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

Can someone help me make sense of these lab results? My red blood cell count is showing 3-5 when the reference range says it should be 0, and my white blood cell count is at 5-10, while it's supposed to be between 1 and 2. Thanks!

Microhematuria isn't much to worry about if the rest of your urinalysis looks normal...

I don't know, Sam Hall15... I wouldn't say you can just "not worry" about this. If you start seeing extra symptoms pop up—like pains, a fever, or that burning sensation when you go to the bathroom—then this definitely isn't a clean bill of health.
At least, that’s how it looks to me.

Honestly, I have never—and I mean *never*—in my entire life seen a single urine test come back totally clean, you know? Like, zero bacteria, no red blood cells, no white blood cells... nothing. It’s just never happened.

So yeah, that’s just how it goes for me. 😉

Scott Allen10 said:The recent blood work—specifically the AST and ALT levels—doesn't look particularly alarming to me.

In my case, they're low—is that just as bad as having them too high?

Amanda Moore79 said:Mine are actually low—is that just as bad as having high levels?

Nah. You can't really have "low" levels because the normal range starts at zero and goes up to somewhere around 35 or 40 IU, depending on which lab you use and all that.

So, my lab results show ALT at 10–36 and AST at 8–30. My ALT is sitting at 8.

About two years ago, I found myself staring at lab results showing my liver enzymes were astronomically elevated... we’re talking roughly ten times above the upper limit of what's considered normal. It was a period of sheer panic for everyone involved, though it eventually turned out to be nothing more than a side effect from taking a preventative medication for tuberculosis. There had been a case within my own family, so I took the precaution... the medication wasn't an Ibuprofen, if you catch my drift. So, isn't it quite possible that there are many different underlying reasons for such a spike?

Amanda Moore79 said:Well, my lab results show an ALT of 10-36 and AST of 8-30. My ALT is sitting at 8.

Switch labs 😁. Seriously. Those numbers look solid and you really shouldn't sweat it. Only a significant spike in your ALT and AST levels—not just a tiny fluctuation of one or two points—actually suggests there's an issue with how your liver is functioning.

Thanks for clearing that up 🙂

Can someone actually explain what W-MCR, AST, ALT, and GGT even mean on a blood panel? Is anyone here an expert?

driftingmason20 said:Does anyone here actually know their stuff enough to explain what W-MCR, AST, ALT, and GGT mean on a blood test?

If you’re looking for medical advice, there’s already a massive thread over on the Health & Wellness forum dedicated specifically to decoding lab results...

AST, ALT, and GGT are all liver enzymes—specifically aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.
I’m not going to play guessing games with W-MCR.

Actually, I should probably move this over to the Health section. That's where the discussions about lab results usually happen anyway.

placidjackal36 said:AST, ALT, and GGT are liver enzymes—aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.
I'm not going to guess on W-MCR.

.

So, my liver is clearly in trouble.

Went for my ultrasound today. Here’s what the report says:

"The thyroid gland is normal in size but shows highly inhomogeneous, hypoechoic parenchyma with irregular contours."
"Salivary glands are unremarkable."
"Bilateral lymph nodes present near the submandibular area; some larger/more numerous nodes in the upper third and angular regions—the largest on the right is about 27mm, oval-shaped, appearing sonographically reactive."

So, salivary glands are fine, but what’s the deal with the thyroid—specifically those "irregular contours"—is that a bad sign? Also, what the heck is "SMC," and what are these lymph nodes? I’m really hoping "reactive" means something good... basically looking for someone to translate this medical jargon into plain English if anyone actually knows how.

The scan was prompted by constant swelling in my neck and groin, plus some lumps, though I don't see them here—I can't tell. Still waiting on the abdominal and groin ultrasounds; my appointment isn't until the end of the month, so I’ll probably be back here asking about those too...

Anyone know what this all means?

It’s hard to believe—honestly, I find it almost impossible to wrap my head around—that absolutely nobody can make sense of this..

An inhomogeneous hypoechoic ultrasound finding on the thyroid might point to an issue, but it’s not a done deal. My take? Go get another ultrasound done by a specialist—either a nuclear medicine expert or an endocrinologist—and get your thyroid hormone levels checked. If things still look iffy after that, we can talk about antibody testing.
Lymph nodes. "Reactive" is actually a good sign 🙂. Just a heads up, SMC refers to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which runs from just behind and below your ear down to your breastbone and part of your collarbone. You've got clusters of lymph nodes sitting right alongside that muscle; they tend to be more prominent and larger in the upper third of its length, right near the angle of your jaw.

James Watson84 said:An inhomogeneous hypoechoic thyroid ultrasound might—but doesn't necessarily—point to an issue with how the gland is functioning. My suggestion? Get another ultrasound done by a specialist at a major hospital or an endocrinologist, run some blood work for thyroid hormones, and then, if it looks necessary, check for antibodies.
Lymph nodes are just lymph nodes. "Reactive" is actually a good thing 🙂. The SCM refers to the sternocleidomastoid muscle—that one running from just behind your ear down to your breastbone and collarbone area. You've got clusters of lymph nodes right alongside that muscle that tend to swell up more toward the top third of its length, near the angle of your jaw.

Thanks so much 🙏—yeah, I already know I’m dealing with hyperthyroidism, so I guess it makes sense that things look a little off on the scan... it’s probably not some huge disaster, which is a relief. Thanks 😬

My mother just went in for some routine blood work. The doctors flagged her liver numbers as abnormal and recommended she get an ultrasound to check things out. I was wondering if anyone here could help me make sense of these results:

Enzymes:
Test - Result - Unit - Ref. Range
AST - 39 H - U/L - (0-31)
ALT - 61 H - U/L - (0-36)
GGT - 20 - U/L - (0-38)

It’s pretty clear that the AST and ALT are elevated, but I’m struggling to wrap my head around what that actually means or how much of a cause for concern this really is. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

P.S. My mother doesn't drink alcohol at all, nor does she touch greasy food—she basically follows a strict macrobiotic diet.

These results aren't particularly alarming on their own, but I can't help but wonder why she had them done in the first place. Are there any other abnormal findings besides the liver enzymes? What are her total protein, albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen levels? Did she have a coagulogram, a CBC, or any hormone testing? Is she experiencing any symptoms? Has she had an abdominal ultrasound yet... and if so, what did it show?