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- Hematology Wellness is
an assessment of the cellular portion of the blood.
- WBC (White Blood Cell Count) is an
indicator of the status of the body’s defense system
against infection. Elevated counts indicate a bacterial
infection while low WBC’s can indicate a virus.
- RBC (Red Blood Cell Count) is a count
of the RBCs in a measured amount of blood. This represents
the ability of the blood to carry oxygen to the tissues.
Low counts are associated with anemia and problems with
the manufacture of new RBCs.
- HGB (Hemoglobin) is the portion of
the RBC that actually carries the oxygen. Low values
indicate anemia.
- HCT (Hematocrit) compares the amount
of cells to the amount of serum (fluid) in a blood sample.
This test is also used for diagnosing anemia.
- MCV, MCH, MCHC are called “indices”.
They are calculated values which help the doctor to determine,
if present, a type of anemia.
- Platelets are important in the blood
clotting process.
Significant abnormalities in any area of the hemogram
should be brought to the attention of your health care provider.
- Glucose or
blood sugar is the most frequently ordered of all
clinical chemistry tests and is primarily a screen
for diabetes or hypoglycemia. The pancreas manufactures
insulin which converts sugars into a usable form
of energy for the body. This test is greatly affected
if you are not fasting. Variations in glucose levels
could also be due to Cushing’s syndrome, tumors,
and liver diseases.
- Cholesterol and
Triglycerides are fats. Fats are important
in the diet for proper function of many bodily
functions. However, elevated amounts of cholesterol
and triglycerides increase your risk of stroke
and heart disease. “Atherosclerosis” refers
to the deposition of fatty substances, largely
cholesterol, in the walls of the arteries.
- Total cholesterol is
composed of three functions:
- High Density Lipoproteins (HDL),
Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) and Very Low
Density Lipoproteins (VLDL). HDL
comprises some of the total cholesterol and
because of its significance in coronary heart
disease, we measure it and calculate the
other fractions. High values of HDL (good
cholesterol) tend to protect against atherosclerosis.
HDL may be increased with exercise. LDL (bad
cholesterol) may be decreased by lowering
the saturated fat intake in your diet or
by medication. Elevated levels of triglycerides
may be due to diets high in carbohydrates
and calories or by high alcohol intake.
- CHOL./HDL Radio is a calculation
that can aid your doctor in diagnosis if you
have an imbalance of these two fats in your
system.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
and Creatinine are waste products measured
primarily to assess kidney function. Concentration
of these in the body depends upon the rate of productions
by the liver and the rate of removal by the kidneys.
High values indicate that blood flow through the
kidneys is reduced and that they are not filtering
waste from the blood properly, that a high protein
diet has been eaten, that there has been excessive
destruction of cellular proteins of the body (fever
or massive infections), or that there has been
an obstruction to urine excretion. Low values are
not usually associated with disease.
- Calcium is
one of the most important elements in the body, essential
for maintenance and repair of bone and teeth, heart
function and blood clotting. Ninety-nine percent
of the calcium in your body is contained in your
bones – only one percent is in the blood. Low
levels of calcium in the blood are associated with
malnutrition. High levels can be caused by bone disease,
excessive use of antacids and milk, cancer, overdosing
on Vitamin D and some hormone disorders.
- Alkaline Phosphatase
and ALT are enzymes. An enzyme is a molecule
that promotes chemical reactions. Alkaline Phosphatase
is found in many body tissues, but the most important
sites are bone, liver, bile ducts and gut. A high
level of alkaline phosphatase in your blood may
indicate bone, liver, or bile duct disease. Certain
drugs may also cause increased levels. Growing
children, because of bone growth, normally have
higher levels than adults. The ALT enzyme
is found mainly in the liver. Damage from alcohol,
strenuous exercise and a number of diseases can
cause high values for ALT (SGPT). Low values of
alkaline phosphatase and ALT are not generally
considered significant.
- Uric Acid is
a byproduct from the breakdown of the body’s
own cells and certain proteins. A high level of uric
acid in your blood may cause gout, arthritis or kidney
stones. Kidney disease, stress, alcohol and certain
diuretics may also raise the level. Low levels are
not generally considered significant.
- Total Protein in
the blood is an indicator of your general health,
nutrition, and defense against infection. Total protein
is made up of both albumin and globulin fractions.
Albumin acts as a transport mechanism for substances
such as drugs, antibiotics, etc. Proteins are normally
too big to pass through the kidneys. Low values are
associated with kidney, liver, and/or bowel disease
or with nutritional deficiency such as protein starvation.
High values may indicate that a disease process may
be causing your body to overproduce various proteins.
Dehydration can also increase albumin concentration.
The most common causes of increased globulins are
chronic infections, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus,
and multiple myeloma. Decreased globulins may be
due to an inherited inability to make globulin. These
people are susceptible to infections.
- Blood Type (ABO
and Rh) are the most common type of antigens
found on your red blood cells. You can have A antigens
and your blood type would be “A”. You
can also have B antigens and your blood type would
be type “B”. If you do not have “A” or “B” antigens,
your blood type is “O”. You can also
have both “A” and “B” antigens
present and then your blood type would be “AB”.
- Rh antigen is either present (positive) or not present
(negative). The following table gives approximate blood
type frequency. This frequency does vary slightly with
race.
| A pos 35% |
O pos 38% |
AB neg 1% |
| B pos 8% |
A neg 6% |
O neg 7% |
| AB pos 3% |
B neg 2% |
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