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

Not sure where to put this, so I'll just drop it here to avoid starting a whole new thread. I’m planning on asking my doctor for a referral for some blood work and a urine test—just want to get a general checkup done—but here's what's actually on my mind:

Is just asking for a KKS enough for a full checkup? I’ve been reading online that a systematic lab panel usually covers way more than that.
KKS, SE, creatinine, uric acid, glucose, AST, ALT, gamma GT, bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, Fe, UIBC, urea, AF, Na, K, and urinalysis.

I was wondering why doctors mostly just order a CBC and whether that's actually enough to serve as a full systemic checkup for the body.
Can I just ask them to run more tests, purely for peace of mind? I'm 29. My mom deals with high cholesterol, so I'm thinking there might be a genetic link. I've never actually had my levels checked before, so I’d like to get a full panel done instead of just a standard CBC. Is that doable? Looking for some input. Thanks.

redpilot37 said:I'm not quite sure where this belongs, so I'll try posting here instead of starting a whole new thread. I’m planning to ask my doctor for a referral for some blood and urine work—just to get a general check-up—but there's something specific on my mind:

Is just asking for a CBC enough for a check-up? Because when I read things online, a "full physical" or systematic screening seems to include way more:
CBC (complete blood count), ESR (sedimentation rate), creatinine, uric acid, glucose, AST, ALT, gamma GT, bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, Fe (blood iron), UIBC, urea, AF, Na, K, and urinalysis.

So now I'm wondering why doctors usually only order a CBC, and if a CBC alone is actually sufficient for a full body assessment?
Also, can I specifically request these tests just for a routine check? I'm 29, and my mother has high cholesterol—I'm mentioning that because I might have a genetic predisposition—and since I've never had my levels checked, I'd really like to go for a more comprehensive panel rather than just a basic CBC. Is that even possible? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

That's a solid list.
But it's not enough.

vividsailor7 said:It’s a solid analysis.
Not really.

Thanks. I'll go ahead and look for a place where I can get everything checked out—just a standard annual physical since I've never actually had my cholesterol levels tested before.
Thanks, Dr. Hrvoje!🙂

So, here’s the situation:

1. Results from September 2009:
- Right breast: In the BI-RADS category, almost bordering on the next level, there's an oval zone with hyperechoic echoes—sharply defined against the surrounding tissue—measuring 0.93x0.62 cm (consistent with a fibroadenoma).

2. Results from February 2011:
- On the right side at the 9 o'clock position, there is an oval area of echogenicity similar to fatty tissue, measuring 6.1mm in length.

3. Results from October 2011:
- On the right, between the 12 and 1 o'clock positions, sits an oval, hypoechoic, sharply demarcated lesion, dimensions 8.4x5.2mm; it shows posterior acoustic enhancement, which primarily suggests a fibroadenoma.

Obviously, we are talking about the same person here, so I'm wondering how this works—it feels like I have a little bit of a fibroadenoma one moment, and then I don't... does the BI-RADS classification correspond to these 12 and 1 o'clock positions, or what...?

---

A bit confused 😕

vividsailor7 said:Just some minor irritation. Are you guys having issues digesting wheat?

Not really, I actually handle it quite well.
I've been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

So, if I could pick your brains here, or if anyone happens to know..

I’m someone who usually only gets bruises after pretty heavy impacts—or at least, that’s how it used to be. But over this last month, I've noticed that bruises are showing up from much lighter bumps or even just intense pressure. For instance, my boyfriend jokingly bit my arm the other day (not hard at all!), and by the next morning, I had this massive bruise, looking like I'd been attacked by a rabid dog; I've honestly never experienced anything like it before. I actually asked him to try it again just to see if it was for real, and sure enough, now I have another huge, ugly bruise. In the past, there wouldn't even be a hint of redness if someone nipped at me.
I also struggle with poor circulation; I stay active, yet I'm constantly cold, especially in my feet. On top of that, I feel this deep weakness. Like, if there's a concert on Friday that I really want to attend, I'll be at college until noon, and by the evening, I feel like I've been run over by a truck unless I manage to squeeze in an afternoon nap. I become incredibly sluggish and weak. It’s reached the point where it’s become my "normal" routine to take a nap before any big events.

Why am I starting to bruise so easily now?

