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

mistystag0 said:I already searched online. 🙂

The question is, what does it actually mean when they fall below the reference range? Does it mean there’s zero inflammation, or just that they aren't being produced enough to protect me from it?

Alongside those, my hemoglobin is at 115 (ref. range 119-157), hematocrit is 0.342 (ref. range 0.356-0.47), and IBM is at 8 (ref. range 9-35).

Michael Sanchez7 said:As a layman, looking at the granulocytes, I'd conclude your immune system is weakened, though I have no clue why. As for the other values:

The simplest and fastest indicator of anemia is the number of red blood cells in circulation, specifically the hematocrit. Low hematocrit levels suggest a shortage of circulating erythrocytes or their rapid destruction, which the bone marrow can't keep up with. Another key indicator is hemoglobin levels. Bleeding is one of the most common reasons for a drop in hemoglobin. This could be acute, like a stomach ulcer, or chronic, such as subtle micro-bleeding in the GI tract. In women, heavy or frequent menstrual cycles are often the primary cause of low red cell and hemoglobin counts. Regardless of whether the anemia is acute or chronic, the underlying cause needs to be identified. Regarding IBM, I found that low values aren't clinically significant.

Source:Link

You can't take it that literally. Medicine isn't just a "pile" of data points; it's about how they integrate.

You can't reach a diagnosis this way. But then again, it could potentially be a chronic infection...

Nicole Robinson88 said:Oof, here we go. After dealing with pain under my right ribcage and near my right kidney (pretty sure that’s the kidney 😁), seeing doctors and getting bloodwork done... everything looks fine on my end, except for this weird stuff in my urine:
Help, because I have to 😲 by tomorrow afternoon, and I didn't see any blood in my urine at all. This is the first time I've seen this on a lab report :/ I Googled it and now I'm thinking maybe it's a bacterial infection or kidney inflammation... oh boy

Urinalysis Results:
glucose: neg
ketones: neg
bilirubin: neg
urobilinogen: normal
proteins: neg
Blood: positive
nitrites: neg
leukocytes: neg
SEDIMENT IN U.P.
leukocytes 0-2
erythrocytes: significant amount
epithelial cells: 4-6

It's a urinary tract infection.

redeagle96 said:If the bloodwork comes back normal, is there still a chance that something is wrong with the body?

Yes.

Hi everyone, I was hoping someone could help me out with some lab results. My ALT and AST enzyme levels are actually quite a bit lower than the normal range—everything else looks fine, though my sodium is running a little low. Should I be worried about this, or does anyone have an idea what might cause it? Thanks!

Greetings. If there happens to be a medical professional reading this, I could really use some guidance. For over a week now, I’ve been running a low-grade fever—somewhere between 98.6 and 100.4 degrees—but it never seems to climb above that. On top of that, I have this persistent dry cough and a level of exhaustion that is frankly quite alarming; even basic tasks like brushing my teeth leave me feeling completely wiped out. I did visit my primary care physician, and his diagnosis was just a standard viral infection. He claims my lungs sound clear, so he simply advised rest and staying hydrated. I’ve been taking Viral Trend for three days now, but the moment I skip a dose, the symptoms come rushing right back. I’m only 23 years old, and I can honestly say I have never felt this poorly in my entire life.
Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.

Keith Lewis3 said:Could someone please explain these results and the abbreviations for me?

WBC 6.0 4.0 - 9.0
RBC 4.1 4.80 - 5.30
HGB 129 120-180
HCT 37.6 34.0 48.0
MCV 87.2 80.0 - 100
MCH 29.9 27.0 - 32.0
MCHC 343 320 -360
PLT 227 120-380

LY 52.3H 3.1 11.0 - 49.0
MO 4.0 0.2 0.0 - 9.0
GR 43.7 2.7 42.0 - 85.0
EO <0.7

RDW 11.8 11.5 - 14.5
PCT 0.18 0.08 -1.00
MPV 8.0 fL 6.0 - 10.0
PDW 18.1H 10.0 - 15.0

Thanks in advance....

Would anyone mind answering my question above, please?🙏

Keith Lewis3 said:Could someone please provide an answer to the question mentioned above?🙏

That is what we call a normal complete blood count.😉

restlessfalcon13 said:Hey there, if there happens to be a doctor reading this, I could really use some advice... So, for over a week now, I've been running a fever somewhere between 98.6 and 100.4—it never quite hits anything higher than that—plus I have this nagging dry cough and I just feel completely wiped out no matter what I do. Honestly, even brushing my teeth feels like a workout lately. I went to see my doctor, and he thinks it’s just some viral thing; he said my lungs sound clear, so his big recommendation was just rest and stay hydrated. I've been taking Viral Trend for three days now, but the second I stop, all the symptoms come rushing right back. I'm only 23, and I can't remember the last time I felt this sick in my entire life.
Thanks in advance for any help

Get some blood work done and an X-ray. If those results don't show anything major, you might just be dealing with a milder case of the flu.

Ashley Cooper52 said:This isn't actually for me—I'm asking for my husband. Could someone please help me make sense of these lab results he got regarding toxoplasmosis?

