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

Carl Jackson32 said:Hi, I'm on dialysis and my mom is my donor. The transplant is scheduled in two or three weeks. I was just wondering if someone could help me interpret these typing results.

Mine: HLA-A*01, *02; B*35, *52; C*04, *12; DRB1*11, *15; DQB1 *03(DQ7), 06

Mom's: HLA-A*01, *03; B*18, *35; C*02, *04; DRB1*11, - ; DQB1 *03(DQ7), -

I want to know how compatible we are. The department hasn't mentioned anything about the typing yet, and all the processing is done, so we're just waiting for the date. We were actually staying in the transplant ward until the COVID situation caused them to push our date back.

Hello,

The antigens with the most significant impact on transplant outcomes are A, B, and DR. Since everyone carries two A, two B, and two DR antigens, we look at a total of six. Not all antigens carry equal weight. The DR antigen is the most critical; ideally, the donor and recipient should match on both DR antigens. Next is the B antigen, while the A antigen is the least significant.

You and your mother match on 3 out of the 6 antigens—specifically HLA-A*01, HLA-B*35, and HLA-DRB1*11.

According to Eurotransplant, there is a specific ranking system with defined thresholds regarding which combinations are insufficiently compatible for a kidney transplant. On that list, there are 15 acceptable combinations.

On that scale, your specific combination sits at 14th place (out of 15) in terms of compatibility. For comparison, a better match would involve matching both DR antigens while having mismatches in both the A and B antigens.

That said, when predicting the actual probability of graft acceptance or rejection over the next 5 to 10 years, several other parameters beyond HLA antigen compatibility play a major role.

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear Ma'am,

Based on these results, the underlying cause of the symptoms you're describing isn't immediately clear. It seems unlikely that your thyroid is the culprit behind the hair loss and scalp issues, although your TSH levels are certainly creeping toward the upper limit of the normal range.

The lab work does indicate some gastrointestinal bleeding, which is likely linked to the mild anemia present in your results. The hemorrhoids you mentioned could very well be the source, but you really need to follow up with the gastroenterologist you were referred to. I suspect your dermatologist also recommended checking your hormone levels, as an imbalance in sex hormones can frequently be tied to both hair thinning and various scalp concerns.

Thank you so much for your response!

That’s correct, I went ahead and had my hormone levels checked as well:

Total Testosterone 1.3 nmol/L (0.4 - 1.9)
Free Testosterone 8.4 pmol/L (3.5 - 30)
Free Androgen Index 0.6 % (0.5 - 8.0)
SHBG 132 nmol/L (15 - 120)
Androstenedione 8.6 nmol/L (1 - 12)
DHEA-S 1.3 pmol/L (2-10)

If I may ask one more thing:

For several years now, my MCHC, MCV, and MCH levels have been low, while my RDW has been slightly elevated. What might that point toward?

Thank you so much for your help!

Hey everyone, hoping someone can help me make sense of these results. I'm waiting on an appointment with a hematologist, but I was curious if anyone could give me some insight in the meantime. Besides what you see here, my GGT is high and my platelets are low. On my last set of labs, my platelets were at 70 and GGT was 250. My ultrasound came back normal.
https://imghub.io/i/CDbm
https://imghub.io/i/CE7S

Hey, I could really use some help deciphering these endocrine lab results:
My PTH (1) came back at 1.27, but the normal range is listed as 1.6 to 6.9
Everything else seems totally fine:
Anti-TPO (2) is 1.4 (normal is up to 5.6)
Anti-TG (2) is 1.5 (normal is up to 4.1)

Thanks!

jadetinker10 said:Warm greetings to everyone; I was wondering if someone might be kind enough to help me interpret these lab results. They just arrived, and while we are currently waiting for an appointment with a hematologist, I am eager to see if anyone can provide some additional insight. Aside from what you see here, there is also an elevated GGT level and low platelet counts. On the previous test, the platelets were at 70, and the GGT was 250. The ultrasound came back normal.
https://imghub.io/i/CDbm
https://imghub.io/i/CE7S

I find myself wondering why the platelet count wasn't specified in the last report. If the findings seem inconclusive, it is often necessary to perform a citrate analysis, which essentially means repeating the complete blood count.
Was the size of the spleen noted during the previous ultrasound? Furthermore, is the patient experiencing any other symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, fever, or night sweats?
Has the patient consulted with their primary care physician, and did they happen to notice any enlargement of the liver or spleen during an exam?
These specific markers could potentially point toward liver damage or perhaps significant iron overload, such as hemochromatosis—and since one condition can certainly trigger the other, it would be wise to consider testing for an HFE gene mutation.

