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

Thanks a million for such a detailed answer and for clearing everything up! Speaking of dyslipidemia, one internist wanted me on atorvastatin, but another doctor thinks that red fermented rice supplements (you know, those OTC ones) should be totally enough for my situation. I just went ahead and decided to take the second doctor's advice. Best, and thanks again for explaining it all!

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could help me make sense of these labs; my seven-month-old son's blood work has been looking like this for about 15 days now—we've been doing samples every three days, and they just kind of fluctuate, sometimes slightly better, sometimes slightly worse, mostly regarding the values that fall outside the normal range. The general situation is that he gets exhausted and falls asleep after hardly any activity at all, and while the doctors at the hospital initially suspected mono, the serology came back negative, so now they're saying it’s some kind of virus but they aren't quite sure which one yet. Honestly, our heads are starting to spin from all the uncertainty, so I'd really appreciate any quick answers or thoughts you might have:

- WBC 8.2 ref 6.0-16.0
- RBC 4.89 ref 4.00-5.00
- Hemoglobin 124 ref 109-138
- Hematocrit 0.367 ref 0.320-0.404
- MCV 75 ref 74-89
- MCH 25.2 ref 24.3-29.2
- MCHC 337 ref 300-350
- RDW 11.5 ref 11.9-16.2 L
- Platelets 470 ref 150-450 H
- MPV 6.7 ref 6.9-11.3 L
- Eosinophil granulocytes (rel) 1.1 ref 0.0-6.0
- Basophil granulocytes (rel) 2.3 ref 0.0-2.0 H
- Neutrophil granulocytes (rel) 12.7 ref 23.0-66.0 L
- Lymphocytes (rel) 69.7 ref 18.0-60.0 H
- Monocytes (rel) 14.3 ref 5.0-13.0 H
- Eosinophil granulocytes 0.09 ref 0.00-0.70
- Basophil granulocytes 0.19 ref 0.00-0.20
- Neutrophil granulocytes 1.04 ref 2.50-7.20 L
- Lymphocytes 5.74 ref 2.00-6.60
- Monocytes 1.18 ref 0.22-1.51
- Reticulocytes 10 ref 4-19
- ESR 35 ref 0-20 H

CBC with differential/microscopic exam

- Metamyelocyte (rel) 1 ref 0-0 H
- Eosinophil granulocytes (rel) 2 ref 0-6
- Basophil granulocytes (rel) 1 ref 0-2
- Neutrophil granulocytes unsegmented (rel) 8 ref 0-3 H
- Neutrophil granulocytes segmented (rel) 8 ref 23-66 L
- Lymphocytes (rel) 64 ref 18-60 ref 18.0-60.0 H
- Monocytes (rel) 13 ref 5.0-13.0
- Plasma cell (rel) 1 ref 0-0 H
- Atypical (reactive) lymphocytes 2 ref 0-0 H

This all started with an ear infection about a month ago...
Please help, and thanks in advance.

briskranger132 said:I have Hashimoto's too—my TSH is normal, but my Anti-TPO is over 1000 and my Anti-TG is elevated, too.

My ANA came back positive, just like yours did. Right now, I'm waiting on the results for the rest of the antibodies (like ENA, etc.)...

But my immunologist keeps telling me that regardless of the Hashimoto's, an ANA shouldn't be positive unless there’s some other systemic issue going on🤷...
Basically, according to him, the thyroid and the ANA aren't really linked at all. (I'm really hoping he's wrong about that)

Mostly, after the ANA came back positive, I ended up getting these specific tests done:

anti-dsDNA, SS-B/La, SM/RNP, ANTI-Scl-70, Jo-1, ACA-Cent B—all of them were negative.

The only one that was slightly positive was SS-A/Ro (Ro 60).

My protein levels were normal, and my ESR and CRP were fine, though my C3 was a little bit low.

