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

Hello,

Your results show moderate lymphocytopenia—essentially, a low lymphocyte count. There are countless reasons why this might happen, so without a physical exam and further diagnostic work, I won't speculate on the specific cause.

While it’s good that you had a CBC done, it isn't a definitive way to confirm pregnancy. While certain blood changes can occur during pregnancy, they aren't unique enough to distinguish pregnancy from other physiological shifts.

The beta-hCG test came back negative, but since you took it quite early, you should repeat the test if your period doesn't arrive as expected. If you do experience bleeding, there's no need to retest.

It would be irresponsible to attempt a diagnosis over an online forum. You should contact your primary care physician to schedule an appointment (be sure to mention the coughing, nausea, and vomiting). They will determine which follow-up tests are necessary—such as basic metabolic panels, urinalysis, CRP, etc.—and any further evaluation required.

Moving forward, it is important to monitor your CBC, specifically the lymphocyte levels, to see if they are trending upward or continuing to drop.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks for the advice... I'm heading to my primary care doctor tomorrow afternoon with all my current lab results in hand... and I'll be redoing the beta test just like you guys suggested...

Could I get a little help interpreting my blood work? Everything seems to be within the normal range, except for my sedimentation rate, which came back at 2. The lab says the standard range is 4 to 24, so now I'm sitting here wondering if having a lower number than expected is actually something to worry about... or if it's just nothing... thanks

Hi there,

Generally speaking, a low ESR reading often carries no clinical significance, particularly if you’re feeling fine, aren't experiencing any symptoms, and your other lab results are within the normal range.

That said, certain conditions can cause a decrease in sedimentation rates—things like allergies, anemia, polycythemia (an overproduction of red blood cells), specific medications, or even certain viral infections. I’d assume anemia and polycythemia are likely off the table if your red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels are all normal.

In short, this finding most likely doesn't mean much on its own. However, your doctor will have the final word. You should definitely consult with them, as they have the full picture of your overall health and how this fits in with your other test results.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks a lot for the response... my doctor actually told me today that it isn't anything significant either.🙂

A fifteen-month-old boy presenting with a high fever but no other symptoms; here are the blood work results:

WBC 15.4 (6-16)
Neutrophils 77.3 (30-72)
Lym 20.9 (15-55)
Monocytes 1.8 (5-13)

RBC 4.75 (4-5)
Hb 99 (109-138)
Hct 0.313 (0.320-0.404)

MCV 66 (73.8-89.4)
MCH 20.8 (24.3-29.2)
MCHC 316 (300-350)
RDW 17.2 (11.9-16.2)

Plt 295 (150-450)

Any idea what we might be looking at?

Dear Kate Ortiz66,

The blood work primarily indicates absolute neutrophilia—essentially, an elevated neutrophil count. There are various reasons why this might happen, one being a bacterial infection. However, I wouldn't be making any assumptions without seeing the full clinical picture and other test results.

The report also shows mild anemia accompanied by microcytes (smaller red blood cells). This pattern is often seen in iron-deficiency anemia, which is the most common cause, but that still needs to be confirmed.

It isn't possible to provide a diagnosis based solely on this data, nor can we determine the reason for your child's fever from this alone. To get the full story, this should ideally be supplemented with a CRP test, a urinalysis, and perhaps other diagnostics if necessary.

More importantly, a physical exam is required—checking the ears, throat, listening to the lungs, and so on.

Please make sure to consult with your pediatrician regarding these findings.

Best regards. 🙂

Nicholas Myers, thanks for getting back to me. In the meantime, we swung by the pediatrician, who listened to his lungs and checked his throat; apparently, there might be some inflammation there—though he isn't showing any actual symptoms—and the doctor admitted he wasn't expecting these kinds of findings, so he prescribed Cefixime for the next eight days. Little guy is also taking a 15mg daily preventative dose of iron. He’s still running a fever, hitting 104.5 rectally this morning. He actually had a high fever for two days about two weeks ago too, when his monocytes were at 16%; is it even possible for them to drop this low during an infection?

Dear lady,

Regarding those monocyte levels—it’s true their percentage looks low, but that’s just math. Since the neutrophil count went up, they naturally take up a smaller slice of the pie. If you look at the absolute monocyte count instead, it actually falls within the normal range for a child this age. I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Keep managing the fever regularly. Use Tylenol syrup, making sure the dosage is accurate—don't underdose—and maybe some lukewarm sponge baths. Just keep a close eye on how the little one is doing.

I hope things turn around soon.

Best regards. 🙂

I am seeking some assistance regarding blood and urine test results. 🙂

My mother has recently experienced some weight loss, and given her ongoing digestive issues, we decided to run a series of tests. She has been diagnosed with chronic gastritis along with GERD, and an X-ray indicated that her liver appears slightly brighter than expected. She had gallbladder surgery thirteen years ago to have her gallbladder removed. Occasionally, she feels a sharp pain in her right abdominal area, which I suspect might be related to her liver or pancreas. Her blood work is finally back, and the only values falling outside the normal range are these three enzymes found in her urine:

GGT 40 (9-35)
ALP 61 (64-153)
AMS urine 508 (<400)

Are these deviations significant, or do they point toward anything concerning?