Elizabeth Cox83 said:So, here is the situation:

1. Results from September 2009:
- Right breast: In the upper outer quadrant, almost bordering the upper inner quadrant, there is an oval zone with hyperechoic echoes, sharply demarcated from the surrounding tissue, measuring 0.93x0.62 cm (fibroadenoma)

2. Results from February 2011:
- On the right side at the 9 o'clock position, an oval zone of echogenicity similar to fatty tissue is visible, measuring 6.1mm in length

3. Results from November 2011:
- Located on the right between the 12 and 1 o'clock positions is an oval hypoechoic, sharply defined lesion, measuring 8.4x5.2mm, showing posterior acoustic enhancement; primarily consistent with a fibroadenoma

Since we are talking about the same person—obviously—I find myself wondering how this works? It feels like I have a little bit of a fibroadenoma one moment and then I don't... Does "upper outer" and "upper inner" correspond to those 12 and 1 o'clock positions, or am I misinterpreting the notation??

---

Confused, 😕

I actually already replied to you regarding this specific post over in the fibroadenoma discussion thread.

fadedharbor98 said:I don't have any, I'm doing just fine.
I've been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

And if I could ask you guys, or if anyone knows...

I'm someone who used to only get bruises after really hard impacts—at least, that's how it was. But over the last month, I've noticed bruises appearing from much lighter hits or even just intense pressure. For example, my boyfriend jokingly bit my arm (not even hard!) and by the next day, there was a bruise so massive it looked like a rabid dog had attacked me. I've never experienced anything like it. I actually asked him to bite me again just to see if it was real, and sure enough, now I have another huge, ugly bruise. Before this, even a little bite wouldn't leave so much as a red mark.
I also have poor circulation; even though I stay active, I'm constantly cold, especially my feet. And I feel this overwhelming weakness. For instance, if there's a concert on Friday that I want to go to, I'll be at college until noon, and by the evening, I feel like I've been run over by a truck unless I take an afternoon nap. I become incredibly sluggish and weak. It's reached the point where it’s become "normal" for me to need a nap before any big event.

Why am I bruising so easily all of a sudden?

First things first: you need to contact your primary doctor immediately and get a CBC, metabolic panel, and coagulation studies.
As for what comes next—that depends entirely on your symptoms progressing and what those lab results actually show.

Just looking for some clarification here. My little girl has thyroid issues (excess antibodies) and she keeps it under control with medication...
Got her new blood work back today and
T4 is 89.1 (normal)
TSH is 1.93 (normal)
hTgAt is 33 (normal)
But TPO-At is 1747—and now that I'm looking at the results, it's supposed to be under 20. So it's almost 9 times higher than it should be.
Does anyone actually know what TPO is and why it would be that high?

We have an ultrasound and follow-up scheduled for November 11th, but I just want to know what we're dealing with in the meantime...

Thanks in advance...

slysurfer14 said:I just need one quick clarification. My little girl has thyroid issues (excess antibodies), and she keeps it under control with medication...
Today I got her new blood work back and
T4 is 89.1 (normal)
TSH is 1.93 (normal)
hTgAt is 33 (normal)
But TPO-At is 1747—and looking at the results now, it's supposed to be under 20. That means it's nearly 9 times higher than it should be.
I'm wondering what exactly TPO is and why on earth it would be this high...

We have an ultrasound and a follow-up scheduled for November 11th, but I just want some info so I actually know what we're dealing with...

Thanks in advance...

Basically, the thyroid antibodies are elevated, but her hormone levels are still holding steady within the normal range for now. We'll get a much clearer picture once the ultrasound is done.

WBC - 10.2 (3.4 - 9.7)

Neutrophil granulocytes - 30.0 (44 - 72)
Lymphocytes - 64.0 (20 - 46)

Here is what I found regarding these levels:
Elevated white blood cell count: bacterial infection
Conditions that cause an increased white blood cell count include infections, inflammation, tissue damage (such as a heart attack), severe physical or emotional stress (injuries or surgeries), burns, kidney failure, lupus, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, malnutrition, leukemia, and various cancers.
The use of corticosteroids (which might be my situation since I was taking Medrol), adrenal insufficiency, thyroid issues, certain medications, or even having a spleen removed can also lead to high values.

