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

Does anyone happen to know a really good doctor who specializes in treating balanitis? If you have any recommendations, please shoot me a private message—I would be incredibly grateful for the help!

Perhaps you might find it more useful to ask over at this thread—it’s specifically set up for those kinds of inquiries. If you do, just be sure to mention your city or area, and whether you're looking for a private provider or someone covered by your insurance through the local health department.

I'd appreciate some input on this:
A 42-year-old female, overweight.
She had three days of fever up to 104°F, accompanied by chills and shivering, frequent urination, blood in her urine, general weakness, and pain in her right flank.

L 14,1,,E4,8,,Hgb 128,,Hct 0,403,,MCV 84,,Platelet count 256,,AST 40,,ALT 29,,AF 72,,GGT 39,,Glucose 5,5,,urea 10,,creatinine 246,,bilirubin 25,,CRP 342,2.

Urine culture came back sterile.

Ultrasound of both kidneys shows bilateral thickening of the parenchyma, which appears somewhat hyperechoic, but there's no obstruction, cysts, or stones. A non-contrast scan showed nothing significant, though a spiral pattern was visible.

Thank you in advance!

I am looking for some insight regarding these low and high values:

Hematology
K - RDW: 11.8 (14.6 - 16.5)

Metabolites and Substrates
S - Sugar: 6.1 (4.2 - 6.0)

Trace Elements
S - WHO: 63 (26 - 59)

I read somewhere that WHO increases when iron levels are low... mine is currently at 13 (8 - 30)

About a year ago, specifically in November 2009, my WHO was normal at 38 (26 - 59) because my iron was 29 (8 - 30).

I'm not quite sure why things have shifted so much lately...

mistymaker8 said:Looking for some insight:
Female, 42, overweight.
Three days of fever reaching 104°F, accompanied by chills and tremors, frequent urination, blood in urine, general weakness, and pain in the right flank area.

L 14,1,,E4,8,,Hgb 128,,Hct 0,403,,MCV 84,,Platelet count 256,,AST 40,,ALT 29,,AF 72,,GGT 39,,Glucose 5.5,,urea 10,,creatinine 246,,bilirubin 25,,CRP 342.2.

Urine culture - sterile

Kidney ultrasound shows bilateral thickening of the parenchyma, somewhat hyperechoic, but no obstruction, cysts, or stones. X-ray shows nothing significant, just visible spiral patterns.

Thank you in advance!

Dear mistymaker8,

Based on the symptoms and lab results provided, this could point toward acute pyelonephritis (a kidney infection).

However, the urine culture doesn't quite fit the picture; it came back sterile when we would typically expect to see bacteria present. That said, a false negative is entirely possible, especially if the patient started taking Antibiotics before providing the sample.

It is important to emphasize that this could be something else entirely—something impossible to determine through an online forum.

Perhaps someone here who is an infectious disease specialist or a urologist can weigh in.

Best regards. 👍

Megan Jones27 said:I'm curious about these low and high values:

Hematology
K - RDW: 11.8 (14.6 - 16.5)

Metabolites and substrates
S - Glucose: 6.1 (4.2 - 6.0)

Trace elements
S - WHO: 63 (26 - 59)

I read that WHO increases when iron is low... mine is currently 13 (8 - 30)

About a year ago, specifically in November 2009, my WHO was normal at 38 (26 - 59) because my iron was 29 (8 - 30).

I have no idea why it shifted so much now...

Dear Zachary Gomez,

You have correctly identified and explained the link between low serum iron and elevated WHO.

If hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels are normal but WHO is high, it’s possible you have latent anemia. To confirm this, ferritin levels need to be checked; low ferritin would be the indicator.

Alternatively, it might not even be latent anemia yet; the results could still be within a borderline range, though there is a risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia if the trend of depleting iron stores continues.

As for the cause behind the declining iron levels, it isn't possible to say without a detailed clinical history and physical exam. In women before menopause, the most common culprits are heavy menstrual cycles or other reproductive system issues, though dietary iron deficiency is also a factor. Other causes exist as well. Please consult with your physician.