Keith Gonzalez said:Why wasn't the platelet count included in the last report? If the results are inconclusive, they should be analyzed in citrate, which means the CBC needs to be redone.
Was the spleen size noted on the previous ultrasound? Does the patient have any other symptoms—weight loss, fever, or night sweats?
Has he seen his primary care physician, and did they happen to notice any enlargement in the liver or spleen?
These findings could point toward liver damage or iron overload, like hemochromatosis (they aren't mutually exclusive, and one can lead to the other), so an HFE gene mutation test might be necessary in that case.

The lab actually left a note about the platelets, saying there was aggregation with the EDTA anticoagulant, so yeah, the test needs a redo. As for the imaging, the liver and spleen are normal sizes, and all other abdominal organs look fine. The liver shows some fatty changes, but the doctor said it’s nothing too alarming. The only actual symptom is some edema around the ankles. Everything else seems totally normal. He's an 80-year-old male—forgot to mention that. No other underlying issues, blood pressure is steady, heart is fine, everything's pretty standard. These tests were just ordered because a routine checkup flagged low platelets, and I guess I was a bit restless about why, so I pushed for more testing. What I'm wondering is, he saw a gastroenterologist before these tests who mentioned MDS might be a possibility; can we see anything related to that in these results? We also ran B12 and folate levels, but those aren't back yet.

jadetinker10 said:Regarding the platelet count, the lab included a note stating they observed aggregation caused by the EDTA anticoagulant, so the test needs to be repeated. The liver and spleen are normal in size, and all other abdominal organs look perfectly fine; the liver shows some fatty changes, though the doctor mentioned it isn't particularly concerning. The only symptom present is swelling in the legs around the ankles. Everything else is completely normal. I should mention the patient is an 80-year-old male. He has no other illnesses, and his blood pressure, heart health, and everything else are steady. These tests were ordered because a routine checkup flagged a low platelet count, and since I was curious about the underlying cause, I pushed for more extensive testing. What I am wondering is that prior to these results, he saw a gastroenterologist who suggested myelodysplastic syndrome might be a possibility; can anything from these specific findings point toward that diagnosis? We also ran tests for B12 and folate, but those aren't back yet.

Theoretically, myelodysplasia could be a factor, but typically it is accompanied by anemia, which we don't see here. However, if suspicions continue to lean in that direction, a much broader diagnostic workup will certainly be required.
You noted that this individual was undergoing routine blood work monitoring, yet you mentioned he had virtually no symptoms aside from occasional ankle edema—which is quite non-specific and actually fairly common in an 80-year-old. This leads me to wonder what the primary clinical indication was for initiating these additional tests in the first place.

Keith Gonzalez said:Myelodysplasia? Theoretically, sure, but usually you'd see anemia alongside it, which doesn't seem to be the case here. If that’s where suspicions are heading, though, they'll need more extensive testing.
You mentioned this person gets routine blood work, but also said there were basically zero symptoms—aside from some occasional ankle swelling, which isn't anything specific and actually happens quite often at age 80. I guess I'm wondering what triggered the decision to run these tests in the first place.

None really. Since they're older, they tend to get checked out pretty regularly—blood work every few months and a full physical about every two years. They just had tumor markers done recently, too; the CEA was just a tiny bit elevated.