As for symptoms, nothing stands out much—no joint pain, no rashes, no dry eyes or mouth... just some occasional lower back pain. My neurologist actually sent me for these tests because I had some dizzy spells a few years back. I basically had to beg a private specialist to give me a brain MRI, since everyone else kept blaming it on my neck issues, and they actually found a couple of lesions of unknown origin (none of the neurologists I saw—not even the specialists who look for things like Multiple Sclerosis—could quite figure them out)🤷...
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Could it be Sjögren's? (I notice it seems to pop up alongside Hashimoto's pretty often). And could that potentially be what's causing the brain lesions?
I'm also hoping it isn't SLE, especially since the anti-dsDNA was negative?

I'd love to hear any thoughts or comments you might have.

I'm scheduled for gallbladder surgery soon, and I just got my coagulation panel back:

FIBRINOGEN 5.2 (1.8-3.5)
THROMBIN TIME (TT) 18.8 (14.0 - 21.0)
aPTT (ratio) 1.05 (0.80 - 1.20)

I'm wondering if this elevated fibrinogen level could pose any issues for the surgery. Thanks!

Anyone out there willing to make sense of this urine culture report for me? It says bacteria count is 10^3, saprophytic cocci, mixed flora in the urethra or skin. I'm pregnant, by the way, and I can't see my doctor until Monday.

Jerry Smith4 said:Hello,

Could you please help me interpret these labs? My seven-month-old son’s blood work has looked like this for about 15 days now (we've been testing every three days). Sometimes values are slightly better, sometimes worse—I'm referring to the numbers outside the normal range. Generally, he gets exhausted and falls asleep after very little activity. The doctors at the hospital suspected mono, but the serology came back negative. Now they say it’s some kind of virus, though they aren't sure which one. Our minds are racing with all sorts of possibilities, so I would appreciate any quick insight or opinion:

Hello,

Looking at your child's results, the primary finding is neutropenia—a decrease in the neutrophil count. These cells are essentially the body's first line of defense against infections, particularly bacterial ones.

Based on the report, the neutrophil count is hovering just above 1,000/mm3. While this is lower than the standard for his age, it is still sufficient enough to provide some level of protection.

One of the most common reasons for such a drop in an infant is indeed an infection (though certainly not the only one). Certain viruses have a tendency to temporarily suppress bone marrow function. Among these, EBV is a major culprit behind infectious mononucleosis, but there are many others, such as CMV (which can also present as mono syndrome) or adenoviruses, which can create a very complex clinical picture by mimicking bacterial infections (for instance, causing ear infections)...

I assume the physicians considered these possibilities and ran the serology tests accordingly.

However, if the neutrophil count doesn't return to the normal range, other causes should be considered. You can find more information regarding that on this thread.

Best regards. 🙂

Chloe Ruiz2 said:Thank you so much for the thorough response and clarification! Regarding dyslipidemia, one internist suggested starting atorvastatin, while another felt that red fermented rice supplements (OTC options) would be perfectly sufficient for my case. I decided to follow the second doctor's advice. Best regards, and thank you again for the explanation!

My approach would be to calculate your cardiovascular risk first. If that risk is acceptable, I would start with lifestyle modifications—specifically dietary changes—and then recheck the lipid panel after three months. Unless the risk is high, I wouldn't jump straight to medications like statins.

Best regards. 🙂

briskranger132 said:SS-A/Ro (Ro 60) IS ONLY SLIGHTLY POSITIVE

Protein levels were fine, ESR and CRP were normal, though my C3 was slightly low.

Ma'am,

Lab results alone aren't enough to diagnose Sjögren or SLE. You need to meet several different clinical criteria to confirm those specific conditions.

Without other qualifying symptoms, you might potentially receive a diagnosis of Collagenosis in obs., which essentially means we need to watch you closely. We'll monitor how your labs and clinical presentation evolve over time to see if they eventually meet the full criteria for a systemic autoimmune disease.

It’s worth noting that anti SS-A (Ro) can show up in a very small percentage of healthy individuals—based on studies of healthy blood donors—but an anti SS-A (Ro) positive result can also be a precursor to an autoimmune disorder.

