Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST]

My GGT is sitting at 150—do you think a doctor could actually declare someone unfit for work just because of that one number? I'm talking about a job as an auto body painter, obviously...

It looks like several questions have piled up without answers, so I’ll try to address a few of them:

Maria Nelson4 said:Got my results today:

WBC 2-3
epithelial cells 20-30
rare bacteria
significant mucus

Everything else on the report looks fine.

My doctor isn't available until Friday. Does anyone know how "bad" this looks?

Hello,

The results are within normal limits. A slightly higher number of epithelial cells and mucus might just mean the urine sample wasn't collected properly and got contaminated with vaginal discharge.

It’s also important to consider why the urinalysis was ordered—were you experiencing any symptoms?

Best regards. 🙂

rowdylynx17 said:What about white blood cells and red blood cells in the urine?

I'm 35. I had the test because I’ve been feeling some discomfort in my bladder, especially when it's full—like a dull ache that isn't quite pain, plus a slight stinging sensation when I pee.

Hoping for a quick reply. Thanks in advance.

Hello,

Given your symptoms and the urine results provided, it’s possible you're dealing with a mild inflammation or infection.

I hope you've reached out to your physician and get everything sorted out.

Best regards. 🙂

hollowmoose76 said:Hi, I need help interpreting my CBC.
All parameters are within range except for these:

WBC 3.1 (3.4 - 9.7)
MCHC 355 (320 - 345)
MPV 5.8 (6.8 - 10.4)
Neutrophils (rel) 41.6 (44 - 72)
Monocytes 15.4 (2 - 12)
Neutrophils 1.29 (2.06 / 6.49)
Band neutrophils (rel) 6 (0 - 2)
Segmented neutrophils (rel) 36 (44 - 72)
Monocytes (rel) 14 (2 - 12)
Plasma cells (rel) 1 (0 - 0)
Atypical lymphocytes 4 (0 - 0)
Glucose 4 (4.2 - 6)
Urate 435 (182 - 403)

Is there reason to worry? I did have a mild case of food poisoning two days before the blood draw (diarrhea and stomach cramps).
Thanks in advance.

Hello,

You haven't provided the complete lab panel, and it's difficult to interpret isolated values accurately.

From what I can see, the white blood cell count is slightly low due to the decreased neutrophil count. Considering your history of diarrhea and abdominal pain, it's entirely possible these results are simply a consequence of an infection.

With bacterial pathogens like Shigella, you might see this kind of profile—slightly low neutrophils with a left shift—and certain viral infections can present similarly.

It’s necessary to recheck the labs in about two weeks to monitor for any shifts.

Also, since I can't perform a physical exam through an online forum and I don't have your full lab panel, I want to be clear: I'm avoiding any definitive interpretation here. It could easily be something else entirely.

Best regards. 🙂

Carol Hayes79 said:I'd appreciate some insight on these systemic review results. I'm 29.

MCHC 358 (320-345). Just a bit outside the standard range.

To whom it may concern,

MCHC represents the average concentration of hemoglobin—the oxygen-carrying molecule—within an erythrocyte. Essentially, MCV, MCH, and MCHC are grouped together under the umbrella term "erythrocyte indices." These parameters serve as descriptors for specific red blood cell characteristics. It’s important to note that any fluctuations in these values should never be viewed in isolation; they must always be evaluated alongside the total red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration.

Since both your red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels are within the normal range, and that MCHC value is only marginally elevated, I don't see any clinical significance here. In my opinion, there’s really no reason to worry about this.

MPV 11.5 (Range: 6.8–10.4).

That value represents your average platelet volume. It’s always meant to be viewed alongside your total platelet count. Since your count is within the normal range, and your platelets are just slightly larger than average, I don't believe there's any cause for concern here.

Cholesterol at 5.1 (Target < 5.0).
HDL cholesterol levels sit at 1.4. Anything above 1.2 is the target. Looks good.
LDL cholesterol: 3.2 (Target < 3.0). Just slightly over the line.

Cholesterol is running a bit high. It’s nothing to panic about, but you should probably take a look at your weight and what your diet actually looks like.

URINE:
Red blood cells 1 (O-2) NOTHING ELSE 0

It's a clean report.

