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

Thanks a ton! You really helped me out here... I’ve wrapped up this first stage of processing, and now all that's left is the Infectious Disease clinic—basically getting through this whole mountain of testing... Oh, and unfortunately, the autoimmune stuff has already kicked in for me 😢 manifesting as rheumatoid arthritis... Thanks again for all the intel 🙂

Best regards,

Hey everyone, hope you're all having a good one!

I’ve got a quick question about my son’s blood work results from today. If anyone out there can help me make sense of some of these numbers, I’d really appreciate it...

I'm feeling a bit uneasy because a few of his levels came back flagged. He’s a 15-year-old athlete, and these are the specific values that are outside the normal range:
RBC 4.28, MCV 75.4, HCT 32.3, RDW 13.4, HGB 12.0 .. So, please, let me know if I actually need to be worried here. I'm pretty sure his hemoglobin is low, but the rest of it is just a total blur to me.
Thanks so much in advance for any insight you can share. 🤷

Melissa Perez68 said:DEAR ALL, GOOD DAY!

I have a question regarding my son's blood work results from today. If anyone could help me make sense of some of these discrepancies, I would be incredibly grateful...

I am quite worried about several abnormal values in his blood count. My son is an athlete, 15 years old, and the values falling outside the normal range are as follows:
RBC 4.28, MCV 75.4, HCT 32.3, RDW 13.4, HGB 12.0. I would kindly ask you to explain if I should be concerned (though I suspect his hemoglobin is low), but I don't really understand the rest.
Thank you in advance for your responses. 🤷

He’s iron deficient. Period. You need to get his Iron, UIBC, and potentially ferritin levels checked immediately. Most likely, his doctor will put him on an iron supplement.

Hello 😁 (this is a great corner of the internet)

age: 27
reason for blood work: I've been on birth control for two years now. I wanted to check how it's affecting my liver, especially if I consider switching brands—if everything looks fine, I'll stay put; if not, I might stop altogether.

medical history: regarding the blood count... for as long as I can remember, anemia has been an issue due to consistently low iron levels (I haven't checked those lately; I think my doctor at Mayo Clinic used to prescribe supplements for that)

results
CBC
result reference range
WBC...................4.7....................... ...........3.4 - 9.7
RBC...................3.41..................... ...........3.88 - 5.08
Hemoglobin..........120........................... .......119 - 157
Hematocrit...........0.335........................ .....0.358 - 0.470
MCV.....................98.4...................... ..............83 - 97.2
MCH.....................35.3...................... ...........27.4 - 33.9
MCHC...................345........................ ...........320 - 345
Platelets............140......................... ..........158 - 424

Clinical Biochemistry
Glucose...................5....................... ...............4.2 - 6
Total Bilirubin.......11................................... .....3 - 20
AST aspartate
aminotransferase......16.......................... .............8 - 30
ALT, alanine
aminotransferase.......8.......................... .............10 - 36
GGT, gamma-
glutamyltransferase.....7......................... ...............9 - 35

So, how bad is this overall, and what is the most concerning part?

Earlier this year, I dealt with
a sore throat and took Amoxicillin.
Then there was a Ureaplasma diagnosis shortly after... I was on Humaquin (Doxycycline). I just got the follow-up results today... cleared.
After that, I supposedly had a bladder infection (is it difficult to provide a clean urine sample?) and took Augmentin... hopefully that's passed.
It also feels like I'm developing allergies... whenever I step outside, my nose runs and my eyelids swell slightly.🤷
That's everything I can recall that might be relevant.

I looked for my iron levels to see if they'd stabilize, but it doesn't look promising. Will it always stay below 5 if the lower limit is 6? :S

vividsailor7 said:It looks like an iron deficiency. You really need to get those Fe, UIBC, and serum ferritin levels checked out. Most likely, his doctor will just put him on some iron supplements.

Thanks so much for the input, Dr. George! I had a feeling that was the case, but hey, better safe than sorry, right? It’s always good to double-check...🙄
We're definitely heading back to his primary care physician to get a treatment plan sorted out.
Best regards!

To whom it may concern,

A female patient's ferritin level is 267. According to the lab report, the reference range is 20 to 300, yet I consistently find information suggesting that for women, the limit should be closer to 150. Which standard is actually correct, and is this specific value a cause for concern?

