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

A quick question for the doctors here:

Is it possible for Hashimoto's—specifically when dealing with significantly elevated Anti TPO and Anti TGO levels—to be linked to an increase in ANA? (Just to clarify, I'm not currently experiencing any symptoms of other autoimmune conditions)

I've noticed some conflicting information out there—one part of the medical literature suggests there isn't a connection, but then I come across plenty of other sources and studies that seem to suggest otherwise.🤷

Hi, could someone help me make sense of these results?
It’s for an elderly woman who isn't feeling any particular symptoms...
Do we need to worry about these high or low values?

HEMATOLOGY

PARAMETER RESULT
value graphical display unit reference interval
(RBC) erythrocytes * 4.50 ( o ) 10e12/L 3.86 - 5.08
(RBC) hemoglobin * 135 ( o ) g/L F 119 - 157
(RBC) hematocrit * 0.401 ( o ) 0.350 - 0.470
(RBC) MCV * 89.1 ( o ) fL 83.0 - 97.0
(RBC) MCH * 30.0 ( pg ) 27.4 - 33.9
(RBC) MCHC * 337 ( g/L ) 320 - 345
(RBC) distr. erythro. * 14.3 ( o) % 9.0 - 15.0
(RBC) platelets * 137 < ( ) 10e9/L 158 - 424
(RBC) MPV * 10.9 ( ) > fL 6.8 - 10.4
(RBC) WBC * 5.1 ( o ) 10e9/L 3.4 - 9.7
(RBC) neutrophils * 77.5 ( ) > % 44.0 - 72.0
(RBC) # 3.93 ( o ) 10e9/L 2.06 - 6.49
(RBC) lymphocytes * 16.2 < ( ) % 20.0 - 46.0
(RBC) # 0.82 < ( ) 10e9/L 1.19 - 3.35
(RBC) monocytes * 5.3 ( o ) % 2.0-12.0
(RBC) # 0.27 ( o ) 10e9/L 0.12 - 0.84
(RBC) eosinophils * 0.8 (o ) % 0.0-7.0
(RBC) # 0.04 (o ) 10e9/L 0.00 - 0.43
(RBC) basophils * 0.2 (o ) % 0.0-1.0
(RBC) # 0.01 (o ) 10e9/L 0.00 - 0.06

I hope everything is legible, I just copied this from a PDF, so 🤷

Grace Lewis6 said:hey, can anyone help me make sense of these lab results?
it's for an older woman who isn't really feeling any particular symptoms or anything.
is there anything we actually need to do about these low or high numbers?

HEMATOLOGY

parameter RESULT
value graph unit reference range
(vK) RBC * 4.50 ( o ) 10e12/L 3.86 - 5.08
(vK) hemoglobin * 135 ( o ) g/L F 119 - 157
(vK) hematocrit * 0.401 ( o ) 0.350 - 0.470
(vK) MCV * 89.1 ( o ) fL 83.0 - 97.0
(vK) MCH * 30.0 ( o ) pg 27.4 - 33.9
(vK) MCHC * 337 ( o ) g/L 320 - 345
(vK) distr. erythro * 14.3 ( o) % 9.0 - 15.0
(vK) platelets * 137 < ( ) 10e9/L 158 - 424
(vK) MPV * 10.9 ( ) > fL 6.8 - 10.4
(vK) WBC * 5.1 ( o ) 10e9/L 3.4 - 9.7
(vK) neutrophils * 77.5 ( ) > % 44.0 - 72.0
(vK) # 3.93 ( o ) 10e9/L 2.06 - 6.49
(vK) lymphocytes * 16.2 < ( ) % 20.0 - 46.0
(vK) # 0.82 < ( ) 10e9/L 1.19 - 3.35
(vK) monocytes * 5.3 ( o ) % 2.0-12.0
(vK) # 0.27 ( o ) 10e9/L 0.12 - 0.84
(vK) eosinophils * 0.8 (o ) % 0.0-7.0
(vK) # 0.04 (o ) 10e9/L 0.00 - 0.43
(vK) basophils * 0.2 (o ) % 0.0-1.0
(vK) # 0.01 (o ) 10e9/L 0.00 - 0.06

hope everything is legible, I just copy-pasted this straight from the PDF, so 🤷

Every single set of labs absolutely has to be interpreted alongside the actual clinical picture.
But, if we were practicing vitium artis, we could probably call these results non-alarming, with no real reason to worry.