Thank you in advance,

Nicole Lilly

Rachel Gomez81 said:I need some help interpreting these blood and urine results. 🙂

My mom has lost quite a bit of weight recently, and since she’s been struggling with digestive issues, we started running a battery of tests. They diagnosed her with chronic gastritis along with GERD, and on an X-ray, the doctor noted that her liver appears slightly brighter than it should be. She had gallbladder surgery about 13 years ago to have the gallbladder removed. Sometimes she feels a sharp twinge in her right abdominal area—in my opinion, right where the liver or pancreas would be (?). The blood work finally came back, and the only things outside the normal range are these three enzymes in her urine:

GGT 40 (9-35)
ALP 61 (64-153)
AMS urine 508 (<400)

Are these deviations significant? Are they pointing toward anything worrisome?

Thanks in advance,

Carl Barrett11

Has anyone actually bothered to read the thread title "[MUST READ 1ST POST]"?
Look, just write out or post a photo of the full results, including symptoms, diagnoses, and existing conditions. Period.
Basically, the amylase vs. "intestinal amylase," the ALP is fine, and the GGT isn't a major deal.

vividsailor7 said:Did you perhaps happen to see the note in the thread title "[MUST READ 1ST POST]"?
Please provide full lab results, symptoms, diagnoses, or specific conditions.
The amylase levels vs. so-called "intestinal amylase" and the ALP are fine; GGT isn't significant.

My apologies. 🙂

Here it is.

Age: 55
Reason for testing: Weight loss
Other conditions: GERD, Hiatus hernia, Gastritis (partial biliary involvement)
An abdominal ultrasound was performed, which states: The liver is normal size with regular contours and a homogeneous, hyperechoic parenchymal structure without focal lesions. Gallbladder has been surgically removed. Bile ducts are not dilated. The pancreas is difficult to visualize due to overlying bowel loops (following EGD), but appears to be of normal size and parenchymal structure for an orientation check. Kidneys are normal size with appropriate parenchymal thickness and no dilation of the collecting system. Spleen is normal size with homogeneous parenchyma. The aorta, vena cava, and portal vein show appropriate lumen and wall appearance. No free fluid in the abdomen.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): Esophagus: normal lumen, dilates well, bile reflux from the stomach into the upper half of the esophagus, mucosal folds prolapsing into the esophagus during antiperistalsis, irregular Z-line, axial hiatal hernia. Stomach: normal lumen, dilates well, contents are clear with heavy bile staining, mucosal folds are edematous, mucosa is hyperemic, edematous, and friable. Pylorus is normal. Duodenum: bulb and postbulbar segments are normal.

Regarding blood and urine work, everything is within normal limits except for these three enzymes:

GGT 40 (9-35)
ALP 61 (64-153)
AMS urine 508 (
Fecal occult blood test: negative

She had gallbladder surgery 13 years ago; there were complications involving a ruptured gallbladder, which eventually required its removal along with a portion of her liver. Two years ago, my mother experienced severe stomach pains until they were diagnosed with gastritis. That issue has resolved, though she still occasionally feels a sharp pain in the right side of her abdomen; my personal assessment is that it's in the liver/pancreas area. Bloating is also quite frequent. She doesn't experience any overwhelming distress other than that, but we are concerned about the weight loss (about 5 lbs). She first lost weight back in early 2010 when the gastritis was discovered. She regained it after treatment with Nexium, but now, over the last few months, she has lost several more pounds.

There it is. Thank you. 🙂

Rachel Gomez81 said:My apologies. 🙂

Here it is.
..........................
There you go. Much appreciated. 🙂

We are looking at bile reflux here. To get this under control, you really ought to be on an IPP and a prokinetic. You might even need to undergo manometry testing. Everything else I already covered in my previous post.

vividsailor7 said:It involves bile reflux. It would be advisable to introduce an PPI and a prokinetic into the treatment plan. A manometry test might also be necessary. I have answered everything else in my previous post.

The manometry was performed today. The results should be ready tomorrow, so I will take this opportunity to provide an update and perhaps bother you all once more. 🙂

Could this lead to weight loss?

Thank you very much. Truly.

Rachel Gomez81 said:We just finished the manometry today. The results should be ready by tomorrow, so I’m going to take this opportunity to bug you guys a little more. 🙂

Could this lead to weight loss?

Thanks so much. Seriously.