Decreased neutrophil granulocytes (neutropenia): viral infections, brucellosis, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, bone marrow disorders, or a Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Increased lymphocyte count (lymphocytosis): viral infections (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, rubella), toxoplasmosis, or brucellosis.

Should I post the full report?

Back on September 6th, these numbers were perfectly normal... WBC 7.2, neutrophils 59, lymphocytes 24.

Megan Jones27 said:WBC - 10.2 (3.4 - 9.7)

Neutrophil granulocytes - 30.0 (44 - 72)
Lymphocytes - 64.0 (20 - 46)

Here is what I found regarding those numbers:
Elevated white blood cell count: bacterial infection
Conditions that cause an increased white blood cell count include infections, inflammation, tissue damage (like a heart attack), severe physical or emotional stress (injuries or surgeries), burns, kidney failure, lupus, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, malnutrition, leukemia, and diseases like cancer.
Corticosteroid use (which might be my case since I was taking Medrol), adrenal insufficiency, thyroid issues, certain medications, or even having a spleen removed can also cause high values.

Low neutrophil granulocyte count (neutropenia): viral infections, brucellosis, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, bone marrow disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency.
Increased lymphocyte count (lymphocytosis): viral infections (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, rubella), toxoplasmosis, brucellosis.

Should I post the full lab report?

Back on 6/9, these values were totally normal... WBC 7.2, neutrophils 59, lymphocytes 24.

It wouldn't hurt.
But it’s probably just some virus, especially while being on Medrol.

K - SE - 5 (4 - 24)
K - Erythrocytes - 4.58 (3.86 - 5.08)
K - Hemoglobin - 136 (119 - 157)
K - Hematocrit - 0.406 (0.356 - 0.470)
K - MCV - 88.6 (83.0 - 97.2)
K - MCH - 29.7 (27.4 - 33.9)
K - MCHC - 335 (320 - 345)
K - RDW - 12.5 (9.0 - 15.0)

K - leukocyte high ref interval 0 - 10.2 (3.4 - 9.7) elevated

K - Eosinophil granulocytes - 2.0 (0 - 7)
K - Neutrophil granulocytes - 30.0 (44 - 72) decreased
K - Lymphocytes - 64.0 (20 - 46) elevated
K - Monocytes - 4.0 (2 - 12)

K - Platelets - 264 (158 - 424)
K - MPV - 8.7 (6.8 - 10.4)

S - Glucose - 5.5 (4.2 - 6.0)

S - ALT - 14 (10 - 36)
S - AST - 17 (8 - 30)
S - GGT - 15 (9 - 35)

S - Iron - 18 (8 - 30)
S - UIBC - 46 (26 - 59)
S - TIBC - 64 (49 - 75)

Megan Jones27 said:K - Hematocrit - 5 (4 - 24)
K - Erythrocytes - 4.58 (3.86 - 5.08)
K - Hemoglobin - 136 (119 - 157)
K - Hematocrit - 0.406 (0.356 - 0.470)
K - MCV - 88.6 (83.0 - 97.2)
K - MCH - 29.7 (27.4 - 33.9)
K - MCHC - 335 (320 - 345)
K - RDW - 12.5 (9.0 - 15.0)

K - leukocytes high ref interval 0 - 10.2 (3.4 - 9.7) elevated

K - Eosinophil granulocytes - 2.0 (0 - 7)
K - Neutrophil granulocytes - 30.0 (44 - 72) decreased
K - Lymphocytes - 64.0 (20 - 46) elevated
K - Monocytes - 4.0 (2 - 12)

K - Platelets - 264 (158 - 424)
K - MPV - 8.7 (6.8 - 10.4)

S - Glucose - 5.5 (4.2 - 6.0)

S - ALT - 14 (10 - 36)
S - AST - 17 (8 - 30)
S - GGT - 15 (9 - 35)

S - Iron - 18 (8 - 30)
S - UIBC - 46 (26 - 59)
S - TIBC - 64 (49 - 75)

To me, based on what I’ve already said, looks like an viral infection occurring while on Medrol.
I think someone mentioned genital herpes earlier?