AST 46 (Normal range: 8-30).
ALT 87 (10-36)

Liver enzyme levels are running a bit high.

One crucial detail to consider: what medications are you currently taking? I’m talking about everything—oral contraceptives, over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen, or any other supplements. It's worth noting that these can easily be the culprit behind slightly elevated liver enzymes, independent of any excessive eating or drinking.

Moving forward, are you experiencing any symptoms? Specifically, anything like discomfort, heaviness, or pain in the abdominal area—perhaps just under the right rib cage—or any other issues?

When we spot a result like this during a routine physical, our standard protocol is to have the patient come back in a few weeks for a retest. We don't jump to conclusions immediately. It’s only if those elevated levels persist in the follow-up results that we move forward with more intensive diagnostic workups.

Greetings. 🙂

Benjamin Ramirez3 said:My GGT is at 150, is it actually possible for a doctor to declare someone unfit for work just because of that? It’s for an auto body painter position, obviously.

That GGT level definitely points toward some potential liver issues, though we don't have the full picture—like if there's alcohol involved, certain medications, or something else going on.
Since an auto body painter is professionally exposed to various paints and solvents that can have a cumulative negative impact on the liver over time, things get complicated.
In plain English, it is entirely plausible that this GGT reading provides enough medical and legal grounds for a doctor to deny a fitness-for-duty certificate for that specific role.
This is just my two cents on the situation; occupational medicine isn't my field, and I don't know the ins and outs of the specific chemical cocktails used in auto painting shops and how they mess with your liver.
So, honestly, the best move is to talk directly to the physician—presumably an occupational specialist—who made the call based on those labs.
Also, it would be incredibly smart to figure out why that GGT is spiked in the first place, mostly for your own sake. Looking back at old lab results might help clear things up. Definitely plan on re-testing in a few weeks and following up with your doctor.

Thanks so much for getting back to me!

Elizabeth Fox said:Hi there!
Here are my S-OGTT results:
Glucose 0' 4.2 mmol/L <6.1
Ketones 0' neg Neg
Aceto 0' neg Neg

Glucose 120' 2.8 mmol/L <6.1
Ketones 120' neg Neg
Aceto 120' Neg Neg

I know everything is within range, but I'm wondering if it's normal for sugar to drop this low after two hours? Technically, that looks like hypoglycemia. What could be causing this? Should I still see an endocrinologist or some other specialist?

Hello,

You didn't mention why you had this test done in the first place.

It is important to note that we can only talk about so-called postprandial hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels after eating) if three specific criteria are met—essentially the Whipple triad:

- Blood sugar levels following the OGTT test are lower than 2.8 mmol/l (though some researchers use different thresholds)
- The recorded low sugar level occurs alongside actual hypoglycemic symptoms, such as tremors, sweating, heart palpitations, weakness, or anxiety.
- Those symptoms resolve once blood sugar levels rise again.

So, the key questions are: why was the OGTT performed, and did you experience any physical distress during or immediately after the test?

It is also worth noting that some studies show roughly 10% of perfectly healthy individuals will record slightly lower blood sugar values (below 2.8 mmol/l) without experiencing any symptoms at all.

Furthermore, due to elevated iron levels (44, ref.int. 8-30), my hematologist sent me for testing for hemochromatosis.
Results:
DNA analysis confirmed a heterozygote for the H63D mutation (genotype HD)

After cutting out the few foods high in iron, here are the blood results:

Iron 29.1mmol/L (8-30)
UIBC 23.3 mmol/L (26-59)
TIBC 52.3 mmol/L (49-75)
Fe- saturation 55.6 % (15-50)

Ferritin 76 ng/mL (5-148)

Genetic testing shows one mutation (disorder) in the HFE gene, which is the gene associated with hemochromatosis.

However, if you are just a heterozygote for H63D (genotype C/C, H/D), you only carry one faulty copy of the gene while the other is healthy, making the risk of developing the disease quite low. That said, I am not qualified to provide a deep dive into interpreting these findings. Perhaps our colleague vividsailor7 might have something to add.

The rest of the labs cannot be interpreted in isolation from your clinical picture and other findings.