Given that your fasting blood sugar came back at 6.1 mmol/l after an 8-hour fast, I'd suggest you touch base with your doctor to schedule a follow-up glucose test just to be certain.

Best regards. 🙂

I would appreciate some thoughts on this SEMEN ANALYSIS

volume 5.2
ph 7.9
concentration 137
sperm count 712
liquefaction 2
vitality 53
motility 50
progressive
non-progressive
immobile
stationary
leukocytes 1-2
normal morphology 42
abnormal head shape 54
abnormal midpiece shape 3
abnormal tail morphology 1
zinc 3.2
fructose 20.4
citrate 45.8

Thank you very much

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear Zachary Gomez,

You have observed and explained the connection between low serum iron and elevated WHO levels quite accurately.

If your hemoglobin and red blood cell counts are within the normal range, but the WHO is high, it is possible you are dealing with latent anemia. To confirm this, a ferritin test would be necessary, as a low concentration would indicate such a condition.

It is also possible that this isn't latent anemia at all, but rather that the results are still within normal limits, though a trend toward iron-deficiency anemia could develop if iron stores continue to decline.

Regarding the cause behind the declining serum iron levels, it is impossible to say without a detailed discussion and clinical examination. In women before menopause, the most common causes are heavy menstrual cycles or other reproductive system issues, though dietary iron deficiency is also a factor, among others. Please consult with your physician.

Given the glucose reading of 6.1 mmol/l, assuming you were fasting for at least 8 hours prior to the draw, I suggest you follow up with your doctor regarding a repeat glucose test.

Best regards. 🙂

Thank you so much... I will consult with my doctor.
My red blood cell count is 4.52 (3.86 - 5.08), and hemoglobin is 131 (119 - 157).
Yes, unfortunately, ferritin wasn't included in my labs... I am 23 years old.
It might be due to low iron intake through my diet, or perhaps some underlying inflammation... I have been feeling really weak over the last few months, and I was also on antibiotics. I am taking beta-glucan, B vitamins, and ester C. I think I will redo my labs soon, but I'll try a different hospital or Health Department this time... and I'll check my thyroid hormones too.

I'd love to get some thoughts on this 🙂>

Sedimentation rate (1h): 40 mm/3.6 ks (4-24)
White blood cell count: 10.4 (3.4-9.7)
MCHC: 351 (320- 345)
Neutrophil granulocytes: 6.70 (2.06-6.49)
Sodium: 124 (137-146)
Potassium: 3.2 (3.9-5.1)

White blood cells in urine: 25
Squamous epithelial cells Mass

Everything else came back within range. I didn't include the rest of the urinalysis since it was mostly negative, except for the white blood cells. It also mentioned the color is dark yellow—is that something I should be worried about?

I had my blood drawn after spending a week dealing with intense nausea and vomiting.
My abdominal ultrasound looked fine (gallbladder, liver, pancreas, spleen), but it did note: Both kidneys are normal size with normal parenchymal thickness; the central sinus shows increased echoes, with microcalcifications in the parenchyma and parapelvic area (could this be nephrocalcinosis or medullary sponge kidney?)
The only thing hurting right now is my stomach.
Since I still don't have a clear diagnosis and I've just developed a fever (which I haven't had until now) along with feeling generally unwell, does this lab work point toward anything specific, or should I consider these results normal?

I’m looking for some advice here:

So, I have a 3-month-old, and we just went in for a routine urine checkup. Everything came back normal except for a few specific things:

The urine was cloudy.
Non-hyaline casts: 1 with amorphous salts per 10 fields.
Crystals: some amorphous salts and a bit of Calcium oxalate.

pH is fine, and the red blood cells, white blood cells, volume, etc.—everything else is within the normal range.

Thank you in advance for any thoughts.

I had some blood work done a few days ago, and my hematology results aren't looking great. My sedimentation rate was high—50 at one hour and 80 at two hours—and my RDW is 15.8. Looking at the differential, my basophils are slightly elevated at 0.02. Everything else in my biochemistry came back normal, except for triglycerides at 3.16 and cholesterol at 9.5. Is any of this cause for concern? Why would the basophils be up, and could they be linked to the sedimentation rate? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thank you!