Could someone help me interpret these results? Should I be worried, considering I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant:
Iron Metabolism
Iron 12.9 (8-30)
UIBC 70 (26-59) H
TIBC 82.4 (49-75) H
Fe saturation 15.5 (15-50)

Complete Blood Count
RBC 3.6 (3.86-5.08) L
Hemoglobin 112 (119-157) L
Hematocrit 0.328 (0.356-0.47)L
MCV 92.4 (83-97.2)
MCH 31.7 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 342 (230-345)
RDW 12.6 (9-13.8)

Differential Count
WBC 12.7 (3.4-9.7) H
Segmented Neutrophils 9.10 (2.06- 6.49) H
Segmented Neutrophils (%) 72.0 (44-72)
Lymphocytes 2.60 (1.19-3.35)
Monocytes 0.70 (0.12-0.84)
Eosinophils 0.10 (up to 0.7)
Basophils 0.00 (up to 0.08)

Platelets 226 (158-424)
MPV 10.4 (6.8-10.4)
I didn't do a urine sediment test, but I went ahead and did a USA test immediately because a previous result showed E. coli.
Is there any hope that I don't actually have a bacterial infection, despite these white blood cell levels?
Can anemia be confirmed here, even if my iron levels aren't low?
I forgot to mention that these tests were just routine prenatal follow-ups. I don't have any specific symptoms, just some abdominal pains that I assume are normal for pregnancy. I haven't had any issues with urination other than feeling pressure on my bladder, which I figure is just the baby's position.

velvetmoose9 said:Every test result really needs to be interpreted alongside the patient's actual clinical symptoms.
If they had actually practiced proper medicine, they could have just called this finding non-alarming without causing unnecessary panic...

thanks 👋

Other markers were tested too (cholesterol, triglycerides, liver enzymes, potassium, glucose, creatinine, uric acid, bilirubin, urine) and everything looks fine.
She’s a generally very healthy woman in her early 80s 😍, and since we used a private lab, I was wondering if we should still run this by her primary care physician...

Grace Lewis6 said:thanks 👋

The other stuff—cholesterol, triglycerides, liver enzymes, potassium, glucose, creatinine, uric acid, bilirubin, urine tests—it all looks totally fine.
We're looking at an 80-something-year-old woman who is generally in really great shape 😍. Since we had the bloodwork done at a private clinic like Quest Diagnostics rather than through her regular doctor, I was just wondering if she should still show these results to her primary care physician.

Absolutely, and honestly, she definitely SHOULD.
But based on what you've shared here, there’s really nothing to worry about 😉
.

velvetmoose9 said:It's an absolute necessity.
Honestly, based on what they found, there's really nothing to worry about 😉

You got it, boss...

Grace Lewis6 said:Alright, boss!

Man, we really gotta baby these things and watch our step... 😉

briskstag13 said:So, back in August, I had my ALT and AST checked. Everything was basically normal. But after my primary care doctor suggested a follow-up today, my levels have jumped to AST 88 and ALT 96. 😲On top of that, I’ve been feeling some pain in my liver area lately. Could this actually be caused by eating way too much chocolate, or is this a definitive sign that there's an inflammatory process going on? Also, my cholesterol was at 2.0 in August, and now it's hit 7.0. Triglycerides are 0.39, HDL is 2.64, and LDL is 4.4. Basically, my total and LDL cholesterol are a complete disaster. 😲 It's just wtf. Sure, I eat a lot of chocolate, but I also spend a ton of time cycling. What do you guys think? Is it even possible for those two things to cause such a massive spike in liver enzymes?

Maybe fatty liver.

Robert Adams88 said:Nicholas Myers - If my total bilirubin fluctuates and my liver is enlarged, what kind of illnesses or disorders could be at play? My doctor suspects Gilbert's syndrome (though she wasn't aware of the liver enlargement at the time), but I don't have a definitive diagnosis yet.

Hello,

The spectrum of potential diagnoses is quite broad. Based solely on the information provided, pinpointing the exact cause isn't possible.

Patience is required here. An ultrasound report will also be a critical piece of the puzzle.

That said, occasionally a liver biopsy is the only way to reach a conclusive diagnosis.

Best regards.

hollowhawk13 said:I had neurotropic virus testing done at Mayo Clinic, and I'm confused by these results:

HSV IgM Positive
HSV-1 IgG negative
HSV IgG WB negative
HSV2 IgG negative
HSV2 IgG WB negative

Hello,

HSV-1 and HSV-2 share certain epitopes—think of them as specific "docking sites" on the virus surface that attract antibodies. This can lead to cross-reactivity, where one virus triggers an immune response that looks identical to the other.

In short, you are looking at an IgM test that doesn't distinguish whether those antibodies were triggered by HSV-1 or HSV-2.

Furthermore, interpreting HSV serology is generally difficult; it's really only reliable during primary infections (that initial contact when you first catch the virus).

Analysis is typically performed using paired titers. As noted, a single blood draw isn't enough; you need two samples taken at specific intervals to compare antibody levels and gain any meaningful insight.