One more thing. I’ve got an appointment lined up with a hematologist, though we have to wait for the opening first. I was wondering if there are any other tests I should probably run to help rule things out or pin down the actual cause? Also, I forgot to mention that I don't drink or smoke—I know that's pretty significant data when looking at GGT levels. And regarding the high bilirubin, is that actually an issue? What's the deal there?

jadetinker10 said:I have one more question. We are currently waiting to get an appointment with a hematologist—which we have to wait for first—so I am wondering if there are any additional tests that should be performed to help eliminate possibilities or clarify the exact cause? I also neglected to mention that he doesn't drink alcohol or smoke, which I realize is quite significant information regarding GGT levels. Furthermore, is the elevated bilirubin itself a primary concern, and how does it relate to everything else?

In a clinical scenario such as this, one cannot simply view an elevated bilirubin level in total isolation.
It would be prudent to repeat a complete blood count—specifically requesting a platelet count using citrate tubes—along with a peripheral smear to check for morphological changes in the cells, as well as an ESR test. Additionally, a full biochemical panel should be conducted, and certain markers ought to be repeated: a comprehensive liver function test including LDH, electrolytes with calcium, urea and creatinine, and urates; if feasible, one should also include protein levels, albumin, and a protein electrophoresis.

Keith Gonzalez said:In this situation, you can't really look at elevated bilirubin on its own.
You should probably redo the full CBC (using citrate for platelets) and get a cell morphology report if anything looks off, plus an ESR test. It’s also worth checking the biochemistry again—specifically a full liver panel with LDH, electrolytes including calcium, urea, creatinine, and urates. If you can, grab protein levels, albumin, and a protein electrophoresis too.

Thanks a ton for the detailed breakdown. You really helped me out. Much appreciated.

boldfox5 said:Thank you for the response!

That’s correct, I also had my sex hormones checked:

Total Testosterone: 1.3 nmol/L (0.4 - 1.9)
Free Testosterone: 8.4 pmol/L (3.5 - 30)
Free Androgen Index: 0.6% (0.5 - 8.0)
SHBG 132 nmol/L (15 - 120)
Androstenedione: 8.6 nmol/L (1 - 12)
DHEAs 1.3 pmol/L (2-10)

One more thing:

For years now, my MCHC, MCV, and MCH have been low, while my RDW is slightly elevated. What might that indicate?

Thanks again for the help!

Ma'am,

I don't see progesterone, estradiol, FSH, or LH listed—did you have those tested? Additionally, cortisol and ACTH levels are missing. Based on your results, your DHEAs concentration is low. We need to look closely at adrenal gland function. If your other hormones are normal, low DHEAs in younger women can sometimes be linked to burnout. You should consult an endocrinologist.

Low MCV paired with high RDW could point toward iron-deficiency anemia, which can stem from blood loss. Certain rarer types of anemia show similar patterns, so these numbers always need to be weighed against clinical symptoms and other data. In the results you provided here, these values seem borderline rather than outright abnormal, and they align with a positive occult blood test—suggesting potential GI bleeding. A consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary.

shadowskipper15 said:Hi, I need help interpreting these endocrine results:
PTH (1) is 1.27 | ref range 1.6 to 6.9
All other values are within normal limits:
Anti-TPO (2) is 1.4 | ref range up to 5.6
Anti-TG (2) is 1.5 | ref range up to 4.1

thanks

Ma'am,

The antibodies characteristic of autoimmune thyroid disease are not elevated. To properly interpret parathyroid hormone levels, we would need to know your calcium levels (total and ionized), phosphate levels, and the specific reason this test was ordered.

I have a question regarding vaccinations.

My kid is 2.5 years old. He was vaccinated against the flu last year. After the first dose, he ran a slight fever, but after the second one, there were no issues at all.

Three months later, he broke out in hives, and a prick test confirmed an allergy to egg whites.

The blood test for an egg allergy came back at 0.502 kU/l, which I assume is quite low, since anything under 0.1 is considered negative.

Would it be wise to go ahead with Fluzone?

slystag4 said:I have a question regarding vaccinations.

A 2.5-year-old kid. Got the flu shot last year. After the first dose, a slight fever; after the second, nothing at all.

Three months later, hives. A prick test indicated an allergy to egg whites.

The blood test for egg allergy came back at 0.502 kU/l, which is low—anything under 0.1 is considered negative.

Is it safe to use Vaxigrip?