I have a question and I am looking for some answers

During my pregnancy, I was being monitored regularly for platelet counts due to concerns about thrombocytopenia. In my third trimester, those levels were fine, but my white blood cell count was elevated at around 16.something. My urine culture came back clear. A few days later, they retested, and the count had risen to 17.6. My sedimentation rate was 33. I was prescribed antibiotics (Cipro), which I completed.

A week after finishing the last dose of antibiotics, the white cell count sat at 22.something. Segmented neutrophil granulocytes were at 15.30 (with a range of up to 6.49), which translates to 80.1% (the normal limit is 72).

We ran the rest of the labs, and everything else seemed normal, except for the CRP, which was 7.2 (though for pregnant women, anything up to 15 is generally tolerated, and I was pregnant at the time).

Sedimentation rate was 26 (limit is 24) and fibrinogen was 5.6 (normal is up to 3.5).

I brought in three consecutive clean urine cultures, and my cervical swabs and Pap smear were all normal.

AST (antistreptolysin titer) was positive at 297 (normal is up to 200).

I didn't run any fevers.

Why would my white blood cell count be elevated? What is your take on this, especially considering it stayed high despite the antibiotics?

I have already given birth, but I just haven't been able to get back in to have them rechecked yet.

Thank you

Sarah Wells23 said:Looking for feedback on this spermogram.

volume 5.2
pH 7.9
concentration 137
sperm count 712
liquefaction 2
vitality 53
motility 50
progressive
non-progressive
stationary
immotile 50
white blood cells 1-2
morphology normal 42
abnormal head shape 54
abnormal midpiece shape 3
abnormal tail morphology 1
zinc 3.2
fructose 20.4
citrate 45.8

Thank you.

Key parameters for a spermogram include:

volume ---------- normal is above 2.0 ml
concentration ----- normal is above 20 million/ml
motility ------ normal is above 50%, with progressive motility above 25%
morphology ------- normal is above 30% normal forms
white blood cells --------- normal is less than 1 million/ml

While this isn't my specialty, I'd say your results fall within the normal range, though some numbers could be better.

White blood cell counts are slightly elevated, which might suggest some inflammation. You should consult your urologist.

Best regards. 🙂

Roger Rodriguez said:Please provide feedback on these results.🙂

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) - 1h: 40 mm/3.6 hrs (4-24)
White blood cells: 10.4 (3.4-9.7)
Hemoglobin: 351 (320- 345)
Neutrophils: 6.70 (2.06-6.49)
Sodium: 124 (137-146)
Potassium: 3.2 (3.9-5.1)

White blood cells in urine: 25
Squamous epithelial cells Mass

Everything else looks normal. The urinalysis doesn't specify what is considered "normal," so I only copied the white blood cell count since everything else was negative. It also mentions the color is dark yellow, but I'm not sure if that's normal or not.

I had my blood drawn after a week of severe nausea and vomiting.
The abdominal ultrasound came back clear (gallbladder, liver, pancreas, spleen) and noted: Both kidneys are normal size and parenchymal thickness, central sinus shows more prominent echoes, and there are microcalcifications in the parenchyma and parapelvic area (nephrocalcinosis? renalspongeiform?).
Only my stomach hurts, nothing else.
Since I still don't have a diagnosis and now I have a fever (which I didn't have before) and I still feel unwell, I'm wondering if these results point to anything specific or if they are considered normal?

Dear Roger Rodriguez,

These results don't point to anything definitive, even with the deviations.

The low sodium and potassium levels could likely be explained by intense vomiting, causing electrolyte loss.

Finding a high number of squamous epithelial cells in the urine can indicate sample contamination (usually when the specimen isn't collected properly, such as being mixed with vaginal secretions or coming into contact with skin), so it's hard to tell from this alone if it indicates a urinary tract infection or not.

The abdominal ultrasound shows microcalcifications in the kidneys, so further investigation would be needed to determine the cause (this is often seen alongside hypercalcemia—elevated calcium levels in the blood).