We now understand that anti SS-A (Ro) isn't just one single antibody; it consists of Ro52 and anti-Ro60, both of which are linked to distinct clinical patterns and diseases.

Specifically, anti-Ro60 is more closely associated with Sjögren syndrome, SLE, and subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE).

In plain terms, asymptomatic people who test positive for anti-Ro60 face a higher risk than the general population of eventually developing a full clinical picture, such as Sjögren syndrome.

Regarding the CNS lesions detected on the MRI, there isn't much conclusive information to offer.

rapidtinker2 said:I'm heading in for gallbladder surgery and just got my coagulation panel back:

FIBRINOGEN 5.2 (1.8-3.5)
PROTHROMBIN TIME (PT) 18.8 (14.0 - 21.0)
aPTT (ratio) 1.05 (0.80 - 1.20)

I'm wondering if the elevated fibrinogen could pose a problem for the surgery? Thanks!

You should try posting this under Anesthesia/Resuscitation/ICU.

Hannah Nguyen3 said:Can someone please tell me what this urine culture means: bacteria count 10/3, saprophytic cocci, mixed urethral or skin flora. I'm pregnant and can't get to my doctor until Monday.

Ma'am,

this suggests the sample wasn't collected properly for analysis. Either you didn't catch the "midstream" flow and instead caught the initial stream—which carries the bacteria normally found at the end of the urethra—or the midstream sample touched the skin and picked up normal surface bacteria. Or perhaps it was a combination of both.

Greetings. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

You can't really diagnose Sjögren or SLE based solely on lab results—you need to meet a whole range of different clinical criteria for those specific diseases.

Without meeting those other markers, you might potentially end up with a diagnosis of possible Collagenosis, which basically means things need to be monitored closely. It's about watching for changes in your labs or any new symptoms over time—stuff that might eventually fulfill the criteria for a full systemic autoimmune disease down the road.

The thing is, anti SS-A (Ro) can actually show up in a tiny percentage of healthy people (based on studies of healthy blood donors), but at the same time, being positive for anti SS-A (Ro) could be a precursor to an autoimmune condition later on.

We know now that anti SS-A (Ro) isn't just one single antibody; it's actually made up of Ro52 and anti-Ro60, and they've found that these two are linked to very different clinical presentations and illnesses.

For instance, anti-Ro60 seems more closely tied to Sjögren, SLE, and subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE).

What that implies is that for someone who isn't showing symptoms but tests positive for anti-Ro60, there is a higher risk compared to the general population of developing a full clinical picture, like Sjögren’s, for example.

As for those CNS lesions seen on the MRI, it’s honestly pretty hard to say anything definitive or make sense of them without more context.

Maybe try asking in the Anesthesia/Resuscitation/ICU section.

Thank you for the response. I managed to see an immunologist, and he mentioned that I don't really meet the criteria for systemic autoimmune diseases yet, so maybe just a check-up once a year.

Maria Fisher46 said:Look,

it basically means the urine sample wasn't clean enough for a real analysis. Either you didn't catch the midstream flow and just got the initial burst—which carries all those bacteria naturally sitting at the end of the urethra—or the sample touched skin during collection, picking up standard surface bacteria. Or maybe both happened at once.

Best, 🙂

Thanks so much! And I honestly thought I was following the instructions to a T. 🙂

Hey there!
I’d really appreciate it if someone could help me make sense of this autopsy report.
Thanks!