Goldman Sachs EBNA Antibody (EBNA) - positive
EBV VCA/ EA IgG (VCAG) - positive
EBV VCA IgM (VCAM) - negative
TOXO IgM (TXM) - negative
TOXO IgG II (TXG) - negative

There's additional data listed under each of these tests, so if anyone here actually knows what they're looking at, I can provide more specific details.

Look, it’s pretty straightforward: your husband was exposed to the virus that causes mono. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean he actually suffered through full-blown mononucleosis, because honestly, most Americans have been exposed to this virus at some point and just develop antibodies. Based on these specific numbers, mono isn't an active issue for him right now either. As for the toxoplasmosis? He doesn't have it, and he hasn't had it in the past.

Angela Peterson57 said:I really need some help here!
So, I'm looking at some coagulation test results for a guy in his early twenties.

His INR came back at 0.95 (there weren't any reference ranges listed on the report) - everything else in his blood work and clotting tests looks totally normal. What does an INR that low actually mean? Is it considered normal? And if it isn't, what should it ideally look like for a young man?

Thanks so much!!

Honestly, there’s really no reason to even run an INR test for someone who isn't taking a blood thinner like Coumadin. The whole point of measuring INR is that it serves as a therapeutic indicator for people on medication—basically, it's just a way for laypeople to see how "thin" someone's blood is compared to an average, which is exactly what those drugs are designed to do (which is why you see those target ranges of 2.0 to 4.0). If your husband had this drawn, he likely also has a PT (prothrombin time) result on that same report. Typically, you'd want that percentage to fall somewhere between 70% and 110%. If the numbers are lower than that, it suggests a higher risk of bleeding, whereas higher values lean more toward a tendency for blood clots.

Looks like we've got some experts in the house here.

So, my lymph nodes are swollen—my neck was actually looking lumpy last week and everything just hurt.
On top of that, I’ve got this killer sore throat and tonsil spots (my doctor thought it was strep).
Before all this, I had a dry cough for a few weeks, and now it's back... No real fever, maybe hitting 99.5°F on rare occasions, but usually just around 98.6°F.
My bloodwork shows high lymphocytes at 53, plus atypical lymphocytes at 6.
Enzymes are up too: ALT is 139, AST is 90, and CRP is 6.8.
That's basically everything that's off from the normal range.

Mono? Or something else?
I was reading online that those elevated enzymes might be a red flag.

Zachary Kern6 said:Your husband was exposed to the mono virus—which doesn't necessarily mean he actually caught it, since we're all pretty much swimming in it and most people just develop antibodies—but based on the results, he doesn't have an active case right now. He doesn't have toxoplasmosis, nor has he ever dealt with it.

🙏🙏🙏
thanks so much for getting back to me

if you've got a sec, could you clarify—does this mean he can't catch mono again? (as far as I know, he's never had it)

one more thing, if he did end up having mono in the past, could that have left any kind of mark on his liver or maybe even his sperm count?

thanks in advance 🙏

Well, we’re getting into some tougher territory now... I mean, technically speaking, you probably wouldn't catch mono again since you already have antibodies—sort of like how it works after you get a flu shot or something. But then again, I honestly can't tell you how long that immunity actually sticks, or if you could still fall ill despite it. Though, frankly, it isn't something to lose sleep over; I mean, we’re exposed to all sorts of germs every single day. As for the liver, it might leave a little mark, but you really shouldn't expect permanent damage because the liver is incredibly good at regenerating itself. Plus, there isn't even a specific medical treatment for mono, so you can't really make those scary claims about "untreated and undiagnosed mono leading to..." the way you could with certain bacterial infections, like Strep throat, for instance. Regarding the sperm count, I'm really not sure on that one—you should probably do a quick Google search to see if there's any actual link there. But, look, if your husband never dealt with a massive fever, huge swollen lymph nodes in his neck, and an enlarged liver and spleen (those are the kind of symptoms you just don't forget easily), then I wouldn't go looking for the cause in

I checked my blood work; here are the results:

RBC: 6.14H 10e12/L (4.34-5.72)
Hemoglobin 171 g/L (138-175)
Hematocrit 0.519 L/L (0.415-0.530)
Platelets 210 10e9/L (158-424)
MCV 84.0 fL (83.0-91.2)
MCH 27.8 pg (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 329 g/L (320-345)
MPV 8.3 fL (6.8-10.4)
RDW 11.2 % (9.0-15.0)

WBC 7.6 10e9/L (3.4-9.7)

Lymphocytes 24.3 % (20.0-46.0)
Monocytes 9.2 % (2.0-12.0)
Neutrophils 63.7 % (44.0-72.0)
Eosinophils 2.4 % (0.0-7.0)
Basophils 0.4 % (0.0-1.0)

Glucose 5.34 mmol/l (4.2-6.0)

Cholesterol 6.3H mmol/l (< 5.0)
HDL-Cholesterol 1.3 mmol/l (> 1.0)
LDL-cholesterol 4.0H mmol/L (< 3.0)
Triglycerides 2.4H mmol/L (< 1.7)

I am 24 years old. I don't play sports regularly—only occasional physical exertion. I am a blood donor. High red blood cell counts run in my family; my paternal grandfather had them, as does my paternal aunt.
Is this cause for concern?
Also, my bilirubin is high. Is that linked to the elevated RBC and hemoglobin levels?

