Phosphorus plays an important role in bone health and is related to calcium levels. Healthy range: 70 to 99 mg/dL for the average adult (the elderly tend to score higher even when they are healthy) Phosphorus The fasting blood sugar test is done after at least 6 hours without food or drink other than water. Healthy range: 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for women 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL for men (the elderly may be slightly lower) Fasting glucose (blood sugar)īlood sugar levels can be affected by food or beverages you have ingested recently, your current stress levels, medications you may be taking, and the time of day. The kidneys process this waste product, so elevations could indicate a problem with kidney function. Healthy range: 98 to 106 mEq/L Creatinine It also could be a red flag for dehydration, multiple myeloma, kidney disorders, or adrenal gland dysfunction. Excess chloride may indicate an overly acidic environment in the body. A high-salt diet and/or certain medications are often responsible for elevations in chloride. This mineral is often measured as part of an electrolyte panel. Healthy range: 9.0 to 10.5 mg/dL (the elderly typically score a bit lower) Chloride Too much calcium in the bloodstream could indicate kidney problems overly active thyroid or parathyroid glands certain types of cancer, including lymphoma problems with the pancreas or a deficiency of vitamin D. Healthy ratio of BUN to creatinine: 10:1 to 20:1 (men and older individuals may be a bit higher) Calcium High levels of creatinine, a by-product of muscle contractions, are excreted through the kidneys and suggest reduced kidney function. This test shows if kidneys are eliminating waste properly. Healthy range: 10 to 20 mg/dL BUN/creatinine ratio A number of medications and a diet high in protein can also raise BUN levels. High values may indicate a problem with kidney function.
This is another measure of kidney and liver functions.
Healthy range: 0.1 to 1.9 mg/dL BUN (blood urea nitrogen) This provides information about liver and kidney functions, problems in bile ducts, and anemia. This enzyme is found in heart and liver tissue, so elevations suggest problems may be occurring in one or both of those areas.
This enzyme is involved in both liver and bone, so elevations may indicate problems with the liver or bone-related disease. Healthy ratio: a bit over 1, favoring albumin Alkaline phosphatase Elevated protein levels could indicate a health condition in need of attention. The A/G ratio test compares levels of these proteins with one another. There are two types of protein your blood - albumin (see above) and globulin. Healthy range: 3.9 to 5.0 g/dL A/G ratio (albumin/globulin ratio) or total protein test Anything higher may indicate liver damage.Ī protein made by the liver, albumin levels can be an indicator of liver or kidney problems. When all’s well with your liver, your score on this test should be within range. This test looks at levels of the liver enzyme ALT. Chemistry Panel (or Metabolic Panel) ALT (alanine aminotransferase) Today, we have a wide range of testing options to choose from, with blood tests being among the most basic.ĭuring a physical examination, your doctor will often draw blood for chemistry and complete blood count (CBC) tests as well as a lipid profile, which measures cholesterol and related elements.īlood tests use the metric measurement system and abbreviations such as the following:īlood tests allow a doctor to see a detailed analysis of any disease markers, the nutrients and waste products in your blood as well as how various organs (e.g., kidneys and liver) are functioning.īelow, we’ve explained some of the commonly measured indicators of health. Not that long ago, doctors diagnosed patients through observation and the patients’ answers to questions. Why your doctor tests your bloodīlood tests, sometimes called blood panels, are one of a physician’s most basic tools. That way, the next time you have blood work done, you’ll be able to read the results like a pro. This below guide provides a brief explanation of the abbreviations used in measurements and descriptions of several common test components. So to empower our readers, here is a simplified guide to understanding your blood test results. If you’re interested in playing a more active role in your medical care-something we strongly recommend-then we suggest you save this. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably looked over the alphabet soup of acronyms and abbreviations in your blood test results and wondered what it all means.
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