COMMON LABORATORY TESTS

WBC HDL

White Blood Cell Count
Good cholesterol

High with bacterial infections
> 40 recommended for men and > 50 recommended for women

Low with viral infections
Protects against heart disease by picking up cholesterol deposits in the arteries

Chronic low/high counts may indicate a chronic disease like leukemia
Increased with exercise, weight loss, smoking cessation and medications like
RBC, HGB, HCT Niaspan

Red Blood Cell Count, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit LDL

Low levels indicate anemia
Bad cholesterol
MCH, MCV, MCHC
< 100 recommended (< 70 recommended for diabetics)

Red Blood Cell Indices
Lays down deposits in the arteries that cause heart disease

Help determine causes of anemia
Reduced by weight loss, exercise, eating a low fat/low cholesterol diet and

High results indicate vitamin deficiency medications like Vytorin, Lipitor, Crestor and Pravachol

Low results indicate iron deficiency or blood loss GLUCOSE
PLATELETS
Blood sugar

Blood Clotting
High fasting levels may indicate diabetes (a fasting blood sugar greater than 127 is

Can be increased or decreased with infection diagnostic for diabetes)

Counts <100 should be investigated SGOT, SGPT, TOTAL BILIRUBIN
BUN, CREATININE
Liver function tests

Kidney Function Tests
When tests are elevated the liver should always be evaluated

Kidneys may not be functioning properly when levels are high
The most common causes of increased liver function tests are medications or drugs

Elevated BUN can result from inadequate fluid intake like alcohol, Tylenol, birth control pills, other over-the-counter pain relievers, etc.
SODIUM, POTASSIUM, CHLORIDE
Different types of Hepatitis can cause elevated liver function tests

Electrolytes IRON

Important for muscle contraction and nerve impulse conduction
Low iron can lead to anemia

Certain kidney problems and medications (diuretics) can cause an imbalance
High levels may indicate a disorder where too much iron is absorbed in the intestine.

Low potassium can cause muscle cramps, fatigue and heart arrhythmias (too much iron can be toxic)

Potassium can be falsely elevated if red blood cells break open when blood is drawn CPK
or transported
Released with muscle turnover
PHOSPHORUS, CALCIUM, URIC ACID
Increased with any type of muscle damage such as trauma, exercise, drugs, heart

Bone Profile attack, etc.

High uric acid levels can be associated with gouty arthritis or kidney stones
Although rare, cholesterol lowering medications may cause muscle damage which

High calcium levels can be associated with disorders of the parathyroid dramatically elevates the CPK and may develop into a life threatening condition
TOTAL PROTEIN, ALBUMIN, GLOBULIN
If you are taking medications for cholesterol and you have muscle pain or weakness

Proteins made by the liver and your CPK is dramatically elevated, notify your family physician immediately!

Indicators of liver function and general nutritional status T4
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
Thyroid hormone

< 200 recommended
An under-active thyroid will produce low levels; an over-active thyroid will produce

Lowered by losing weight, exercising and eating a low fat/low cholesterol diet with high levels
plenty of fiber
Other hormones like birth control pills and estrogen can affect T4 levels
TRIGLYCERIDES TSH

< 150 recommended
Thyroid stimulating hormone

Cause cholesterol to stick to blood vessel walls
Opposite of the thyroid hormone

Can be artificially elevated by increased blood sugar levels  When TSH is low, there is too much thyroid hormone in the

Can be lowered by decreasing fat and carbohydrate consumption, increasing blood
exercise and medications like Tricor and Antara  When TSH is high, there is not enough thyroid hormone in the
blood