It absolutely can cause a loss of appetite, which leads directly to weight loss. Based on what we know, the results point toward jejuno-gastric and duodeno-gastric reflux. It is incredibly important to monitor these patients histologically—for instance, distinguishing between foveolar hyperplasia with hypercellularity versus actual dysplastic cell forms. Histology also shows edema in the lamina propria, elongated and twisted foveolae, and other changes, but with very sparse inflammatory infiltrate. If a stronger inflammatory reaction is found, there is a very high probability of an H. pylori infection.
Once you have those manometry pressure readings in hand, you'll have a much clearer picture of what's actually happening.

vividsailor7 said:This can lead to a loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss. Otherwise, the result is jejuno-gastric and duodeno-gastric reflux. It is vital to monitor patients histologically—for instance, distinguishing foveolar hyperplasia with hypercellularity from certain dysplastic cell forms. Histology also reveals edema of the lamina propria, elongated and tortuous foveolae, and other changes, but with very sparse inflammatory infiltrate; if a stronger inflammatory reaction is found, an infection with H. pylori is highly likely.
Once you have the manometry results regarding pressure levels, you will have more clarity.

Thank you for the response. I don't understand much of this terminology since this isn't my field, but I will ensure all these points are addressed.

My mother hasn't actually lost her appetite—at least not significantly—so the weight loss remains a mystery to me. My remaining concern is the pancreas; I am unsure how reliable enzyme levels are as an indicator.

I will follow up once we have the manometry results. I am certain I won't be able to interpret those either, and our appointment isn't scheduled for another two weeks.

I was wondering if anyone could take a look at these results and tell me what you think... I've been dealing with bilateral sacroiliitis and for the last three years, I've had these enlarged (reactive) lymph nodes... I'm 18 years old. I honestly have NO CLUE what anything under "morphological analysis" actually means, so I'm asking for some clarification... Thank you so much!

Here are the results—I'll type everything out for you:

REFERRING DIAGNOSIS: Lymphadenitis
SAMPLE TYPE: peripheral blood smear cytological analysis
CYTOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:

DLC % :

UNSEGMENTED GRANULOCYTES 3 LYMPHOCYTES 14
SEGMENTED NEUTROPHILS 80 MONOCYTES 3
EOSINOPHILIC GRANULOCYTES 0
BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTES 0

MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS:

ERYTHROCYTES: MILD ( TO MODERATE) ANISOPOIKILOCYTOSIS
GRANULOCYTES: HYPERGRANULAR (+/++)
LYMPHOCYTES:
PLATELETS: POLYMORPHIC +

😕

Dear Madam,

It is difficult to interpret this smear in a vacuum without the rest of your lab work and a full clinical picture. I can only offer a general overview of what these specific findings suggest.

The results show an increased percentage of segmented neutrophils with an elevated number of granules in their cytoplasm. This pattern is common in various scenarios—it could point toward inflammation or infection, but it also appears in other physiological states, such as during pregnancy.

Additionally, there is evidence of variation in red blood cell size (anisocytosis) and shape (poikilocytosis). Minor variations are perfectly normal. However, more pronounced anisopoikilocytosis is often associated with different underlying issues, most frequently various forms of anemia—where red blood cell counts or hemoglobin levels are low.

Please do not jump to the conclusion that this translates strictly to "infection plus anemia." I cannot make that claim, nor is it medically sound to do so based solely on this single report.

Your attending physicians are the ones best equipped to interpret these results. They have the complete context of your health history and all your other diagnostic tests. You should certainly consult with them regarding these findings.

Best regards. 🙂

Hi there,

Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly... Along with this report, I also got results showing low immunoglobulin A—my doctor mentioned it might be IgA hypogammaglobulinemia . Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what that actually entails... I probably need to head over to the Mayo Clinic for some more testing, specifically because of this suspicion of an underlying infection—even though this whole situation hasn't changed for me in over three years now 😢... Do you have any advice on a full panel of tests I should ask for (like EBV, CMV, toxoplasmosis...?)
?
Thanks a million

Hello,

Regarding your diagnosis—Selective IgA Deficiency—I’ll keep this brief to avoid drifting off-topic. Statistically, it affects about one in every 333 people. Since IgA is the primary antibody protecting your mucosal linings, a deficiency can lead to more frequent respiratory or digestive infections—think recurring sinus issues, ear infections, pneumonia, or stomach upsets. That said, many people live with it and never experience any symptoms at all. Treatment usually just means antibiotics when a bacterial infection actually hits. One thing to keep in mind: if you ever need a blood transfusion, it's vital to let the medical staff know about this condition. Also, there is a slightly higher tendency toward allergies or autoimmune issues in some cases.

As for investigating suspected lymphadenitis (swollen lymph nodes), there is a standard clinical protocol. It typically starts with blood work—CBC, metabolic panels, CRP, ESR, liver enzymes, LDH, etc.—followed by an ultrasound and potentially a fine-needle aspiration. Once the cytology results come back, the next steps depend entirely on your history and those findings. This might lead to an infectious disease workup (which involves blood tests for things like EBV, CMV, or toxoplasmosis) or a consultation with a hematologist.

Since you have already been referred to the Mayo Clinic, which is arguably the gold standard for these types of concerns, I don't think much advice or recommendation from me is necessary. The specialists there are top-tier.

Go ahead with the recommended testing.

Wishing you the best. Kind regards. 🙂