Hi there,

Does the child eat eggs? If so, how? Has he ever had a reaction after eating them? It seems unlikely that hives appearing three months after a flu shot would be linked to an egg white sensitivity, especially since he handled two doses of the vaccine without any issues. What were the specific results of the prick test?

Quick question here—are we looking at a total plateau or is this actually a shift in the results?
I haven't heard back from the hematologist oncologist yet... and honestly, shouldn't I have?

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Emily Ortiz27 said:Is this just stagnation, or is there an actual shift in the lab results?
No hematologist follow-up scheduled yet... Should one be?

Hi there,

The numbers look good. Stable, I’d say. I don't think a follow-up is necessary right now.

Respect, first off, I want to give a shout-out to Nicholas Myers for everything he does here. Great work. 🙏

Can anyone help me make sense of these blood results? (Male, 28 years old, 6'2", 176 lbs). As you can see from the screenshots, the numbers aren't wildly out of range, but it’s starting to feel a bit weird. My doctor keeps telling me everything looks fine, yet half my results are flagged with an H or an L.

A little context: my lymphocyte levels have been elevated during my last few check-ups over the past couple of years. My TSH fluctuates between 4 and 6 (my endocrinologist says I don't need medication yet). Also, my urine sometimes looks cloudy in the evenings—almost like I spilled a splash of milk in there—and there’s a slight stinging sensation when I go (though my urine culture came back sterile). On top of that, my creatinine has been hovering right at the upper limit for about two years now. My glucose has always been normal in previous tests. As for other symptoms, I’ve got this eczema on my face that’s pretty itchy, stinging, and peeling. Thanks!

https://prnt.sc/vhhacm
https://prnt.sc/vhhaud

Robin Scott9 said:Greetings, I would first like to extend my sincere gratitude to Nicholas Myers for everything he contributes to this community; truly excellent work. 🙏

Could someone please help me interpret these blood test results? (Male, 28 years old, 6'2", 176 lbs) As you can see from the attached images, while the values aren't drastically outside the standard range, it feels somewhat peculiar because my doctor insists everything is perfectly fine, even though several markers are flagged with an H or L.

It is worth noting that my lymphocyte levels have been elevated during three or four separate blood draws over the last few years. My TSH fluctuates between 4 and 6, though my endocrinologist believes there is no need to start medication at this stage. Occasionally, my urine appears cloudy in the evening—almost as if I had spilled a bit of milk into it—and I experience a slight stinging sensation during urination (though the urine culture came back sterile). Additionally, my creatinine levels have hovered right at the upper limit during several measurements over the past two years. My glucose levels have historically been normal. Regarding other symptoms, I am dealing with eczema that is quite itchy, stinging, and peeling on my face. Thank you!

https://prnt.sc/vhhacm
https://prnt.sc/vhhaud

Looking at the Complete Blood Count, I would suggest that these fluctuations might be a consequence of the eczema, as it seems to point toward a chronic state where the skin inflammation could be mediated by those elevated white blood cell counts. It might also be wise to check your iron levels, though it isn't strictly necessary. 😁

So, I’ve got a bit of a theoretical question for the group, something that popped up during a conversation we were having where even a deep dive with the Googlers didn't really give us a straight answer...
Does the progression of HL or the NFL actually mess with your blood work, or is it one of those things that stays totally hidden until you go through the whole ordeal of a lymph node biopsy or a bone marrow test?

Emily Ortiz27 said:I have a theoretical question stemming from a conversation where we couldn't find any answers through Googlers...
Does the progression of HL or NFL impact blood work, or can it only be detected via a lymph node or bone marrow biopsy?

Hello,

A lymphoma diagnosis requires a biopsy, typically starting with a lymph node. Blood counts can look perfectly normal in a patient with lymphoma, especially during the early stages; I’ve even seen patients with advanced disease whose blood work was flawless. Generally, though, as the disease progresses, changes in the blood profile emerge. These can range from anemia to low white blood cell or platelet counts—usually resulting from malignant cell infiltration in the bone marrow or autoimmune responses—to leukocytosis with lymphocytosis caused by circulating malignant cells, or thrombocytosis, which might be absolute due to paraneoplastic syndrome or relative due to blood loss.