BLOOD PANELS

A blood test is a laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted
from a vein in the arm or via fingerpick. Multiple tests for specific blood components, such as
a glucose test or a cholesterol test, are often grouped together into one test panel called a
blood panel or blood work. One advantage of a panel of tests is that many tests can be done
with just one blood sample. It’s then divided up in a lab. The following are some typical
clinical blood panels.

CBC

A complete blood count (CBC), or Full blood count, is an easy and very common test that
screens for certain disorders that can affect health. A CBC determines if there are any
increases or decreases in blood cell counts. Normal values vary depending on age and gender.
A CBC can help diagnose a broad range of conditions, from anaemia and infection to cancer.
With a CBC you can check for

 red blood cells (RBC)

 hemoglobin: oxygen-carrying protein (Hb)
 hematocrit: percentage of red blood cells in your blood (HCT)
 white blood cells (WBC)
 platelets

Blood component Normal levels

In men: 4.32-5.72 million cells/mcL

red blood cell
In women: 3.90-5.03 million cells/mcL

In men: 135-175 grams/L

hemoglobin
In women: 120-155 grams/L

In men: 38.8-50.0 percent

hematocrit
In women: 34.9-44.5 percent

white blood cell

3,500 to 10,500 cells/mcL
count

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 platelet count 150,000 to 450,000/mcL

Basic Metabolic Panel /Renal function Test

The tests that make up the basic metabolic panel are blood (serum) tests for:

 BUN (blood urea nitrogen), which measures the amount of nitrogen in the blood in
order to determine your kidney function
 Creatinine, tells how kidneys are functioning
 Glucose- checks blood sugar levels — abnormally high or low glucose levels could
indicate a range of issues
 albumin, which is a protein that can change with kidney and liver disease
 CO2 (carbon dioxide or bicarbonate), which references lung and kidney function
 calcium, which can help determine if there is a kidney bone or parathyroid problem (a
gland in the neck)
 sodium, one of the salts in the body that reflects more the body’s water balance than
salt
 potassium, another salt in the body
 chloride

Sodium, potassium, and chloride levels will be tested as part of the electrolyte panel.
Electrolyte balance is essential to the normal functioning of the muscular, cardiovascular, and
nervous systems.

The basic metabolic panel can give the doctor a good idea as to whether the individual have
problems with:

 blood filtration
 acid/base balance of your blood
 blood sugar levels
 electrolyte levels

This can help uncover a variety of medical issues, including:

 kidney problems
 lung problems

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  problems with your pancreas or insulin metabolism

Normal range (adults 18- Normal range (adults over 60

Test Category
60 years old) years old)

BUN (blood urea 6-20 mg/dL (milligrams per

8-23 mg/dL kidney test
nitrogen) deciliter of blood)

0.9-1.3 mg/dL for men; 0.6- 0.8-1.3 mg/dL for men; 0.6-1.2
creatinine kidney test
1.1 mg/dL for women mg/dL for women

sugar
glucose 70-99 mg/dL 70-99 mg/dL
metabolism

3.4-5.4 g/dL (grams per

albumin 3.4-5.4 g/dL blood protein
deciliter of blood)

CO2 (carbon 23-29 mEq/L 23-31 mEq/L (adults 61-90

electrolyte
dioxide or (milliequivalent units per years old); 20-29 mEq/L (adults
panel
bicarbonate) liter of blood) over 90 years old)

electrolyte
Ca+ (calcium) 8.6-10.2 mg/dL 8.6-10.2 mg/dL
panel

132-146 mEq/L (adults over 90 electrolyte

Na+ (sodium) 136-145 mEq/L
years old) panel

electrolyte
K+ (potassium) 3.5-5.1 mEq/L 3.5-5.1 mEq/L
panel

98-111 mEq/L (adults over 90 electrolyte

Cl- (chloride) 98-107 mEq/L
years old) panel

Thyroid Function Tests

Thyroid function tests are a series of blood tests used to measure how well the thyroid gland
is working. Available tests include the T3, T3RU, T4, and TSH. The thyroid regulates many
of the body’s processes, such as metabolism, energy generation, and mood. The thyroid
produces two major hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). If the thyroid gland
doesn’t produce enough of these hormones, the person may experience symptoms such as
weight gain, lack of energy, and depression. This condition is called hypothyroidism.
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If the thyroid gland produces too many hormones, the person may experience weight loss,
high levels of anxiety, tremors, and a sense of being on a high. This is called
hyperthyroidism.

Understanding your test results

T4 and TSH results

The T4 test and the TSH test are the two most common thyroid function tests. They’re
usually ordered together.

The T4 test is known as the thyroxine test. A high level of T4 indicates an overactive thyroid
(hyperthyroidism).

The TSH test measures the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone in your blood. The TSH has
a normal test range between 0.4 and 4.0 milli-international units of hormone per liter of blood
(mIU/L).

If you show signs of hypothyroidism and have a TSH reading above 2.0 mIU/L, you’re at risk
for progressing to hypothyroidism.

T3 results

The T3 test checks for levels of the hormone triiodothyronine. It’s usually ordered if T4 tests
and TSH tests suggest hyperthyroidism. The normal range for the T3 is 100–200 nanograms
of hormone per deciliter of blood (ng/dL). Abnormally high levels most commonly indicate a
condition called Grave’s disease. This is an autoimmune disorder associated with
hyperthyroidism.

T3 resin uptake results

A T3 resin uptake, also known as a T3RU, is a blood test that measures the binding capacity
of a hormone called thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG). If your T3 level is elevated, your TBG
binding capacity should be low.

Complete metabolic panel/Liver function test

A complete metabolic panel (CMP) includes

 albumin

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  total protein
 alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
 alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
 aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
 bilirubin

Lipid panel

This test checks levels of two types of cholesterol:

High Low

HDL > 60 mg/dL men: < 40 mg/dL; women: < 50 mg/dL

LDL > 160 mg/dL < 100 mg/dL

HDL is “good” because it removes harmful substances from the blood and helps the liver
break them down into waste. LDL is “bad” because it can cause plaque to develop in the
arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease.

Enzyme markers

Enzymes are proteins that help the body accomplish certain chemical processes, such as
breaking down food and clotting blood. They’re used throughout your body for many vital
functions. Abnormal enzyme levels can indicate many different conditions.

Common enzymes tested include:

 Creatine phosphokinase (CPK-1). This is found in the lungs and brain. High levels
can indicate brain injuries or cancer.
 CPK-2 (CK-MB). These enzymes are found in your heart. They often increase in the
blood after a heart attack or other heart injury.
 CPK-3. These enzymes are also found in your heart. They often result from muscle
inflammation, injury, or intense exercise.
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  Troponin. This is a heart enzyme that can leak into the blood and results from heart
injury.

Here are the normal ranges for the enzyme listed above:

 CPK-1:about 200 units per liter (U/L)

 CPK-2:5–25 international units per liter (IU/L)
 CPK-3:about 200 U/L
 troponin:< 0.02 ng/mL

Sexually transmitted disease tests

Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be diagnosed using a blood sample. These
tests are often combined with urine samples or swabs of infected tissue for more accurate
diagnoses.

The following STDs can be diagnosed with blood tests:

 chlamydia
 gonorrhea
 herpes
 HIV
 syphilis

Coagulation panel

Coagulation tests measure how well the blood clots and how long it takes for the blood to
clot. Examples include

 Prothrombin time (PT or PT-INR)

 Fibrinogen activity test
 Thrombin time
 Bleeding time

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