Thank you in advance,

Nicole

I’m asking again, hoping someone might have some insight here.
Since I couldn't get any answers regarding the lung pathology report on the PDF...
Adenocarcinoma of the right lower lobe. Stage IV (T2B N2 M1A), ICD code C34.3.
Pleural carcinomatosis, right side. ICD code C78.2. Thoracentesis performed on the right.
Submucosal tumor infiltration at the opening of the 6th segment bronchus; it's narrowed to a tiny slit, making it impossible for instruments to pass through.
The branches of the right lower bronchus are also constricted due to external compression.
Cytology from the brush: carcinoma—larger, more poorly defined cells.
Brush cytology: sparse suspicious cells within the bronchial epithelium.
Biopsy of the excised bronchial mucosa: poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma (likely adenocarcinoma).
Pleural effusion cytology: metastatic adenocarcinoma.

It’s clearly stage 4. It isn't operable, so they are starting chemotherapy with Paclitaxel every three weeks.
I’d appreciate an honest answer. The doctors aren't being specific, and the patient is keeping everything to themselves.
Why is the chemo administered so infrequently given the stage? Is there any chance it could become operable after treatment, or is this just palliative care?
Is it possible to have no side effects? They feel surprisingly good the day after treatment.
Thanks to anyone who can offer some clarity.

Hi everyone, I was wondering if someone could help me make sense of these tissue typing results—specifically regarding antigen determination...
This is for an 18-year-old. PLEASE, this is quite urgent!
Thanks so much, and best regards!

p.s. I'll be using this symbol : / to separate the boxes... So, the first number is from the first box, and the number after the / is from the second box.

RESULTS:

HLA phenotype:
HLA-A LOCUS ( VALUES: 9/25 );
HLA-B LOCUS ( VALUES: 18/61);
HLA-DR LOCUS ( VALUES: 11/ND);
HLA-DQ LOCUS ( VALUES: 3/ND);
DR 51;52;53 ( VALUES: 52/ND);

HLA-Cw LOCUS ( NT/NT);
Bw4👋6 (NT/NT);
DNA: DRB1* LOCUS (NT/NT);

NT = not typed
ND = not defined

Again, thank you all so much!

Sincerely, 🙂

rowdyhawk27 said:Hey. 😁 What a great corner of the internet this is.

DOH: 27
Why the blood work? I’ve been on birth control for two years now. I want to check how it's hitting my liver. If everything looks good, I might consider switching brands; if not, I’m stopping entirely.

Medical history: blood work issues... ever since I can remember. Anemia. It’s a blunt term for a frustrating reality. One minute you're fine, and the next, even walking up a flight of stairs feels like a marathon. It isn't just about being tired; it's that heavy, hollow sensation in your limbs. Usually, it comes down to the numbers—low Ferritin levels or iron deficiency messing with your blood's ability to carry oxygen. It’s a physiological drag that slows everything down. Regarding those low iron levels—I haven't run the labs lately, so I can't be certain. Was that still the regimen Gin was putting me on?
..........................
I’ve been checking my levels, trying to get that iron up, but it doesn't look like it's budging. It seems stuck below 5. If the lower limit of the reference range is 6, am I just going to be stuck here indefinitely? :S

To whom it may concern,

Your results primarily show a drop in red blood cell count. Your hemoglobin—which is the more critical metric when assessing anemia—is sitting right at the bottom edge of the normal range.

The labs also show that those red blood cells are looking a bit oversized.

The results are, to say the least, unusual.

Since you're on birth control, you’d typically expect it to regulate your cycle and mitigate heavy bleeding—which is usually the primary culprit behind anemia in women. However, your red blood cell indices don't really support an iron deficiency diagnosis. In cases of iron-deficiency anemia, we look for small red blood cells with low MCV and low hemoglobin levels; your results show the exact opposite.

Everything else came back normal, though there was a slight dip in my platelet count.

If I were in your shoes, I’d at least consider repeating those Mayo Clinic labs after a while. Even if there isn't any other pressing reason, you really need to track the trends for your red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and platelets.

Consult with your doctors.