Megan Jones27 said:K - WBC - 5 (4 - 24)
K - Erythrocytes - 4.58 (3.86 - 5.08)
K - Hgb - 136 (119 - 157)
K - Hct - 0.406 (0.356 - 0.470)
K - MCV - 88.6 (83.0 - 97.2)
K - MCH - 29.7 (27.4 - 33.9)
K - MCHC - 335 (320 - 345)
K - RDW - 12.5 (9.0 - 15.0)

K - leukocytes high ref interval 0 - 10.2 (3.4 - 9.7)

K - Eosinophil granulocytes - 2.0 (0 - 7)
K - Neutrophil granulocytes - 30.0 (44 -72)
K - Lymphocytes - 64.0 (20 - 46)
K - Monocytes - 4.0 (2 - 12)

K - Platelets - 264 (158 - 424)
K - MPV - 8.7 (6.8 - 10.4)

S - Glucose - 5.5 (4.2 - 6.0)

S - ALT - 14 (10 - 36)
S - AST - 17 (8 - 30)
S - GGT - 15 (9 - 35)

S - Iron - 18 (8 - 30)
S - UIBC - 46 (26 - 59)
S - TIBC - 64 (49 - 75)

1. Your platelets look great, and so does your hemoglobin. Your white cell count is slightly elevated—you know how that goes—which usually just points to a minor viral thing. Since your sedimentation rate is normal, there isn't much to worry about here.
Your liver numbers are fine too. Those slightly high lymphocytes, combined with the rest of your CBC, suggest you're just fighting off a small virus. Don't stress over it.

Thank you...
Yes, I have had HSV 1.
About ten days ago, I developed a rash over my body (urticaria)... I'm not quite sure what triggered it... regardless, I had to stick to a strict diet, and I've been taking Medrol and Synopen... plus I'm still on Letizen, Escontral, and Peptoran. During this time, I've felt incredibly weak, listless, and moody... and I've lost weight too.
I also have CIN III, and right before the rash appeared, I underwent a colposcopy (it's possible the rash is linked to that).

So, given everything going on, it wouldn't surprise me if the tests indicate some kind of infection.
I would like to continue with the beta-glucan and vitamins, but someone else on this forum suggested I should probably wait because of this recent rash.

Megan Jones27 said:(...)

So, yeah. Given everything going on, it doesn't surprise me that they're flagging some kind of infection.
I was hoping to keep up with the beta-glucans and vitamins, but someone on this forum suggested I hold off for a bit because of that recent rash.

I'll move my response to that specific part over to the hives thread so we don't drift too far off-topic.

Brain MRI results: Using standard imaging techniques across three planes, the brain shows normal organization of the gyri and sulci, along with a healthy relationship between gray and white matter. There are no signs of ischemic lesions or hemorrhaging within the brain parenchyma. No focal expansive processes were detected. On FLAIR sequences, there are no signs of demyelinating lesions. The ventricular system appears normally positioned and sized. The optic nerve chiasm, cavernous sinuses, pontocerebellar angles, and craniocervical junction all look morphologically normal. Within the pituitary gland, there is a discrete elevated signal on both T1 and T2 sequences, measuring up to 3 mm, which is primarily suspicious for a pituitary adenoma. An endocrine workup is recommended, along with a dedicated pituitary MRI.
Here you go, vividsailor7, those are the findings. I’d really appreciate your take on this pituitary adenoma. Is this actually a tumor, and could it possibly be what's causing my issues? Just to remind you, my main symptoms are these abnormal, uncontrolled jerking movements in my body and limbs that just happen out of nowhere. Or is this adenoma just something they happened to stumble upon during the scan, and what does it actually mean for my overall health?

Hey, Dr. Hrvoje, I’m going to lay out my entire set of results here—I’d really appreciate it if you could help me make sense of all this:
Hematology
erythrocytes 4.68 (3.86-5.08)
Hgb 135 (ref range 119-157)
Hct 0.402 (0.356-0.470)
MCV 85.9 (83.0-97.2)
MCH 28.9 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 336 (320-345)
RDV-KV 13.1 (9.0-15.0)
Platelets at 294 (ref range 158-424). Seems fine to me.
MPV 7.1 (6.8-10.4)
Leukocyte high ref interval 0 at 14.2 (normal range is 3.4-10.4).
Just looking at the morphology results here—looks like there’s some leukocytosis going on.