I'm 32 years old. Generally, I’d say I’m pretty healthy, but back in April 2013, I finally went to my doctor because of this unbearable itching that just won't quit—even now. It hits me almost every single day, usually in the afternoon, mostly hitting my neck and chest, though sometimes it pops up elsewhere too. It’s this stinging, "prickly" kind of itch that is honestly maddening. Sometimes my skin just turns red, sometimes I get hives, and other times there isn't even a visible sign on my body at all. My doctor put me on Xyzal and sent me off to see a dermatologist.
The first round of tests my doctor ordered were:
WBC: 6(4-24) RBC: 4.27(3.86-5.08) Hemoglobin:126 (119-157) Hematocrit: 0.382 (0.356-0.470) MCV:89.5 (83.0-97.2) MCH:29.5 (27.4-33.9) MCHC:330 (320-345) Platelets:249(158-424) WBC:8.0 (3.4-9.7)
Eosinophils: 2(0-7) Neutrophils: 58 (44-72) Lymphocytes: 34 (20-46) Monocytes :6 (2-12)
Total Bilirubin: 5.6(3-20) Glucose 4.9 (4.4-6.4) Creatinine :76 (63-107) Urea: 5.1 (2.8-8.3)
AST: 11(8-30) ALT: 18 (10-36) GGT: 10 (9-35)
Iron:18.8 (8-30) UIBC:47 (26-59) TIBC:65 (49-75)
Urinalysis- everything within normal limits except for leukocytes-5
Total IgE: 213 (up to 87)
T4:118.6 (70-165) TSH:2.0 (0.40-4.2)
Anti-Tg: 34.0 ( C3: 1.06(0.90-1.80) C4: 0.34 (0.10-0.40)
ANA(ENA) IIF: negative ( CH50 : normal :0.4 (0.2-0.5)
C1-inhibitor:0.26 (0.15-0.35)
Based on these results, I met with the dermatologist, and she ruled out allergies and SLE. But in the meantime, I did what everyone does—I Googled. And I "found" myself matching some lymphoma symptoms, like night sweats, a lump in my neck, and neck pain after having a drink. So, I asked her if we could rule out lymphoma based on that. I also mentioned joint pain just to make sure we weren't looking at RA. So, she sent me for more testing:
Serum Immunoelectrophoresis:
Proteins:62 (66-81), IgG: 5.38 (7.00-16.00), IgA 1.39 (0.70-4.00), IgM: 0.60 (0.40-2.30)
Serum Protein Electrophoresis:
% Albumin: 65.7 (55.8-66.1) Albumin g/L: 40.7 (41.0-48.6)
Alpha 1 globulin %: 3.9 (2.9-4.9) Alpha 1 globulin g/L: 2.4 (2.1-3.6)
Alpha 2 globulin %: 9.4 (7.1-11.8) Alpha 2 globulin g/L: 5.8 (5.2-8.7)
Beta globulins %: 11.0 (8.4-13.1) Beta globulins g/L: 6.8 (6.2-9.6)
Gamma globulins %: 10.0 (11.1-18.8) Gamma globulins g/L: 6.2 (8.2-13.8)
A/G Ratio: 1.92 (0.8-2.0)
Follow-up Urinalysis: normal results
RF: CRP: 0.9 ( ESR: 6 (4-24)
On my own initiative, I went ahead and got a thyroid ultrasound. They found a few small lymph nodes in the cervical area—likely reactive—measuring up to 8 mm, and one about 12 mm near the right parotid gland; plus a few tiny cysts in the right lobe of the thyroid, about 3 mm each.
Is there any reason to worry here? Can you tell anything from these numbers??
P.S.: I also went ahead and did my own abdominal and breast ultrasounds. Those came back more or less normal, so I didn't bother listing them.

Can someone please help me make sense of these blood test results? I'm a 30-year-old woman

My PV INR came back at 1.1, but the reference range says it should be between 2.0 and 3.5.
My PV is 0.79, while the reference interval is listed as >0.70.

Thanks.

Melissa Scott48 said:Can someone please explain these blood test results? I'm a 30-year-old woman.

My PV INR is 1.1, but the reference range is 2.0 to 3.5.
My PV is 0.79, while the reference is >0.70.

Thanks.

Ma'am,

The results look normal.

Those INR reference ranges are intended for patients on blood thinners. For anyone not taking those medications, an INR near 1.0 is exactly where you want to be.

