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

RBC 5.14 ( o ) 10e12/L 4.34 - 5.72
(vK) hemoglobin 148 ( o ) g/L 138 - 175
(vK) hematocrit 0.439 ( o ) 0.415 - 0.530
(vK) MCV 85.4 (o ) fL 83.0 - 97.0
(vK) MCH 28.8 ( o ) pg 27.4 - 33.9
(vK) MCHC 337 ( o ) g/L 320 - 345
(vK) RBC distribution 13.9 ( o) % 9.0 - 15.0
(vK) platelets 210 (o ) 10e9/L 158 - 424
(vK) MPV 11.5 ( ) > fL 6.8 - 10.4
(vK) WBC 5.7 ( o ) 10e9/L 3.4 - 9.7
(vK) neutrophils 52.9 ( o ) % 44.0 - 72.0
(vK) # 3.00 ( o ) 10e9/L 2.06 - 6.49
(vK) lymphocytes 34.6 ( o ) % 20.0 - 46.0
(vK) # 1.96 ( o ) 10e9/L 1.19 - 3.35
(vK) monocytes 9.7 ( o ) % 2.0-12.0
(vK) # 0.55 ( o ) 10e9/L 0.12 - 0.84
(vK) eosinophils 2.6 ( o ) % 0.0-7.0
(vK) # 0.15 ( 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
Reference intervals according to: "Harmonization of Lab Results in General Medical Biochemistry" HKMB Commission and Ref. Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C., 2004.
BIOCHEMISTRY
parameter RESULT
value graphical display unit reference interval
(S) sodium 139 ( o ) mmol/L 137 - 146
(S) iron 11 (o ) μmol/L 11 - 32

My sodium was low last time, so I wanted to check it again.
Iron is still sitting at 11 since the last test... and my MPV is high... I wonder if there's anything to be made of that? My CRP is almost zero, by the way. So, iron is low, but am I actually anemic? All the other values related to anemia look okay, I guess? Also, could Hashimoto's be responsible for the MPV?

I'm still taking thyroid hormones; I managed to get my TSH down to 0.97, but T4 and T3 are still on the lower end of the range...

My morning cortisol was 530 again. That's the fourth time in two or three months where it's hit the upper limit. On top of that, DHEA-S has been elevated every single time too. Maybe I should get an MRI, or at least an ultrasound of my adrenal glands and abdomen? Since I've been suspecting a hormonal issue this whole time... and honestly, those energy crashes I've been having feel like they're definitely coming from the adrenals rather than the thyroid (or maybe a mix of both), because the thyroid can't just wreck you in 10 minutes. But the adrenals? They can seriously knock you sideways in like 5 to 10 minutes flat.

Austin Reed20 said:.................................

Everything looks perfectly normal.

vividsailor7, could you please provide me with an answer as well?

analogskipper72 said:Could someone please help me make sense of these test results? I'm planning to get pregnant, so I went ahead with a TORCH panel. All my IgM values came back negative. Some of the IgG levels are a bit elevated, and my OB/GYN thinks I should retest for CMV. I don't quite get why—I thought the main thing was having a negative IgM. Why wouldn't we need to retest for the others too? HELP🤷

Results:

CMV IgG 1:21000
HSV IgG 1: 11000
Toxopl. IgG less than 1
Rubella 32

All IgM negative

btw, the reference range for CMV and HSV is 1:230, for rubella it's less than 10, and for toxo it's less than 6.

Hello,

The fact is, as you’ve already been told, a primary infection (a "fresh" one) with the CMV virus usually shows up via IgM antibodies. However, IgM can also show up during a reactivation of the infection or under other specific circumstances. So, you're right to conclude that it's good news that the IgM is negative.

Your doctor likely requested a retest due to the high titer ("amount") of IgG antibodies. They want to perform what's called paired serum testing to see if that IgG titer is actually rising or if the value is remaining stable.

Best regards. 🙂

Alex Foster6 said:Please help me interpret these results... My child is 14.5 months old. We had blood drawn to check for anemia. She hasn't had any viral infections or illnesses lately; the last thing was just a mild cold with a runny nose about 4 or 5 months ago...

Here is the report:
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4205/nalazg.jpg

I'm worried because her erythrocytes are high and her leukocytes are low... what does that mean?

Do you think she should be taking iron?

Hello,

Looking at this report, the total white blood cell count is somewhat low, and specifically, the neutrophil count—a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting bacteria—is also down.

The values are slightly reduced. Generally, it's considered that sufficient protection is provided when the neutrophil count is above 1.0x10e9/L (or above 1000/mm3).