Best regards. 🙂

Hannah Rodriguez16 said:Could be fatty liver.--

Would an ultrasound actually pick that up? I just had one done and everything looked totally normal.

briskstag13 said:Is it even possible for those two specific markers to trigger such a massive spike in liver enzymes?

To whom it may concern,

I’m still a bit unclear on one part of your question. You mentioned suggesting that your family doctor re-run those liver enzyme tests. I'm curious why they were ordered in the first place—what were the specific levels, and are you actually experiencing any symptoms or taking any medications currently?

There is certainly a significant spike in those lipid levels. It's hard to ignore.

The doctor will likely opt for further investigation via a gastroenterologist—probably starting with an abdominal ultrasound—before potentially moving on to serology.

Ronald Gonzalez33 said:I need some help interpreting my urinalysis results. I’ll list everything written in the report below:

Appearance: blurred.
Color: yellowA
pH: low.
Specific gravity: (I can’t quite make this out) — maybe M. Mihaljevica?
Proteins: I can't make out this part again—the handwriting is just abysmal. It looks like something starting with "lo..."
Blood sugar, ketones, and bilirubin all came back negative. Urobilinogen levels are within the normal range.
Sediment results: E 1-2, L 3-5. Mucus present. Epithelial cells around 123μm (or something close to that). Some bacteria noted. No casts, salts, or fungi.

Look, I see plenty of posts claiming people "can't read their results," but from what I can tell, the sediment looks relatively calm here. If there’s a high count of epithelial cells, it’s possible the urine sample wasn't collected properly.

If you’re dealing with symptoms of a UTI, don't guess. Get a urine culture with an antibiogram first. Once you have those results, you can actually figure out the next steps.

Greetings. 🙂

Sophia Lopez12 said:Checking AST and ALT levels twice a month.

Follow-up results: AST is at 58 (ref range 14-39), while ALT is 36 (ref range 11-37).
Second checkup: AST 96, ALT 94.

To whom it may concern,

Izoniazid can lead to temporary spikes in liver enzyme levels.

It’s vital to track how these values trend over time. Consistency is key.

I can't give you a definitive answer, but there are some general guidelines for adult patients. Usually, the recommendation is to stop the medication if transaminases spike more than five times the normal level without symptoms, or if they hit more than three times the upper limit accompanied by signs of liver damage.

I assume your child isn't actually feeling any symptoms, yet the lab results show an increase of about 2.5 times above the upper limit of normal.

It’s a marginal increase.

I’m no pediatrician, so I won't pretend to be an expert here, but that spike doesn't look particularly dramatic to me.

Look, if you have any doubts—and let's face it, you will—just talk to your pediatrician at your local clinic. They’ll either give you a straight answer or point you toward a specialist so you can actually get some sleep.

Don't try to DIY this. Stopping a treatment course prematurely without a solid medical reason often does more harm than good.

Best regards. 🙂

Angela Wright said:Is an iron level of 109 low enough to switch a 4-month-old (born preterm at 35 weeks) from prophylaxis to higher doses of iron?

Ivanna,

Iron at 109? What units are we talking about here?

Or are you referring to hemoglobin?

And what about the TIBC or UIBC?

Were any other parameters tested?

I'll tell you right now: there is no universal consensus on exactly which values trigger a change in therapy or dosage.

briskranger132 said:Question for the doctors here:

Could Hashimoto's (specifically very high Anti TPO and Anti TGO levels) contribute to an elevated ANA? (Note: there are no symptoms of any other autoimmune issues)

Also, what constitutes a "high" ANA (ANF) titer?

Perfectly healthy people can have slightly elevated ANA titers (testing positive). Generally, the advice is to skip the ANA test unless there’s actual suspicion of a systemic autoimmune disease. Otherwise, you just end up with a mess of confusion and unnecessary panic that's a headache to untangle.

Maria Fisher46 said:And what counts as a positive ANA titer?

Actually, perfectly healthy people can have (slightly) elevated ANA levels—meaning they come back positive—and I guess the general advice is usually not to run an ANA test unless there’s a legitimate suspicion of a systemic autoimmune disorder. It just seems like it creates all this unnecessary confusion and panic that isn't easy to untangle later on.

It's not measured in titers, but rather in units.
My ANA came back at 99 U/ml, while the reference range is 0-55.

I honestly have no idea if that’s considered a huge jump 🤷especially since when I had my Anti-TPO (for my thyroid) checked, those levels were over 1000, while the normal range goes up to 70...

Maria Fisher46 said:Ma'am,

I'm still a little fuzzy on one part—you mentioned hinting to your family doctor about redoing those liver enzyme tests. Why were they run in the first place? What were the actual numbers, and are you feeling any symptoms or taking any meds?

Yeah, looking at those lipid levels—that jump is pretty significant, I'll give you that.

