Re: How to read blood test results

[Guest guest]

joy,

I have a

spreadsheet that I keep with all of Noah’s.

(and yes, I am

a nerd)

I am attaching

it…in parentheses there are the normal limits-for our lab…now I

have heard that the ranges can extend in one direction or another depending on

the lab, but this can give you a ballpark.

P.S. You can

just erase his after you see how I set it up and put your own in.

Mom of Zoe (13) My very normal (teenager normal) soccer player;

Noah (8) Indeterminate colitis, PSC, Osteopenia (1-4 lumbar

vertebrae);

Aidan (4 1/2) Moderately-severe SNHL bilaterally

Recycle

Yourself

Become an

Organ Donor

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi I was just woundering how do I read my liver fuction test

results?

> Whats a normal number and whats a abnormal number? any help would be

> great as I would like to keep an eye on them.

>

-Joy,

This site has links to explanations of common tests used to monitor

liver disease:

http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/labs/toc.html

The normal values are not given in these discussions, usually lab

results will be accompanied by a normal range and flags for results

that are out of range (either high 'H' or low 'L').

Be aware of that the units used in the US and the rest of the world

can cause a big difference in some lab values. For example a total

bilirubin of 1.0 mg/dL as reported in the US is the same as 17.1

µmol/L in SI units (so both 1.0 and 17 are normal bilirubin values

depending on the units). So values you see being reported by those in

the US may not be directly comparable to your lab values. A good site

for converting conventional (US) units to SI units for clinical data

is:

http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/scales/clinical_data.html

Tim R

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tim but I still don't get it. my results for the bloods I just

had done were

Total bilirubin level 12 miccromol/l {3-17}

Alt level HI 56IU/L {10-45}

alkaline phosphatase level HI 338 IU/L {75-250}

albumin level HI 52 G/L {35-50}

Got any ideas what that means and is it good or bad?

[Guest guest]

> ... my results for the bloods I just had done were

>

> Total bilirubin level 12 miccromol/l {3-17}

In the normal range - this is good.

> Alt level HI 56IU/L {10-45}

> alkaline phosphatase level HI 338 IU/L {75-250}

Both slightly high - some liver damage going on.

> albumin level HI 52 G/L {35-50}

A little above normal range, but this is good because when liver

damage is extensive albumin level will drop. So slightly high may

just be because you were a little dehydrated when tested.

> Got any ideas what that means and is it good or bad?

>

Overall I would be very happy with these results (of course I'm

already on the waiting list for a liver transplant). They indicate

the liver is still functioning well even if some damage is

occurring. The damage is minor (ALT and Alk Phos are both less than

2 times the upper limit of normal). A discussion with your doctor

about these (and your next set of results) should be one objective

of your next appointment, so you have a better understanding of how

these numbers will affect your treatment of PSC (and so you'll have

more than my layman's opinion to rely on).

Tim R

[Guest guest]

>

> joy,

>

> I have a spreadsheet that I keep with all of Noah's.

>

> (and yes, I am a nerd)

>

> I am attaching it.in parentheses there are the normal limits-for

our lab.now

> I have heard that the ranges can extend in one direction or another

> depending on the lab, but this can give you a ballpark.

>

>

>

> P.S. You can just erase his after you see how I set it up and put

your own

> in.

>

>

>

> Mom of Zoe (13) My very normal (teenager normal) soccer player;

>

> Noah (8) Indeterminate colitis, PSC, Osteopenia (1-4 lumbar

vertebrae);

>

> Aidan (4 1/2) Moderately-severe SNHL bilaterally

>

> Recycle Yourself

>

> Become an Organ Donor

>

> Talk to your family about organ donation-cloud

>

Hi I didn't get this can you please email it to me at

kellyjoysargent@... thanks kelly-joy

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tim. How do you know whats a normal range then and above range.

this is what I just don't understand. What is the normal range? and

what is a non normal range?. kelly-joy

[Guest guest]

>

> ... How do you know whats a normal range then and above range?

Each of your test results is followed by the units and then the normal

range in {}s. In addition your labs indicates results that are above

the normal range as " HI " and those below as " LO " (my lab uses " H "

and " L " ). What is not indicated is the significance of the value. That

is the role of your doctor. Results within the normal range usually do

not indicate anything to investigate further (sometimes in conjunction

with other results they may steer an investigation one way rather than

another, but a normal result by itself rarely indicates a problem).

High and low results call for an explanation. Sometimes the result is

so close to the normal range (like your albumin level) that it can be

reasonably ignored. Others (like your ALT and Alk Phos) may be

consistent with your diagnosis and may be used to develop or modify

treatment. Values that are not explainable need to be investigated

further.

> Total bilirubin level 12 miccromol/l {3-17}

> Alt level HI 56IU/L {10-45}

> alkaline phosphatase level HI 338 IU/L {75-250}

> albumin level HI 52 G/L {35-50}

>

Regards,

Tim R

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tim. Sorry if I was beinging an airhead I get it now.

[Guest guest]

> Thanks ... I get it now.

That's good. It helps if you have some understanding when you talk

with your doctor about lab results. Remember though that lab results

are only part of the picture. How you feel is a very important

consideration. All the little insignificant symptoms should be taken

into account and integrated into the total picture of your health. So

you and your doctor have to communicate as Barb's post (84623, What

Makes a Good Patient?) pointed out.

Tim R