Best regards. 🙂

Elizabeth James73 said:We’re trying for another baby, so I went in for some swabs. Everything looks clean, except for one thing on the report—the cervical swab results. It shows the microbiological test was sterile, but under the microscope, there are 0-4 polymorphonuclear leukocytes per high-power field. My OBGYN is currently out of the office, so I'm wondering what this means? Thanks!

Ma'am,

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are essentially just inflammatory cells. Finding a small amount like that in an active woman is perfectly normal.

I'm not a gynecologist, so take this with a grain of salt, but my understanding is that things usually only get flagged when you see 10 or more PMNs per high-power field. When those numbers spike, that's when you start looking at potential infections or perhaps some local irritation or tissue trauma.

If I were a betting man—which I'm not qualified to be—I'd say your count is low enough to be considered a clear result.

Of course, we'll wait to see what your doctor thinks (hopefully they won't fail me on my unofficial gynecology exam).

Best regards. 🙂

granitecyclist42 said:Hey there!
I'm wondering if anyone here understands HLA typing results. My report just came back, but my follow-up appointment isn't for another two months, so I'm getting ahead of myself.🙂

What was the reason for the typing? Are they actually looking for signs of an autoimmune or rheumatological condition?

Maria Fisher46 said:Hello there,

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes—or PMNs—are essentially just a type of inflammatory cell. For women who are sexually active, finding them in a swab within certain limits is perfectly normal.

Now, I’m certainly no gynecologist, so please don't hold me to this, but my understanding is that things usually only start looking concerning when you see 10 or more PMNs per high-power field. When those numbers spike, it might point toward an infection, or perhaps some localized irritation or tissue damage.

If I were to venture an opinion—and again, I'm far from an expert here—it looks like your count is relatively low, which could easily be considered a standard, healthy result.

Of course, we'll have to wait and see what your doctor thinks (hopefully they won't fail me on my gynecology final exam).

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks so much. I suspect the doctor will agree, especially since the report mentions "sterile" above. To be honest, I have erythriaplasia, and I believe this swab was taken right from that specific area—which deals with constant, mild inflammation—so it’s likely nothing to worry about.

Can someone please tell me something about my blood work results? If you need more info, I’m happy to provide it. 🙂
I just want to know if everything looks okay, or if there's some kind of inflammation or other issue going on. Also, I'm curious about the pO2 and THbc levels...
Thanks.

I'm not looking for a diagnosis, just an interpretation of the numbers. 🙂

Hannah Kelly said:Could someone please help me understand my blood cytology results? If you need more details, I'm happy to provide them. 🙂
I just want to know if everything looks okay, or if there's any sign of inflammation or some other condition. I'm also curious about the pO2 and THbc levels...
Thanks.

I am not looking for a diagnosis, just an interpretation of the results. 🙂

Or maybe let me know who else I should talk to for a follow-up.
Thanks.

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey there,

MCHC basically tells you the average concentration of hemoglobin—that’s the stuff carrying oxygen—inside an erythrocyte. Usually, when people talk about MCV, MCH, and MCHC, they just lump them together as erythrocyte indices. These numbers are just different ways of looking at the characteristics of your red blood cells. You can't really make sense of any of these values in a vacuum, though; you always have to look at them alongside your actual red blood cell count and total hemoglobin levels to get the full picture.
...
Best, 🙂

Thanks a ton!

Help needed: I've been dealing with anemia for five years now. I just finished a battery of tests requested by my hematologist (gynecological workup, KCC, ten IV ampules of iron, plus an endoscopy), and most results came back fine. However, I am completely lost regarding this biopsy finding: ...received material consists of three small tissue fragments .... which are portions of small intestine mucosa where the villi are covered by cylindrical and goblet cells, while denser mononuclear infiltrates and one smaller focal cluster of lymphocytes are found within the lamina propria .. Is this normal or ..? What exactly are "mononuclear infiltrates" and "lymphocyte clusters"? I'm waiting for my follow-up appointment, but until then, please help. Thanks!