Thanks

Nicholas Lee28 said:I just got my blood work back; here are the results:

RBC: 6.14H 10e12/L (4.34-5.72)
Hemoglobin 171 g/L (138-175)
Hematocrit 0.519 L/L (0.415-0.530)
Platelets 210 10e9/L (158-424)
MCV 84.0 fL (83.0-91.2)
MCH 27.8 pg (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 329 g/L (320-345)
MPV 8.3 fL (6.8-10.4)
RDW 11.2 % (9.0-15.0)

WBC 7.6 10e9/L (3.4-9.7)

Lymphocytes 24.3 % (20.0-46.0)
Monocytes 9.2 % (2.0-12.0)
Neutrophils 63.7 % (44.0-72.0)
Eosinophils 2.4 % (0.0-7.0)
Basophils 0.4 % (0.0-1.0)

Glucose 5.34 mmol/L (4.2-6.0)

Cholesterol 6.3H mmol/L (< 5.0)
HDL-Cholesterol 1.3 mmol/L (> 1.0)
LDL-cholesterol 4.0H mmol/L (< 3.0)
Triglycerides 2.4H mmol/L (< 1.7)

I'm 24, I don't really exercise much—just occasional physical exertion—and I'm a regular blood donor. My paternal grandfather had high RBC counts, and so does my paternal aunt.
Is this cause for concern?
Also, my bilirubin is usually elevated; could that be due to the high RBC and hemoglobin levels?

Thx

The most glaring issue here is hyperlipidemia. Your cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides are all too high. You need to change your lifestyle and stick to a diet recommended for hyperlipidemia (you can find guidelines online or just ask your doctor).
Regarding the high bilirubin, you haven't provided nearly enough information to make an assessment. It could potentially be Gilbert's syndrome, which is a benign condition that carries no significant health risks and often sees bilirubin spikes during times of stress.
While your RBC count is slightly elevated, your hematocrit (Hct) remains within the normal range, so there's no reason to worry about that specifically.

restlessfalcon13 said:Hey, if there are any doctors reading this, I could really use some help. I've had a low-grade fever—somewhere between 98.6 and 100.4—for over a week now. It never hits 101, but I have this dry cough and I feel completely wiped out regardless of what I'm doing. I’m getting exhausted just brushing my teeth. I saw my doctor, and he thinks it's just a viral infection since my lungs sound clear. He told me to rest and stay hydrated. I've been taking some over-the-counter cold meds for three days, but as soon as they wear off, the symptoms come right back. I'm 23 and I've honestly never felt this sick in my life.
Thanks in advance for any insight.

Just a standard virus, probably not even the flu. If you aren't feeling better in a couple of days, go back to your doctor.

Casey Evans3 said:I can see we have some experts in here.

So, for me, my lymph nodes are swollen, and last week my neck was so stiff it was almost painful. Everything kind of aches.
On top of that, I have a severe sore throat and white patches (my doctor thought it might be strep throat).
Before that, I had a dry cough for a few weeks, and now it's back... No real fever, maybe hitting 99.5 occasionally, but mostly just staying around 98.6.
My blood work showed elevated lymphocytes at 53, and atypical lymphocytes at 6.
Liver enzymes were high too—ALT at 139 and AST at 90—plus CRP at 6.8.
That's everything that's outside the normal range.

Mononucleosis? Or something else?
I read online that elevated enzymes can be an alarm bell?

It could be mono.

redbadger26 said:The main issue here is hyperlipidemia. Your cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides are all elevated. You need to adjust your lifestyle and follow a diet specifically designed for hyperlipidemia—you can find guidelines online or just ask your doctor.
As for the high bilirubin, you haven't provided nearly enough data to make a call. It could easily be Gilbert's syndrome, which is a benign condition where bilirubin spikes during times of stress and carries no real health risks.
Your red blood cell count is slightly up, but since your hematocrit is within the normal range, there’s no reason to worry about that.

Thanks.

I’m looking for some advice or maybe just a bit of perspective here.
My dad got his bloodwork back today, and his GGT is sitting at 337. Everything else looked normal, except for his blood pressure being high. Can anyone tell me how much of a red flag this result actually is?

GGT-glutamyl transpeptidase—I'm pretty sure that's linked to liver stuff and whatever issues you might be having with your liver (though obviously I'm not some medical expert or anything)

It’s definitely linked to liver function, and I know for a fact those levels tend to spike if someone's been overindulging in food or drinks—though that probably isn't the only trigger out there—but I'm still trying to wrap my head around what the specific implications actually are.

Could someone help me make sense of this?

Holter monitor results:
Ectopic activity: 102 PVCs—including one pair and 8 instances of bigeminy—plus 147 PACs.
The final complex dynamics look normal.
Dr. G
I493-ventricular extrasystole