U/L
SGPT / ALT & SGOT / AST
These are enzymes that are primarily found in the liver. Drinking too much alcohol, certain drugs, liver disease and bile duct disease can cause high levels in the blood.
hepatitis is another problem that can raise these levels. Low levels of GGT may indicate a magnesium deficiency. Low levels of SGPT and SGOT may indicate deficiency of vitamin B6.
Clinical Adult Range : 0 U/L - 41 U/L
GGT
Believed to be involved in the transport of amino acids into cells as well as glutathione metabolism. Found in the liver and will rise with alcohol use, liver disease, or excess magnesium.
Clinical Adult Range : 0 U/L - 55 U/L
LDH
LDH is an enzyme found in all tissues in the body. A high level in the blood can result from a number of different diseases such as hepatitis, anemia etc. Also, slightly elevated levels in the blood are common and usually do not indicate disease. The most common sources of LDH are the heart, liver, muscles, and red blood cells.
Clinical Adult Range : 60 U/L - 225 U/L
Creatinine
Creatinine is also a protein breakdown product. Its level is a reflection of the bodies muscle mass. Low levels are commonly seen in inadequate protein intake, liver disease, kidney damage or pregnancy. Elevated levels are generally reflective of kidney damage and need to be monitored very carefully.
Clinical Adult Range : 0.7 mg/dL - 1.5 mg/dL
Bun / Creatinine Ratio
Increased values may indicate catabolic states, dehydration, circulatory failure leading to fall in renal blood flow, congestive heart failure, acute and chronic renal (kidney) failure, urinary tract obstruction, prostatic enlargement, high protein diet. Decreased values may indicate overhydration, low protein / high carbohydrate diet, pregnancy.
Clinical Adult Range : 6 - 10
Uric Acid
Uric acid is the end product purine metabolism. High levels are seen in gout, infections, high protein diets, and kidney disease. Low levels generally indicate protein and molybdenum (trace mineral) deficiency, liver damage or an overly acid kidney.
Clinical female Range : 2.4 mg/dL - 6 mg/dL
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is closely associated with calcium in bone development. Therefore most of the phosphate in the body is found in the bones. But the phosphorus level in the blood is very important for muscle and nerve function.
Very low levels of phosphorus in the blood can be associated with starvation or malnutrition and this can lead to muscle weakness. High levels in the blood are usually associated with kidney disease.
Clinical Adult Range : 2.5 mg/dL - 4.5 mg/dL
Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It is involved in bone metabolism, protein absorption, fat transfer, muscular contraction, transmission of nerve impulses, blood clotting, and heart function.
It is highly sensitive to elements such as magnesium, iron, and phosphorous as well as hormonal activity, vitamin D levels, CO2 levels and many drugs. Diet, or even the presence of calcium in the diet has a lot to do with "calcium balance".
Clinical Adult Range : 8.5 mg/dL - 10.8 mg/dL
Glucose
Glucose is the basic sugar needed to provide energy for all parts of the body. Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body's cells, and blood lipids (in the form of fats and oils) are primarily a compact energy store. Glucose is transported from the intestines or liver to body cells via the bloodstream, and is made available for cell absorption via the hormone insulin, produced by the body primarily in the pancreas.
if blood sugar levels drop too low, a potentially fatal condition called hypoglycemia develops. Symptoms may include lethargy, impaired mental functioning; irritability; shaking, twitching, weakness in arm and leg muscles; pale complexion; sweating; paranoid or aggressive mentality and loss of consciousness. brain damage is even possible.
Clinical Adult Range : 70 mg/dL - 115 mg/dL
Sodium
A sodium test checks how much sodium (an electrolyte and a mineral) is in the blood. Sodium is both an electrolyte and mineral. It helps keep the water (the amount of fluid inside and outside the body's cells) and electrolyte balance of the body. Sodium is also important in how nerves and muscles work.
Sodium is an essential nutrient that regulates blood volume, blood pressure, osmotic equilibrium and pH; the minimum physiological requirement for sodium is 500 milligrams per day.
Clinical Adult Range : 135 mmol/L - 145 mmol/L
Potassium
A potassium test checks how much potassium is in the blood. Potassium is both an electrolyte and a mineral. It helps keep the water (the amount of fluid inside and outside the body's cells) and electrolyte balance of the body.
Potassium is also important in low nerves and muscles work. This element is found primarily inside the cells of the body. Low levels in the blood may indicate severe diarrhea, alcoholism, or excessive use of water pills.
Clinical Adult Range : 3.5 mmol/L - 5.0 mmol/L
Magnesium
A magnesium test checks the level of magnesium in the blood. Magnesium is an important electrolyte needed for proper muscle, nerve, and enzyme function. It also helps the body make and use energy and is needed to move other electrolytes (potassium and sodium) into and out of cells.
A magnesium test is used to measure the level of magnesium in the blood. Abnormal levels of magnesium are most frequently seen in conditiona or diseases that cause impaired or excessive excretion.
Clinical Adult Range : 1.7 mg/dL - 2.4 mg/dL
Chloride
A chloride test measures the level of chloride in your blood or urine. Chloride is one of the most important electrolytes in the blood. It helps keep the amount of fluid inside and outside of your cells in balance. It also helps maintain proper blood volume, blood pressure, and pH of your body fluids. Tests for sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate are usually done at the same time as a blood test for chloride.
Clinical Adult Range : 96 mmol/L - 110 mmol/L
Blood Urea Nitrogen
The blood urea nitrogen (BUN, pronounced "B-U-N") test is a measure of the amount of nitrogen in the blood in the form of urea, and a measurement of renal function. Urea is a by-product from metabolism of proteins by the liver and is removed from the blood by the kidney.
BUN is a waste product derived from protein breakdown in the liver.
Clinical Adult Range : 10 mg/dL - 26 mg/dL
