Complete Blood Count
Elevated White Blood Cell Count (WBC)
What is a sign of infection?
What is a side effect of corticosteroid use?
This is another name for BMP-Basic Metabolic Panel (*hint, measures X number of values)
What is Chem 7?
This is another name for the CMP.
What is Chem 14?
In addition to the BMP there are an additional 7 tests
This test is also known as “good” cholesterol.
What is High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol?
Measurement of blood sugar over the past three months
What is Hemoglobin A1C?
Normal A1C is below 5.7%
Prediabetes is between 5.7-6.4%
A result of 6.5% or above is suggestive of Diabetes.
If you have DM, A1C should be tested twice a year.
The lab results for this medical diagnosis include lower than normal RBC, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit.
What is Anemia?
The cause of electrolytes such as sodium or potassium to be either too high or too low.
What are medication side effects?
Sodium and Potassium are often monitored when people take certain types of medications, such as certain blood pressure medications, or diuretics.
Malnutrition may cause this key protein to be low.
What is albumin?
Albumin is one of the key proteins in the bloodstream. It is synthesized by the liver.
Low albumin levels may indicate a problem with the liver or a problem maintaining albumin in the bloodstream.
This test is also known as “bad” cholesterol.
What is Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol?
LDL results are usually calculated, based on total cholesterol, HDL and Triglycerides.
Symptoms of fatigue, cognitive difficulties and temperature dysregulation.
What are thyroid function tests?
2 Most Common:
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone TSH
Free thyroxine or Free T4
Occasionally this count could be higher or lower than normal in an older person.
What are platelet counts?
Occasionally an older person’s platelet count may be lower than normal (or even higher than normal). This usually requires further evaluation.
Most commonly used to monitor kidney function.
What are Creatinine and BUN levels?
Both of these measurements can go up if kidney function is temporarily impaired (e.g. by dehydration or a medication side-effect) or chronically impaired.
It is common for older adults to have at least mild decreases in kidney function.
Many medications must be dosed differently, if a person has decreased kidney function.
Gallstones or another issue blocking the bile ducts can lead to this lab being elevated.
What is bilirubin?
Bilirubin is produced by the liver, and usually drains down the bile ducts and into the small intestine. Some bilirubin is also related to the breakdown of red blood cells.
The lipid panel evaluates this risk in older adults.
What is cardiovascular risk?
Two tests that measure how quickly a person's blood clots.
What are Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
People taking the blood-thinner warfarin (brand name Coumadin) must have this regularly monitored.
Low red blood cells, low white blood cells, and low platelets) could result in this diagnosis,
What is Aplastic Anemia ( Bone Marrow is not producing red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets)
The four electrolytes in a BMP.
What are Potassium, Sodium, Chloride and Carbon Dioxide.
An elevation in these two enzymes often indicates a problem affecting the liver.
What are AST and ALT?
AST and ALT are enzymes contained in liver cells. An elevation in these enzymes can be caused by medications or by a variety of other health conditions.
The treatment for higher than normal total or LDL cholesterol.
What are Statins, dietary changes, weight loss and exercise?
Symptoms of fatigue, memory problems and walking difficulties.
Why are vitamin B12 labs ordered?
The two tests are vitamin B12 and Methylmalonic Acid.
It's especially important to check Methylmalonic Acid if OA has vitamin B12 levels on low side of normal.
The six components of a CBC.
What are White Blood Count (WBC), Red Blood Count (RBC), Hemoglobin (Hgb), Hematocrit (Hct), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Platelet Count (Plts)
The 7 'typical' components of a BMP?
What are Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, Carbon Dioxide, Glucose, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Creatinine?
The seven tests in a CMP
What are Calcium, Total protein, Albumin, Bilirubin (total), Alkaline phosphatase, AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase)
The four tests that measure the different types of cholesterol and fats in the bloodstream.
What are Total cholesterol, High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, sometimes known as “good” cholesterol. Triglycerides, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, sometimes known as “bad” cholesterol
LDL results are usually calculated, based on the other three results.
The levels are commonly used as part of an evaluation for anemia.
What are Ferritin levels?
Ferritin levels are most commonly used as part of an evaluation for anemia (low red blood cell count). A low ferritin level is suggestive of iron-deficiency, which is a common cause of anemia.