A result like this can be temporary (for instance, following a viral infection), meaning we would expect the values to return to normal after some time. Because of that, the tests will definitely need to be repeated.

However, aside from that, there are other possibilities. It is absolutely vital that the child is examined by a physician so they can consider all clinical data and decide on the appropriate next steps for follow-up.

Regarding the question about iron: has the child been taking iron supplements previously (given that you ran these tests to check for anemia), and how is her diet?

Best regards.🙂

Austin Reed20 said:My iron levels have stayed at 11 since the last check... MPV is high... can the same thing be inferred from that? My CRP is nearly 0 usually. Iron is low, but am I actually anemic? All other values related to anemia look fine. Could Hashimoto's be responsible for the MPV?

I'm still on thyroid hormones; I managed to bring my TSH down to 0.97, but T4 and T3 are still sitting at the lower end of the range...

My morning cortisol was 530 again. That’s four times in two or three months where it hits the upper limit. Along with that, DHEA-S is elevated every single time. Should I get an MRI or at least an ultrasound of the adrenals and abdomen? Given how much I suspect a hormonal issue—and considering the energy crashes I've had are almost certainly adrenal-driven rather than thyroid-related (or a mix), because the thyroid doesn't just crash you in 10 minutes, whereas the adrenals can absolutely floor you in 5 to 10 minutes)

Hello,

Regarding your questions about anemia: you aren't anemic, definitely. You would need a low hemoglobin level for that, which you don't have.

The second point is assessing iron stores. Measuring iron concentration isn't the best way to gauge this, as iron levels fluctuate throughout the day based on various factors. Checking ferritin is a much better indicator of whether your body's iron reserves are actually full.

MPV refers to mean platelet volume. This value matters when dealing with platelet disorders, but since your actual platelet count is normal, a minor deviation in their size doesn't carry much weight.

As for those morning cortisol numbers: levels that hover near the upper limit or exceed it in the morning, while remaining normal in the afternoon, can often point toward stress exposure.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks so much for the reply. I've decided I'm going to run an HSV test along with the CMV since those levels look pretty high to me too. Really hoping the numbers don't keep climbing. Thanks 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear lady,

Based on these results, the total white blood cell count is slightly low, specifically showing a decrease in neutrophils—a type of white blood cell that plays a critical role in fighting bacterial infections.

The values are somewhat diminished. Generally, sufficient protection is considered to be maintained when the neutrophil count remains above 1.0x10e9/L (or above 1000/mm3).

A result like this can be transient (for instance, following a viral infection), meaning one would expect the levels to return to normal after some time; consequently, the tests should certainly be repeated.

However, beyond that, there are other possibilities to consider. It is essential that the child is examined by a physician so that all clinical data can be weighed to determine the appropriate next steps for further diagnostic workup.

Regarding your questions about iron: has the child been taking any iron supplements thus far (given that you mentioned running these tests to check for anemia), and what is her current diet like?

Thanks so much for the response! Could you please clarify what else this might mean... you've actually made me a little nervous.

As I mentioned, the child hasn't really been sick in her nearly 15 months of life, aside from two instances of a viral infection and a minor cold. She hasn't been sick at all in the last five or six months.

She hasn't taken any iron until now, though she did have low hemoglobin a while back (at which point the differential was quite skewed following that aforementioned virus). The covering pediatrician didn't think iron supplementation was necessary then, so we didn't administer any. However, when I took the results to our primary pediatrician, she suggested that she would prescribe iron given this blood profile, so we went to have the tests redone (including ferritin this time) before making a final decision. The child is still quite heavily breastfed, and her solid food intake varies—sometimes more, sometimes less. I’d say her diet is roughly 50% breast milk and 50% solids.

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

Regarding those questions about anemia... I mean, you definitely aren't anemic. If you were, your hemoglobin levels would be low, but yours aren't. So, yeah, I guess that's pretty straightforward.

That's exactly what I was thinking too, but honestly, I went ahead and grabbed some iron supplements anyway. I guess I'll just kind of power through with them until I run out, just to be safe... you know? Just in case.

Another thing is that trying to gauge your iron stores isn't really about just looking at your serum iron levels. I mean, measuring iron concentration itself isn't exactly the best way to go about it because, honestly, those values can swing all over the place throughout the day depending on so many different factors. It’s kind of all over the map, I guess. So, if you actually want to see how much iron you've got tucked away in your reserves, checking your ferritin levels is probably a much better indicator of where you truly stand.

So, about that MPV thing... basically, MPV is just shorthand for mean platelet volume, which is essentially how big your platelets are. It’s a pretty important number when someone is dealing with actual platelet disorders, but since your total platelet count is totally normal, I guess a tiny little deviation in their size doesn't really carry much weight here. It probably doesn't mean anything special at all, honestly.