Greetings. 🙂

stormygardener34 said:I’m asking again. Does anyone have any information on this?
I’ll give this a shot here, since I was already asking for those lung cancer PDFs.
Adenocarcinoma, lower lobe of the right lung (Stage IV - T2b N2 M1a), ICD-10 code C34.3.
Pleural carcinomatosis, right side. ICD code C78.2. Performed a thoracentesis on the right side to drain the fluid.
Submucosal tumor infiltration at the opening of the bronchus leading to the 6th segment, which is currently narrowed.

It’s stage 4. Inoperable. They're starting chemotherapy with Paclitaxel every three weeks.
I need an honest answer. Doctors tend to gloss over the details, and patients who think they have all the answers often miss the mark.

To whom it may concern,

Unfortunately, we’re looking at Stage IV. In cases like this—specifically non-small cell lung cancer where other treatment paths have been exhausted—paclitaxel is the standard protocol. As for the timing, the three-week gap between cycles is exactly what the clinical guidelines dictate. It's being handled according to plan.

You’re always entitled to further clarification and a second opinion.

I fear we’re looking at nothing more than palliative care here. In short, there’s no real path to a cure.

As they say, you have to keep hope alive.

Wishing both the patient and yourself all the best. Hang in there. You don't give up. Every single day is worth fighting for. 🙂

Rachel Gomez81 said:Hello,

A woman's Ferritin level is at 267. The lab report lists the reference range as 20 to 300, but I keep finding sources stating that for women, it should be under 150. Which is correct? Should this value be a cause for concern?

Thanks in advance,

Nicole Kidman

Ma'am,

Regarding your mother's health, I assume those values are (somewhat) elevated (is the unit µg/L?), but perhaps not enough to warrant alarm. In my view, it shouldn't be a major concern, though it would be wise to re-check the Ferritin levels down the road. Were iron and TIBC tested as well?

That said, given how complex your mother's situation is—and considering she’s currently undergoing gastrointestinal workups with Harvey, who is a gastroenterologist and thus the expert here—I'll leave the final word and clinical opinion to him and her medical team.

My best to you and your mother. 🙂

crimsontrucker20 said:Hello, could someone please explain these tissue typing results—specifically the antigen determination...
This is for an 18-year-old. PLEASE, THIS IS QUITE URGENT!
Thank you very much and best regards!......

Ma'am,

What was the reason for the typing?

Maria Fisher46 said:Ma'am,

Regarding your mother's results, I assume the values are somewhat elevated (is the unit µg/L?), though perhaps not significantly enough to warrant immediate concern. It would likely be sufficient to simply re-check her Ferritin levels after some time has passed. Were iron and TIBC also tested?

However, given how complex your mother's situation is, and considering she is currently undergoing gastrointestinal workups—and since Dr. Harvey is a gastroenterologist (which falls primarily within his expertise)—I will defer to him and her medical team for the final word and clinical opinion.

Wishing you and your mother all the best. 🙂

Sir,

Thank you very much once again. 🙂

Yes, the unit is µg/L. Both iron and TIBC were measured; iron was 10.6 umol/l (range 8.0-30.0), and TIBC was 59.4 umol/l (range 49.0-75.0).

I will certainly follow up on the Ferritin level once she finishes her course of Nexium.
That said, this has led me to wonder about thyroid issues. Should Ferritin levels be significantly higher in cases of hyperthyroidism?

Thank you.

Maria Fisher46 said:Ma'am,

Your results primarily show a decrease in red blood cell count, while your hemoglobin—which is the more significant metric when assessing anemia—is sitting right at the bottom edge of the normal range.

It also appears that these red blood cells are slightly larger in volume.

The findings are unusual, to say the least.

Since you are on birth control, one would typically expect it to regulate your cycle and mitigate heavy bleeding, which is a frequent culprit behind anemia in women. Furthermore, the red blood cell indices don't really point toward iron deficiency; in those cases, we usually see smaller cells (low MCV) and lower hemoglobin levels, whereas your results show quite the opposite.

The rest of the panel looks fine, though I should note your platelet count is slightly low.

At the very least, I would suggest repeating the Mayo Clinic panel after some time. Even if for no other reason, it's worth doing just to monitor the trends in your red blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets.