Jessica Bishop63 As I was saying:
Help! I’ve been battling anemia for five years now. I finally went through all the testing my hematologist demanded—gynecological exams, KCC, ten IV ampules of Ferrlecit, and even an endoscopy. For the most part, everything looks fine, but I am completely lost regarding this biopsy result: "...received material consists of three small tissue fragments... which are portions of small intestine mucosa where villi are covered by cylindrical and goblet cells, while denser mononuclear infiltrates and one smaller focal cluster of lymphocytes are found within the lamina propria..." Is this okay, or is it... bad? What on earth are "mononuclear infiltrates" and "lymphocyte clusters"? I'm just sitting here waiting for my follow-up appointment, but until then, please help! Thanks!

You need to transcribe an EGD/gastroscopy report.
Te Complete. Look, I’m looking at these PHD lab results, and there is absolutely no way I can look at these numbers in isolation. You can't just pick one value out of thin air and pretend it tells the whole story. It’s all connected.

Nicholas Gray90 said:Think about the muscles—it's logic. You shouldn't be doing a urine analysis during your period or immediately after, because your red blood cell count will come back elevated!
Which essentially means the results won't be valid and won't reflect your actual health status. It’s best to wait about 3 to 4 days after your cycle ends.
Anyway, I hope that helps.

Yes, that's absolutely true. That is exactly what happened to me recently—my red blood cell count hit 5. I had provided a sample just the day before my period started, thinking I was being smart by avoiding any "blood in the urine" scares—you know, those terrifying reports that hint at malignant diseases.

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear lady,

Given the symptoms you described and those specific urine test results, it’s possible you might be dealing with a mild inflammation or perhaps a minor infection.

I really hope you've reached out to your doctor and managed to get everything sorted out.

Best regards. 🙂

I haven't actually called my doctor yet because when I went to pick up the results, they told me everything looked fine ("according to them," 🙂). That's honestly why I decided to ask for help here on the forum—I was hoping for a slightly more detailed breakdown of what the numbers actually mean. In the meantime, I guess my symptoms have eased up a bit, though I am still feeling this slight stinging sensation. Do you think I should go ahead and get a urine culture done?

Greetings! It is my first time visiting this forum.
How long does one typically wait for the CSF results following a lumbar puncture?

So about ten days ago, I dealt with a bladder infection—nothing crazy like pain when peeing or blood, just that constant, annoying need to run to the bathroom. My urinalysis showed a bunch of bacteria, mucus, leukocytes, erythrocytes, epithelial cells, and some calcium oxalate too. Plus, my leukocyte esterase came back positive.
I was prescribed Progressive and took it for seven days along with some unknown tea, then waited three days before getting another test done.
The frequent bathroom trips are gone and I’m feeling totally fine—like the infection is basically history. But I just picked up my latest results and they show:
just a little bacteria, mucus, epithelial cells, and 1-3 small epithelial cells. Leukocytes are at 0-2, which is right in the normal range.
Basically, the red blood cells, crystals, and epithelial stuff all cleared up. There's still a tiny bit of bacteria, mucus, and those few epithelial cells left, but everything has scaled way down and I feel great.
Do I really need another round of antibiotics, or can I just flush it out by drinking tons of water? I mean, I don't actually feel sick, the lab results are just being picky.

Edit: Honestly, I don't have the patience for doctor runs, lugging urine samples around, and all that. If I start feeling crappy again, I'll go, obviously, but I'm just asking for peace of mind so I don't waste time sitting in a waiting room. Last time, I sat there for two hours just for the doctor to tell me my culture was fine even though there was a trace of bacteria, saying it was totally normal anyway.

Hopefully someone can help me out 🙂.