Best regards. 🙂

Michelle Newman76 said:I'm 32. Generally healthy, but back in April 2013, I went to my doctor because of this unbearable itching that hasn't let up since. It hits me almost every single day, usually in the afternoons—mostly around my neck and chest, though it wanders elsewhere too. It’s a stinging, maddening kind of itch. Sometimes there's just redness, sometimes hives, and other times my skin looks perfectly normal. I was prescribed Xyzal and referred to a dermatologist.

Ma'am,

You listed a series of tests, and it's clear some pretty advanced diagnostics were performed. However, you didn't mention if allergy testing was conducted, what those results showed, or specifically how your dermatologist ruled out an allergic component with such certainty. Furthermore, your total IgE levels are elevated. 😕

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

You listed a ton of tests, and honestly, some of them look pretty high-tech and advanced. But you didn't mention if you actually did allergy testing—like, what were those results? And how can the dermatologist be so sure it isn't an allergic reaction? Plus, your total IgE levels are elevated. 😕

🤷My doctor mentioned that my total IgE was only slightly high, so she didn't think it pointed directly to an allergy, but she's playing it safe. She sent me for a skin prick test using my own serum, and she wants me to check for anti-TPO antibodies since we missed those during the first blood draw. I also have to do stool samples to rule out parasites or bacteria. On top of all that, she's referring me to an immunologist.🤷

Michelle Newman76 said:🤷The doctor mentioned that my total IgE levels were too low to suggest an allergic reaction. Still, she sent me for a skin prick test using my own serum, ordered anti-TPO antibody tests that weren't part of my initial blood work, and requested stool samples for parasites and bacteria. She also referred me to an immunologist.🤷

Hello,

Based on what you’ve shared, I think the dermatologist is partially correct in assuming allergies might not be the primary driver behind your symptoms—though not necessarily because of the IgE results, but for a different reason entirely.

It appears the dermatologist suspects chronic urticaria, specifically either chronic idiopathic urticaria or chronic autoimmune urticaria. In both scenarios, allergies—particularly food sensitivities—play a minimal role, even though chronic urticaria can occasionally be allergic in nature.

If her suspicion leans toward those two specific diagnoses, then yes, standard allergy testing won't offer much in terms of a treatment plan.

That said, I wouldn't say you can rule out allergies just by looking at total IgE levels. Recent medical literature suggests that even a "normal" IgE reading doesn't strictly exclude an allergy, just as elevated levels don't automatically confirm one.

Thanks so much for getting back to me!

If anyone could help me make sense of these urinalysis results, I’d really appreciate it—I'm 34.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL URINALYSIS
Specific Gravity 1.020
pH 6
Protein 0.25
Glucose normal
Ketones negative
Urobilinogen normal
Bilirubin negative
Erythrocytes/Hb 50
Nitrites negative
Leukocyte Esterase negative

MICROSCOPIC SEDIMENT EXAMINATION
Erythrocytes 8-10
Leukocytes 2-3
Squamous epithelial cells, bacteria, and mucus SOME

briskranger132 said:I also have Hashimoto’s—my TSH is normal, but my Anti-TPO is over 1000 and my Anti-Tg is elevated too.

I had an ANA test done, and just like yours, it came back positive. Now I’m just waiting on the results for the other antibodies—the ENA panel and such.

However, my immunologist claims that regardless of the Hashimoto's, the ANA shouldn't be positive unless there's some other systemic issue at play.🤷...
Essentially, according to him, the thyroid and the ANA are two completely separate tracks—(though I'm praying he's wrong).

Thanks for getting back to me. It seems we've been given entirely different sets of information.
I have an appointment with my doctor in two weeks, so we'll see where things go from there.

What does it actually mean when IgM anticardiolipin antibodies come back borderline positive?
My results were 12 on the first test and 11 on the follow-up—the report notes anything over 10 is considered weakly positive.
I have an appointment scheduled with an immunologist in October, but since all my other tests have been perfectly normal, this was really just a random finding.