So, regarding those morning cortisol levels... if you're seeing numbers that are hovering right near the upper limit—or maybe even pushing slightly past it—during the early hours, but then things settle back down into a totally normal range by the afternoon, it might be a sign. I guess it could point toward being under a lot of stress. Maybe? It just seems like that pattern could indicate your body is reacting to something.

Hey there! Hope you're doing well. 🙂

When I’m having one of those bad days—and honestly, they happen pretty often—it’s mostly just my head. It's like, mentally, I only feel somewhat positive or even remotely normal between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM. I guess that lines up perfectly with when cortisol levels are supposed to hit their lowest point in the day? Anyway, I managed to get my thyroid numbers back into a normal range, at least according to the lab work, so now I’m starting to doubt if high cortisol is actually the culprit after all... maybe I was looking at the wrong thing.

Thanks!

I've been running labs for about two years now, and my AST is consistently sitting around 80-85, while my ALT stays between 35-45. I’ve gone through the ringer with testing—tumor markers, hepatitis panels, pretty much every test you can think of, even stool samples—and everything comes back totally fine, yet those AST and ALT levels just won't budge. Now I'm stuck wondering if this is actually dangerous. A doctor I saw three months ago suggested I get a CT scan and a biopsy, but I turned them down at the time. Looking at these results now, I'm starting to second-guess myself... did I make the right call by saying no?

Alex Foster6 said:Thanks so much for the reply! Could you clarify what else this might mean? You've got me a little worried.

As I mentioned, my child hasn't really been sick in her nearly 15 months—just two viral infections where she had a slight sniffle. For the last five or six months, she hasn't been sick at all.

She hasn't been on iron supplements yet, though her hemoglobin was low a while back (her CBC was quite skewed then, right after that virus). The covering pediatrician didn't think iron was necessary, so we held off. However, when I showed the results to our regular pediatrician, she suggested iron might be needed given the bloodwork. We decided to run one more test to be sure, including ferritin this time. She's still breastfeeding quite a bit and eats a little of everything—some days more, some days less. I'd say her diet is about 50% breast milk and 50% solid food.

Hello,

At this stage, I wouldn't jump to other conclusions. It looks like a transient state, which is easily verified by checking the bloodwork again in, say, two weeks.

Other possibilities only come into play if the neutrophil count continues to drop or if other symptoms emerge.

Viral infections can "shake up" blood counts like this. They can also be asymptomatic or subclinical, meaning those around the child might not even realize they are sick because the symptoms are so mild or non-existent.

Regarding iron: yes, the situation is borderline. Both the hemoglobin and the iron stores should probably be higher. I would personally consider an iron supplement, but the final call rests with the pediatrician managing the child's care.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear lady,

For now, I wouldn't jump to any drastic conclusions; this looks like a transient state, which can be easily verified by checking a complete blood count in, say, two weeks.

Other possibilities would only come into play if there is a further decline in neutrophil counts or the onset of other symptoms.

Viral infections have a way of "shaking up" a blood count, and they can often be asymptomatic or subclinical—meaning those around you might not even realize the child is sick because the symptoms are either negligible or entirely absent.

Regarding iron supplementation, yes, the situation is borderline both with the hemoglobin levels and the iron stores, which I believe should ideally be slightly higher. Therefore, I might consider the necessity of an iron supplement, though the final decision rests with the pediatrician overseeing the child's care.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks for the response.

In the meantime, I took the baby to see the pediatrician, and she noted that this is actually a physiological finding for this age group, given that children typically have more lymphocytes than neutrophils until about age seven. She mentioned that for leukopenia to be diagnosed, the white blood cell count would need to be below 4.

She also believes that iron supplements aren't necessary right now; instead, we should focus on increasing red meat and iron-rich fruits in the diet.

The doctor suggested we retest in three months—not sooner—just to ensure the MCV and MCHC levels have improved.

As for the slightly elevated erythrocyte count, she suspects it was due to hemoconcentration since the blood was drawn a little after noon.

Alex Foster6 said:Thanks for the reply.

In the meantime, I took the baby to the pediatrician. She mentioned that these results are actually physiologically normal for this age group, since kids up until about age 7 tend to have more lymphocytes than neutrophil granulocytes. For actual leukopenia, she said white blood cell counts would need to drop below 4.

She also doesn't think we should start iron supplements; instead, she suggested we just boost red meat and iron-rich fruits in the diet.

The doctor wants us to retest in three months—nothing sooner—just to see if the MCV and MCHC levels have improved.