Your doctor will probably want to send you to a gastroenterologist for more digging—maybe an abdominal ultrasound, followed by some serology tests if needed.

They were originally ordered during my hormone panel workup—just checking everything since there were issues there. My ALT and AST were slightly elevated back then, so my OBGYN suggested a follow-up. The worst part? I don't take any meds, I don't drink alcohol, nothing that should be messing with my levels. An ultrasound came back totally clear, too. As for symptoms... just headaches, pain under my right ribs, and lately—over the last two weeks—total exhaustion. Could those be related? And is it actually possible for this to escalate this fast—going from slightly high eight months ago to triple the normal limit now?

Maria Fisher46 said:P

Angela,

Iron at 109? What units are we talking about here?

Or are you referring to hemoglobin?

And what about the JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs levels?

Were any other parameters tested?

Let me be straight with you: there is absolutely no universal consensus in medicine regarding the exact threshold where you start therapy or what the dosage should be.

I honestly have no clue; she just called me up and said the iron was low and that we needed to move from prevention to active treatment. Later, when I dropped by her office with the little one for a different matter and asked when we should come back for more blood work, I caught a glimpse over her shoulder at the monitor. It looked like the range was 100 to 135—I think she mentioned hemoglobin, and hers is sitting at 109.🤷 She claimed everything else was within the normal range. She ran a CBC. I've been digging through some medical sites, and it seems like everyone has a different opinion on when to introduce iron or even whether a CBC is necessary before the 9-month mark.
Now, she was born slightly premature—borderline, really—but there haven't been any issues with the baby whatsoever; in fact, the kid is thriving and already weighs 14 pounds.
So, once again, I’m landing on the same conclusion: it’s probably best to trust my gut and bump up the preventive dose slightly. This current 3.5ml daily dose feels like it might be a bit much for her little stomach and gut to handle.

Maria Fisher46 said:Ma'am,

isoniazid can cause temporary spikes in liver enzyme levels.

Monitoring those values consistently is essential.

I cannot give you a definitive medical certainty, but general guidelines (for adult patients) suggest discontinuing the medication if transaminases rise more than 5 times the normal limit without symptoms, or more than 3 times the upper limit if liver damage symptoms are present.

I assume your child isn't experiencing any distress, and the results show an increase of about 2.5 times the upper limit of normal.

That is a mild elevation.

Since I am not a pediatrician, I am not competent to make a declaration to you, but it seems to me that this increase is not dramatic yet.

However, if you have any doubts—which you clearly do—consult your primary care pediatrician. They will either provide the answer or refer you to someone who can let you sleep soundly at night.

Do not take matters into your own hands. Stopping therapy prematurely without a solid reason can cause more harm than good.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks for the response.

I want to know, in your opinion, what are the consequences of elevated AST and ALT levels, and what happens if I stop the treatment???

And is it actually necessary to take the medicine if the PPD test and cultures aren't positive for tuberculosis???
We all got tested and everyone is fine, so it isn't clear to me why my child has to take this if only the QuantiFERON test was positive??? None of us took it, so how do we even know we weren't all exposed together???
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Could someone please help me interpret these EEG results? My brother has epilepsy, and after seven years of being seizure-free, he experienced another episode. According to the report, the primary cerebral activity shows an unstable alpha rhythm, with high-voltage slow waves occasionally appearing in the bilateral posterior regions. The blocking reaction is present. There were no significant changes noted during or after the HV. Overall, the EEG findings indicate dysrhythmic changes. Is this a concerning result? His doctors have increased his dosage of Tegretol. If anyone has experience with these terms, could you please explain what this means?

Maria Fisher46 said:And what counts as a high ANA titer?

Even perfectly healthy people can end up with an elevated—or even "positive"—ANA titer... and honestly, the general consensus among doctors is that you shouldn't even bother testing for ANA unless there’s actual clinical suspicion of a systemic autoimmune disorder. Otherwise, you just invite a whole mess of confusion and unnecessary panic that’s incredibly difficult to untangle later on...

ANF, ANA, or whatever else—why is everyone using these abbreviations? What’s the actual term here?

Hi everyone.
To keep it brief, I'm not looking for anyone to interpret my lab results—I just need a little bit of guidance...

I was recently diagnosed with cutaneous lupus, so now I’m running some tests to make sure things haven't progressed into systemic lupus.

Besides the standard CBC and urinalysis, I'm also getting those more specific markers checked out.

Most of the results aren't back yet, but I was wondering how low the C3 and C4 levels actually need to drop before doctors start suspecting SLE?
Here are my current numbers:

C3 - 0.65 (ref - 0.83-1.77)
C4 - 0.15 (ref - 0.29-0.68)

I won't list the rest of my labs since I'm really just curious about what threshold triggers a suspicion of SLE...

Thanks,