Please consult with your physicians.

Best regards. 🙂

Thank you so much for looking this over and responding.
My periods aren't even close to being heavy; they're actually quite light.
But I deal with this issue regarding my red blood cells and hemoglobin
pretty often, along with iron issues (though iron isn't mentioned in this specific lab report).

I'm not sure how I'd even go about fixing these red blood cell numbers—maybe through diet?
But everything I've found so far that helps sounds pretty revolting (though I suppose I could try).

This was originally for my gynecologist.

However, I'll be seeing my primary care doctor in about a month. I plan to ask for a more detailed CBC then to see how everything looks. 🙂

Rachel Gomez81 said:Thank you again.

A huge thanks once more. 🙂

Yes, the unit is µg/L. Both iron and TIBC were tested; iron came in at 10.6 umol/l (8.0-30.0), and TIBC was 59.4 umol/l (49.0-75.0).

I’ll definitely check the Ferritin levels once she finishes the Nexium.
Though, this has me wondering about the thyroid. Would Ferritin need to be significantly higher if we were looking at hyperthyroidism?

Thanks.

Ma'am,

Serum iron, TIBC, and by extension the transferrin saturation (Fe/TIBC) are all within normal ranges. As for Ferritin, I would venture to say it is only slightly elevated. Sources vary on what constitutes "normal"—some suggest up to 200 µg/L is optimal for women, while others set the upper limit closer to 300 µg/L—so I don't believe this should cause much concern.

To my knowledge, elevated Ferritin isn't typically linked to an overactive thyroid.

You could recheck the Ferritin later, though it might not even be necessary. Ultimately, it's up to the doctors managing her care.

Best regards. 🙂

rowdyhawk27 said:Thanks so much for analyzing this and getting back to me.
My periods aren't heavy at all; they're actually very light.
But I deal with these issues regarding erythrocytes and hemoglobin
quite often, along with iron (though it wasn't in this specific panel).

I'm not sure how I'd even fix the red blood cell count—maybe through diet?
Everything I've found so far that helps sounds pretty revolting, though I suppose I'd try it if I had to.

This was just a report for my gynecologist.

I'll be seeing my primary care physician in about a month to ask for a full CBC and see how everything looks then.🙂

Ma'am,

The results are somewhat unusual, but the hemoglobin levels are still within the normal range.

Since you mentioned your cycles are regular, there shouldn't be a reason for iron deficiency, assuming your diet is adequate.

Given the inconsistencies in the data, it wouldn't be a bad idea to retest everything in a little while. Perhaps then a clearer picture will emerge.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Look,

Why did they bother running the HLA typing in the first place?

I'm sorry I didn't mention this earlier... Basically, given all those tests—you know, the stuff regarding my lymph nodes, blood work, the fever, hypogammaglobulinemia, and that inflammatory rheumatic disease with the X-ray showing sacroiliitis... my primary care doctor ordered the typing. But nobody actually explained what it meant. I just got the results back, and since my GP doesn't really know how to interpret them, 😢 I was hoping you might be able to help me out...

Thanks so much!

Talk soon, 🙂

I could use some help making sense of these urine results. I have a pre-op appointment with my anesthesiologist tomorrow, and everything else looks perfectly fine except for this part.

Urinalysis
(U) TEST STRIP
Appearance cloudy clear

(U) SEDIMENT
Leukocytes 15 count/hpf 0-2 (x400)
Epithelial cells 15 count/hpf 0-1 (x400)

Bacteria significant neg to +++ neg (x400)

crimsontrucker20 said:My apologies for not mentioning this earlier... Basically, during those tests (related to my lymph nodes, blood work, fever, hypogammaglobulinemia, and inflammatory rheumatic disease with X-ray findings of sacroiliitis...), my primary care physician ordered this specific test. However, nobody has actually interpreted it for me. I just received the results, and my GP doesn't quite have the expertise to break them down 😢 so I was hoping you might be able to help...

Thank you so much!