As for those slightly elevated erythrocytes, she thinks it's likely due to hemoconcentration, given the blood was drawn a bit after noon.

Thanks for the feedback. 🙂

Regarding the white blood cell and neutrophil counts and your pediatrician's observations, here is my take.

Strictly speaking, based on various medical sources, for a child between one and two years old, the reference range for white blood cells generally starts at 6.0x10e9/L—which aligns with the reference values listed on the report you shared.

So, strictly by the book, there is a slight deviation from that reference value. However, according to standard pediatric practice guidelines, values above 5.0x10e9/L are considered normal for a child (your child's was 5.4x10e9/L). Therefore, your pediatrician’s assessment holds water.

As for the neutrophils, the literature indicates that for children over a year old, reference values begin at 1.5x10e9/L, but neutropenia isn't typically a concern unless the count drops below 1.0x10e9/L (your child's was 1.38x10e9/L).

Consequently, even though the numbers deviate slightly from the standard reference, they still fall within a range that can be considered normal, just as your pediatrician stated.

Regarding the iron question: the fact remains that ferritin is at the lower limit, and MCV is often one of the earliest indicators of an iron deficiency. Given these borderline values, monitoring is definitely necessary. I hope dietary adjustments prove successful without needing iron supplements.

Best regards. 🙂

Arthur Ramirez20 said:I’ve been running labs for two years now, and my AST is consistently hovering around 80-85 while my ALT sits at 35-45. I’ve gone through the ringer—tumor markers, hepatitis panels, every possible test you can think of, even stool samples—and everything comes back clean except for those elevated AST and ALT levels. Now I’m stuck wondering if this is actually dangerous. To make matters worse, the doctor I saw three months ago recommended a CT scan and a biopsy, but I turned them down. Looking at these results now, I’m starting to second-guess myself. Did I make a massive mistake by refusing?

Seriously, would you all just go back and read the very first post?

Child - 2.5 years old
About three weeks ago, they developed some redness on their face—which has mostly cleared up now. Last week, we dealt with vomiting and diarrhea that seemed to settle down by Wednesday, but today the vomiting and diarrhea have returned.
I went ahead and had some private blood work done on my own. Here are the results:





If anyone could help me make sense of these findings, I would truly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

brightotter492 said:Child - 2.5 years old
Three weeks ago, they broke out in a facial rash (which has mostly cleared up). Last week, we dealt with vomiting and diarrhea that finally stopped by Wednesday. Today, the vomiting and diarrhea are back.
I went ahead and paid for some private blood work on my own. Here are the results:





If anyone can help me make sense of these numbers.

Thanks in advance

Just a heads-up: an "H" label next to a parameter means high, and an "L" label means low.

From what I can see, the IgE levels are elevated, which could point toward a few different things.

The lymphocyte count looks high, too.

Hey there!

I'm 28, and I'm dealing with some thyroid issues. My mom had hyperthyroidism, then hypothyroidism, but thank God she's doing fine now.
My sister actually sent me for testing after her gynecologist noticed my neck looked a little weird.
I've been feeling pretty depressed lately—just stuck in this headspace where everything feels hopeless. I'm gaining weight, I'm forgetful, and honestly, I just feel terrible overall.
Two months ago, I started on Synthroid 50, and here are my results so far:

Blood work from two months ago:
TSH-7.57 REF 0.55-4.78, METHOD CLIA
TOTAL T4-110.2 REF. 58.1-140.6 METHOD CLIA
TOTAL T3 1.9 REF. 0.9-2.8

Ultrasound results from two months ago:
Right lobe size 2x1.7x4.3cm, isthmus thickness 0.7cm, left lobe 1.4x1.5x3.2cm. The echostructure is entirely inhomogeneous, especially in the left lobe, which is mostly taken up by a poorly defined hypoechoic zone measuring 1.4x1x1.1cm.

I had a thyroid biopsy yesterday, and my results for FT3, FT4, TSH, TGA, and TPO are as follows (results from yesterday):
FT4-value 14.8 units (pmol/L) ref 11.5-22.7
FT3-value 6.27 units (pmol/L) ref 2.76-6.45
TSH-value 2.67 units (mU/L) ref 0.44-4.00
TPO-value >600 units (IU/mL) REF TGA-value 593 units (IU/mL) ref
They suspect Hashimoto's. They poked me twice for the biopsy. I don't have any other chronic illnesses—at least nothing diagnosed or anything I've been referred for (not diabetic, etc.).
Please, can anyone help me make sense of these? I'm freaking out trying to interpret the TPO and TGA levels. I can't wait a week for the final report; I'm super impatient and I just can't find an explanation for this anywhere.