Please consult with your physician regarding any follow-up steps.

Best regards. 🙂

Sandra Martin72 said:Could someone please offer some advice:

I have a 3-month-old baby. We went in for a routine urine checkup, and everything looks normal except for:

cloudy urine
hyaline casts: 1 with amorphous salts per 10 fields
crystals: some amorphous salts and a few calcium oxalate

pH is fine, erythrocytes, leukocytes, volume, etc.—everything else falls within the normal range.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Dear rustyrider99,

Based on what you've shared, it’s impossible to determine exactly what is happening with your child. All I can say is that you should consult with a pediatrician (hopefully you already have).

Best regards to you and your little one. 🙂

Sandra Martin72 said:I had some labs done a few days ago. My hematology isn't quite right—Sedimentation rate is 50 at 1 hour and 80 at 2 hours, plus an RDW of 15.8. In my differential blood count, basophils are slightly elevated at 0.02. Biochemistry is fine, aside from triglycerides at 3.16 and cholesterol at 9.5. Is this concerning? Why would basophils be high, and is there a link to the sedimentation rate? Looking for opinions! Thanks!

Dear Ryan Allen4,

The elevated cholesterol levels (total cholesterol for individuals without heart disease, vascular issues, or diabetes should ideally be under 5 mmol/l) and triglycerides (which should be below 1.7 mmol/l) stand out immediately. You will certainly need to manage this in coordination with your primary care physician through lifestyle changes, exercise, dietary adjustments, or medication if necessary. It will also be important to monitor your blood pressure, calculate cardiovascular risk, confirm smoking status, check blood sugar levels, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and other related lab values.

An elevated sedimentation rate is a non-specific finding, meaning it doesn't point to a specific cause on its own.

As for the basophils, I don't see an issue if you transcribed the result correctly (0.02), as the reference range is typically 0-1%, or an absolute count of 0-0.2x10^9.

Best regards. 🙂

Sandra Martin72 said:I have a question and am looking for answers.

During my pregnancy, I was regularly monitoring my platelet count due to thrombocytopenia. They were normal in the third trimester, but my white cell count was elevated at 16-something. A urine culture came back clear. After a couple of days, they repeated the test and it was 17.6. Sedimentation rate was 33. I was prescribed antibiotics (Ceforex) and took them...

One week after my last dose of Antibiotics, the results came back: WBC at 22 point something, segmented neutrophil granulocytes at 15.30% (normal up to 6.49), making them 80.1% (normal up to 72
.
Other tests were fine, except for CRP which was 7.2—though for pregnant women, anything up to 15 is usually tolerated, and I was pregnant at the time
.
Sedimentation rate was 26 (normal up to 24) and fibrinogen was 5.6 (normal up to 3.5)
.
Urine cultures were clear three days in a row, and cervical swabs and Pap smears were all normal
.
AST (antistreptolysin titer) was positive at 297 (normal up to 200)
.
I didn't have any fever
.
Why would the white blood cell count be high? What’s your take, especially since this was despite the Antibiotics
?
I've already given birth, but I just haven't gotten around to going back for a follow-up check yet
.
Thank you
.

Dear Jerry Booth10,

It would be best to recheck your white blood cell count, your general blood work, and your CRP. If those numbers come back normal, there's no reason to worry. Even though you mentioned you aren't feeling particularly motivated to go right now, I still strongly recommend you do it.

It will be difficult to determine the cause of leukocytosis from a pregnancy that has already passed.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear rustyrider99,

Based on the information you've provided, it is impossible to reach any definitive conclusion regarding your child's condition. All I can say is that you really need to consult with a pediatrician—and I certainly hope you’ve already done so.