BIOCHEMICAL TESTS
Glucose 5.4 (4.2-6.0)

Urinalysis results.
Looks pretty murky.
Appearance-cloudy Color-yellow weight 1.030 leukocyte 0 nitrite 0 PH 5.0 Erc
Specific gravity was 1.023 (normal range is 1.002-1.030).
pH 6.5 (5.0-9.0)
leukocyte high ref interval 0
Nitrites came back negative. (though the doc said +1)
Protein levels came back negative (well, technically +1).
Glucose is normal. (normal)
Ketones at 1.5 (0/neg)
Urobilinogen levels are normal. (normal)
bilirubin negative. (0/neg)
erythrocytes/hgb 50 (neg)

URINE SEDIMENT
erythrocytes - something (0-2)
white blood cell count - slightly up (0-2)
Squamous epithelial cells - quite a few (0-1)
service - plenty (0)
Bacteria—plenty of them.

Just so you know, I'm currently in my 10th week of pregnancy.

Thanks.

Dear restlesscanyon48,

Since vividsailor7 hasn't chimed in yet, I’ll offer my own thoughts. Please don't take offense at my stepping in—I know you explicitly asked for his input, and I apologize to him for the uninvited intrusion.

There is indeed leukocytosis present. However, it's worth noting that a differential blood count—the breakdown of specific white blood cell types by percentage—wasn't provided. That data is crucial for getting an orientation on whether we should be looking toward a bacterial infection, a viral one, or something else entirely. If that part of the report exists, it would be helpful if you could share it.

Furthermore, it's a fact that estrogen levels during pregnancy typically cause a mild rise in leukocytes. In a complete blood count, we often see a percentage increase in neutrophils and a slight uptick in eosinophils. In clinical practice, a value up to 12.0 x 10^9/L is quite common for a pregnant patient, though even higher values (often up to 15.0 x 10^9/L) are frequently considered within the normal range. That said, we shouldn't ignore infection markers in pregnancy, such as existing symptoms (like discomfort during urination or a fever) and CRP levels. If there's any suspicion of an infection, a thorough patient history is necessary, along with a CRP test. I strongly suggest you get both a differential count and a CRP.

Looking at the urine dipstick results, there are ketones present. Given that your blood glucose levels are normal, this might suggest you've been vomiting. Essentially, seeing ketones in the urine alongside normal glucose can be caused by prolonged fasting or dehydration resulting from vomiting or diarrhea.

The urine sediment shows some leukocytes and erythrocytes along with a significant amount of bacteria. However, there is also plenty of mucous and squamous epithelial cells. This could indicate sample contamination—meaning the specimen wasn't collected properly (for instance, if the urine came into contact with skin or vaginal secretions during collection). Of course, a urinary tract infection remains a possibility. It is worth keeping in mind, however, that lower urinary tract infections (bladder or urethra) generally don't trigger changes in the blood count, such as elevated leukocytes.

So, before vividsailor7 weighs in, please clarify why these tests were ordered. Was this just a routine prenatal checkup, or have you been experiencing specific symptoms? If so, what are they? Also, was a differential count performed, and have you had any other tests done?

My recommendation would be: perform a CBC with differential (if not already done), check your CRP (sedimentation rates are physiologically elevated during pregnancy, making them unreliable for diagnosis), and repeat the urinalysis, ensuring the sample is collected correctly. If the repeat test still shows leukocytes and bacteria, a urine culture should be conducted, followed by targeted treatment if you are symptomatic.

That's all from me for now.

Best regards. 🙂

Hi Nicholas Myers,

I certainly won't get upset about you jumping in. Honestly, thanks for weighing in so quickly.

The test was just part of a routine checkup since I'm pregnant, and as for those symptoms you mentioned—the fever or trouble urinating—luckily, I haven't dealt with any of that. Well, maybe just needing to hit the bathroom a bit more often, but I just figured that was part of being pregnant.
I didn't get my CBC or CRP done yet, but I’m calling my OBGYN tomorrow, and hopefully, they'll send me in for some follow-up tests.
Thanks again. I have to admit, you actually helped calm me down a bit. I'm not usually one to panic, but everything feels a little different when there's a baby involved, so I guess I got a bit worried.🙂