Thanks so much!!!

I just got some test results back—this is actually my second time getting them done, since everything came back totally fine the first time, though I can't seem to find that old thread anywhere... I've been dealing with these headaches for about a year now.
There’s some suspicion regarding epilepsy, though I’m honestly not even sure myself—I know epilepsy usually comes with certain symptoms that I haven't really experienced, but then again, I'm not a doctor...

I am writing regarding a child, 10.5 months old. There has been a cough lasting two weeks now—sometimes dry, sometimes productive. We have been doing saline inhalations 2-3 times a day using 2-4 ml. We tried Prospan and Bisolex (not at the same time), but neither provided any relief. On Monday, the pediatrician stated that the lungs are clear and the throat and ears look fine. However, because of the long holiday weekend and the growing fear since the cough won't subside despite using Fenistil drops (prescribed by the doctor) and Prospan, we had to check again. The cough persists and the baby has a mild fever of 99.7°F. Otherwise, the child eats normally and sleeps normally. Aside from some fussiness, there are no other symptoms accompanying the cough.

Blood work results:

Leukocytes 5.6 (6.0-16.0)
Neutrophils 10.7 (23-66)
Lymphocytes 73.9 (18-60)
Monocytes 13.8 (5-13)
Neutrophils 0.60 (2.5-7.20)

I would be so grateful if someone could interpret these results.

Thanks in advance!

Grace Alvarez83 said:Hi there!

I'm 28, and I'm dealing with some thyroid issues. My mom had hyperthyroidism, then hypothyroidism, but thank God she's doing fine now.
My sister was actually the one who sent me for testing; she noticed my neck looked a little off when we were at the gynecologist.
I've been feeling incredibly depressed—everything just feels hopeless lately. I'm gaining weight, I can't remember anything, and honestly, I just feel terrible overall.
Two months ago, I started on Synthroid 50, and here are my current results:

Bloodwork from two months ago:
TSH-7.57 REFERENCE VALUE 0.55-4.78, METHOD CLIA
TOTAL T4-110.2 REF. VAL. 58.1-140.6 METHOD CLIA
TOTAL T3 1.9 REF.VAL.0.9-2.8

Ultrasound results from two months ago:
Right lobe size 2x1.7x4.3cm, isthmus thickness 0.7cm, and left lobe 1.4x1.5x3.2cm. The echostructure is entirely inhomogeneous, especially in the left lobe, which is mostly occupied by a poorly defined hypoechoic zone measuring 1.4x1x1.1cm.

Yesterday, I had a thyroid biopsy, and these are my FT3, FT4, TSH, TGA, and TPO levels (results from yesterday):
FT4 value 14.8 units (pmol/L) range 11.5-22.7
FT3 value 6.27 units (pmol/L) range 2.76-6.45
TSH value 2.67 units (mU/L) range 0.44-4.00
TPO value >600 units (IU/mL) RANGE TGA value 593 units (IU/mL) range
They suspect Hashimoto's. They stuck me twice for the biopsy. I don't have any other chronic illnesses—at least none diagnosed or referred for—so I'm not diabetic or anything like that.
Please, can anyone help me make sense of these results? I need someone to explain the TPO and TGA because I am panicking. I can't wait a whole week for the official report; I'm so anxious and I just can't find an explanation anywhere.

Thanks so much!!!

Biopsy results?
The elevated antibody levels in the thyroid point toward an autoimmune reaction against the thyroid gland.
TSH looks normal under therapy.
A follow-up check in 3 months or sooner is recommended.
TH.-same.

restlessangler said:Had the test done (this is the second time, the first one was totally fine, but I can't find the thread) because of these headaches I've been having for the last year.
They suspect epilepsy (though I'm not even sure myself, since I know epilepsy has symptoms that I don't have, but hey, I'm not a doctor...)

Just read the conclusion/comments on those results, and talk to the neurologist in charge or whoever referred you for the EEG for more details.

I haven't gotten my spinal tap results back yet—I should have them by Tuesday, I guess.

Thanks so much for the reply, Hrvoje.

Best, Petra

vividsailor7 said:You really need to check out the conclusion or comments section on that report—it'll give you more context. Honestly, it’s best to dive into the specifics with whichever neurologist referred you for the EEG...

I definitely know I need to get the full breakdown from my neurologist.

I only posted this because my appointment isn't until next week, so I figured maybe I could make some sense of the technical jargon while I wait... It’s been a year of being shuffled from one specialist to another—I know how the process works by now—but I was still hoping to find a few more details to chew on in the meantime...