Warmest regards to you and my very best wishes for the health and well-being of your child. 🙂

Dear Ryan Allen4,

The elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides jump out at you immediately. For anyone without a history of common medical conditions like heart disease, vascular issues, or diabetes, total cholesterol should ideally stay under 100 mg/dL, while triglycerides ought to be kept below 85 mg/dL. You are going to need to address this proactively in consultation with your primary care physician—whether that means overhauling your lifestyle, ramping up physical activity, tightening up your diet, or potentially starting medication. It won't stop there, either; you'll also need to monitor your blood pressure, calculate your overall cardiovascular risk, and account for factors like smoking status, blood sugar levels, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and whatever other clinical markers come up in your labs.

An elevated sedimentation rate is nothing more than a vague indicator; it’s a non-specific finding that provides no clarity on the actual source of the problem. It tells you something is happening, but it certainly doesn't point to the culprit.

Regarding the basophil levels, I don't see any cause for concern if those results were transcribed accurately (0.02). Standard reference ranges typically cite basophils at 0–1%, which translates to an absolute count between 0–0.2x10^9. If the numbers are correct, there's nothing to worry about.

Greetings. 🙂

Dear Jerry Booth10,

It would be most prudent to schedule a follow-up to re-verify your white blood cell count, your complete blood count, and your CRP levels. If those markers return within the normal range, then there truly is no cause for alarm. While I understand you mentioned feeling quite unmotivated to deal with this right now, I would still strongly advise that you go through with it.

It will be quite difficult at this stage to pinpoint the exact cause of the leukocytosis during a pregnancy that has already concluded.

Greetings. 🙂

Thank you, I will definitely make my way there.

I was curious to get your take on this, because after looking at all my lab results and the current situation, I received an answer that essentially boils down to: "We just need to get you through this pregnancy, and then everything will be fine." They’re acting as if the pregnancy is the sole cause of all these issues, which frankly doesn't sit right with me. Logically, it just doesn't add up, and I find it hard to believe that's the whole story.

I've been hitting the weed pretty hard over the last few months, and now I've got a driver's license medical exam coming up. Not sure if they actually run blood work during these things, but does anyone know if THC shows up on those tests?

Hey, if this topic already exists, I hope my buddies don't report me for double posting—I couldn't find it anywhere... and sorry if this isn't even the right sub

Standard blood tests won't show you the whole picture.

Unless they ask you for a urine sample during the test.

But honestly, I think your bigger issue is how much you smoke rather than trying to manipulate a test result to look negative. Just as a heads-up, besides all the other stuff, marijuana can be one of the triggers for schizophrenia. So, maybe cut back.

@Eric Wright29/">@@Eric Wright29- Look, I get it, weed can definitely trigger mental health issues (and not just that kind of stuff), but I’m not exactly going overboard with how much I use...

Thank you.

Just one simple question here... I was scheduled for an exam with a surgeon because of a hernia during my 8th month of pregnancy. This Dr. med. guy checked me out and gave me this super vague, half-baked opinion—it honestly felt like he had zero clue what he was supposed to say, and even my OBGYN ended up giving me more info than he did...
I just don't get it—if I'm referred to a surgeon, shouldn't a surgeon actually be the one examining me? 😕It would make sense, right? (Like, wouldn't his title say specialized surgeon instead of just Dr. med.?)
Look, I don't know anything about the medical field, so I'm totally lost when it comes to titles and specialties, but stuff like this really sticks out to me. Thank you for any insight! 🙂

Karen Grant54 said:Just one simple question... I was scheduled for a surgical consultation regarding a hernia during my 8th month of pregnancy. The doctor who saw me gave a very brief opinion; it felt as if he didn't quite know what to say. Honestly, even my OBGYN had more to offer...
It doesn't make sense to me—if I'm seeing a surgeon, shouldn't a surgeon actually examine me?😕Logic would dictate that, wouldn't it? (Wouldn't his title reflect a surgical specialist rather than just a general MD?)
I have zero background in medicine, so the titles and specialties escape me, but things like this stand out. Thank you for the response.🙂

Ma'am,

By all accounts, you were seen by a general surgery resident.

Residents are physicians who have graduated from medical school and earned the title MD. After completing their mandatory internship and passing their boards, they begin their residency—in this case, likely in general surgery, which typically lasts about 54 months. Once they finish that training and pass their specialty exams, they earn the official title of specialist in that specific field.