Chloe Gray5 said:So, about ten days ago, I ended up dealing with a bladder infection. It wasn't even one of those dramatic ones where you’re doubled over in pain or seeing blood every time you hit the bathroom—thankfully, nothing like that—it was just this constant, nagging need to run to the restroom every five minutes, which is honestly such a hassle when you're trying to get anything done. Anyway, I went ahead and got a urine test done, and it turns out I had... Enough is enough. So, I was looking over these lab results earlier, and it’s basically just a whole list of the usual suspects you see when things aren't quite right down there. You've got bacteria, some mucus, white blood cells, red blood cells, and those squamous epithelial cells—it’s just that standard mix of stuff that pops up in a urinalysis when your body is trying to tell you something is a little off. It's pretty typical, honestly, nothing too crazy, just the science side of dealing with a bit of an infection. I don't really have much to say about this one, just felt like throwing something out there to see if anyone was actually around. So, I just got my labs back from the clinic, and things are looking a little bit messy. They found calcium oxalate in there, which is always a fun surprise to deal with, plus the leukocyte esterase came back positive too. Not exactly the news you're hoping for when you're waiting around for results, but I guess that's just how it goes sometimes.
So, I’ve been on this little regimen for about a week now—just sipping on some Nolicin and pairing it with Uva Ursi tea every single day. After taking a quick three-day breather to let things settle, I finally went back in to get another urine test done to see if all that effort actually moved the needle.
Honestly, I don’t even feel the need to run to the bathroom nearly as much as I used to. It’s kind of wild, actually. I remember back in my college days, probably living in some cramped apartment in Chicago, I felt like I was constantly on a first-name basis with the local restroom. You know that feeling where you're just perpetually hunting for a stall? Yeah, that was me. But lately, things have just leveled out. Everything feels a lot more settled and steady, if that makes sense. It’s one of those small, quiet shifts in life that you don't really notice until you stop to think about it, but it's definitely there. I mean, honestly? I’m feeling pretty much just... normal. Nothing crazy, no massive highs or deep lows, just kind of cruising along at a steady baseline. It’s actually kind of a relief, if I'm being real.So, I was pretty much convinced that I didn't have any kind of inflammation going on, you know? Just feeling a bit off, but nothing crazy. Well, I finally went and picked up my lab results today, and here's what they actually say:
I don't really have much to say about this one, just some random thoughts floating around my head. So, I was looking over these lab results earlier—you know how it is, staring at those numbers until they start to blur—and honestly, everything looks pretty much textbook normal to me. It’s mostly just a few scattered bacteria and some mucus, plus maybe one to three epithelial cells floating around. As for the white blood cell count, it’s sitting right at zero to two, which is exactly where you want it to be according to the standard reference ranges. Nothing to lose sleep over here; it’s just baseline stuff.
So, I just got my latest results back and honestly, it’s looking way better. All those red blood cells, crystals, and epithelial cells? Poof. Gone. Pretty much wiped off the map. Now I'm just dealing with a tiny bit of bacteria, some mucus, and a few leftover epithelial cells here and there, but compared to where I was, it's a massive relief. Honestly, I just scaled everything back and now I’m not dealing with any of it. No drama, no headaches, just total peace.
So, I’m sitting here wondering if I actually need to go back on another round of antibiotics, or if I can just ride this out by chugging water like my life depends on it. It’s one of those weird situations where I don't even feel sick—I mean, I feel totally fine, honestly—but the lab results came back looking pretty sketchy. It's just one of those things where the paperwork says there's an issue even though my body is acting like everything is perfectly normal.

Look, I really don't have the bandwidth for the whole doctor shuffle right now—trekking to clinics, lugging around urine samples, all that jazz. If things actually start feeling sideways, obviously I’ll head in, but I’m mostly just asking so I can get some peace of mind and avoid wasting my life sitting in a waiting room for no reason. Last time I went, I spent two agonizing hours just to have my doctor tell me that even though there was some bacteria showing up on my culture, everything was perfectly fine and totally normal. It felt like such a massive waste of time.

I'm really hoping someone can find a spare minute to get back to me on this one. 🙂.

If you aren't actually feeling the struggle, then honestly, the whole thing is just a bunch of noise. Probably. All wrapped up and done. 😉
So, I was thinking about this whole bacteria thing—specifically that messy business with contamination and how easy it is to totally screw up the sampling process if you aren't paying attention. It’s one of those things where you think you’re being careful, but then you realize you’ve basically introduced more junk into the sample than what was actually there to begin with. It’s kind of like when I tried to make my own kombucha last summer in my kitchen in Seattle; I thought I was being all clinical and sterile, but I probably just ended up culturing a bunch of random airborne dust instead of actual probiotics because I wasn't as careful as I thought. Anyway, if you're looking for the right way to pull a sample without contaminating the whole batch, we should probably dive into the specifics of technique and gear.
I mean, honestly, it would be the decent thing to do—just give your doctor a quick ring, you know? Just pick up the phone, walk her through the test results, and give her the full rundown on how you’re actually feeling. At the end of the day, she’s genuinely worried about you, so why leave her hanging? 😉