Best regards,🙂

Hello,

Forgive me, I didn't realize we had already exchanged a few posts further up the thread. 🙈

Interpreting HLA typing isn't straightforward. The science moves fast, and staying current requires constant study—something nearly impossible unless it's your full-time profession. Since rheumatology and immunology aren't my specialties, I'm not technically qualified to interpret these results. Please view my attempt at an explanation as mere guidance, and don't hold it against me if I miss the mark.

The core concept here is simple: certain HLA antigens show up more frequently in people with specific diseases than in healthy populations. Essentially, having a particular antigen may correlate with a slightly higher risk for a certain condition. This does not mean that having the antigen guarantees illness. Likewise, someone can develop a disease without possessing that specific antigen.

Looking at your results, I don't see any standout HLA antigens typically linked to increased autoimmune risks. There is HLA DR11, which one subtype is associated with a form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (which affects children under 16, so you fall outside that bracket), but I doubt the connection is significant enough to worry about here. Some studies link it to a slightly higher risk for thyroid autoimmunity (like Hashimoto's), but even that isn't considered a definitive or strong correlation.

Interestingly, you lack HLA-B27, which is frequently found in various rheumatic diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis.

Overall, based on this, I don't see a heightened risk for autoimmune issues. I hope that's correct.

Apologies again if I've overlooked anything or misinterpreted a detail. This is highly specialized territory. You should definitely show these results to an immunologist and ask for their professional take.

Wishing you all the best. 🙂

Amy Cox76 said:I need some help understanding these urinalysis results. I have a pre-op appointment with an anesthesiologist tomorrow, and everything looks fine except for this.

Urinalysis
(U) DIPSTICK
Appearance cloudy clear

(U) SEDIMENT
Leukocytes 15 count/hpf 0-2 (x400)
Epithelial cells 15 count/hpf 0-1 (x400)

Bacteria moderate neg to +++ neg (x400)

Hello,

Are you experiencing any discomfort while urinating? This result could be due to sample contamination, which often happens if the collection isn't handled properly—for instance, failing to use a midstream catch, or if the urine touches skin, fingers, or the rim of the container.

The anesthesiologist might ask for a retest.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

Are you experiencing any discomfort or pain when you go? These results can sometimes be caused by sample contamination. This usually happens if the specimen isn't collected correctly—for instance, if you don't use the midstream technique, which fails to flush out the end of the urethra, or if the urine touches your skin, fingers, or the rim of the container.

The anesthesiologist might ask you to redo the test.

Best regards. 🙂

I don't have any issues with urination.
It’s very possible the sample was contaminated.
I picked up a sterile collection cup today, so I'll bring it to the hospital tomorrow in case they need me to retake the test.
Thanks for the input.
I'll just see what the anesthesiologist says in the morning.

Hello there. I recently had to visit the hospital for an IV due to some diarrhea, and while I was there, they ran a urinalysis. I’ve been struggling with chronic bladder infections that just won't clear up, and I actually finished my last dose of antibiotic nine days ago. Here are my sediment results: leukocytes 3-5
squamous epithelial cells 15-20
transitional epithelial cells 2-3
mucus present
bacteria present
amorphous crystals present

Could someone help me interpret these findings? Since I just finished a course of antibiotics, I assumed the inflammation wouldn't show up in the sediment or the urine culture if tested only a few days later. If this report indicates an active infection, is it still worth doing a urine culture now since bacteria are visible here? Or should I wait at least two weeks after finishing my medication to ensure the culture is accurate?

Nicole Castillo41 said:Hey there. So, I ended up in the hospital getting an IV because of some nasty diarrhea, and while they were at it, they ran a urinalysis. I’ve been dealing with chronic bladder infections forever—it feels like a losing battle. I actually just finished my last dose of an antibiotic nine days ago. Here is what my sediment results look like: leukocytes 3-5
epithelial cells 15-20
transitional epithelial cells 2-3
mucus present
bacteria present
amorphous salts present

Can someone make sense of this for me? Since I was just on antibiotics, I assumed the inflammation wouldn't show up in the sediment, much like how it often doesn't show up in a urine culture if you test just a few days after finishing meds. If these results indicate active inflammation, should I still bother with a urine culture? It mentions bacteria here, but I know those have to be isolated in a culture to count. Or do I need to wait at least two full weeks after the antibiotics clear my system?

Are you experiencing any pain or trouble when you go?