Lab Values High/Low causes Flashcards
RBCs (Red Blood Cells) – Erythrocyte Count
Purpose of test?
To check oxygen levels/cell-carrying capacity in blood
Low/High erythrocyte count
Low value = anemia, hemorrhage (excessive bleeding)
High value = polycythemia
WBCs (white Blood Cells)
Purpose of test
To assess the body’s ability to respond to & fight infection, determine presence of infection or response to treatment
WBC high/low caused by?
High values = infection, inflammation
Low values = aplastic anemia, chemotherapy effects, leukemia, HIV
Platelets
Purpose of test
assess clotting mechanisms of body, check platelet count
causes of low/high platelets values?
Low value = uncontrolled bleeding (thrombocytopenia)
High value = clotting, hardening of arteries (arthrosclerosis)
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Purpose of test:
measure amount of Hgb (protein in RBCs that carries O2) in blood
causes of low/high Hgb
Low value = anemia, hemorrhage, fluid retention
High value = polycythemia, dehydration
Hematocrit
Purpose of test:
measure packed cell volume (percentage)
hematocrit high/low caused by
High & Low values for same reasons as Hgb
Low value = anemia, hemorrhage, fluid retention
High value = polycythemia, dehydration
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
Purpose of test
: to monitor thyroid function
TSH Low Value Causes and meaning
= hyperthyroidism, too much medication, normal in first trimester of pregnancy
TSH High value causes and meaning
= hypothyroidism, not enough medication, pitiutary gland tumor
Blood Glucose
Low vs High value
Low Value = hypoglycemia
High value = hyperglycemia
Cholesterol Panel
Purpose of test:
to obtain a lipoprotein profile
LDL vs HDL
LDL (bad cholesterol) ideally below 100
HDL (good cholesterol) above* 45 or 50
What does a high value of total lipoprotein (excluding HDL) create a risk of?
increases risk of heart disease
</3 :(
PT/INR (Prothrombin Time, International Normalized Ratio)
Purpose of test:
to measure how long it takes blood to clot; check for bleeding problems
What is INR? how do you calculate INR?
INR is used to standardize PT test results
INR = Patient PT result ÷ normal PT value
what does a long bleeding time PT
INR indicate
lack of or low level of one or more clotting factors;
lack of Vitamin K
liver disease/injury
DIC- (causes abnormal blood clotting)
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Purpose of test:
measures amount of nitrogen in blood from waste products; assess renal function
High value BUN caused by
kidney injury/disease (usually secondary to disease process), blockage of urinary tract,
Heart failure
dehydration
Low value BUN caused by
low protein diet, (Nitrogen is found in amino acids)
malnutrition,
severe liver damage
overhydration-dilutes
Creatinine
Purpose of test:
measures level of waste product creatinine in blood, assess renal function
Low creatine?
Low value: low muscle mass (secondary to disease or aging), severe liver disease, very low protein diet
High creatine?
kidney injury/disease (usually secondary to disease process), blockage of urinary tract, dehydration, heart failure
- same as BUN,
excessive blood loss, muscle disorders
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
Purpose of test:
liver function test, measures amount of ALT in blood to identify liver damage/disease
high value ALT?
:recent or severe liver damage,
hepatitis,
necrosis, shock, cirrhosis,
alcohol abuse, acetaminophen overdose
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
Purpose of test:
liver function test, measures amount of AST in blood to identify liver damage/disease
high value AST?
:recent or severe liver damage,
hepatitis,
necrosis, shock, cirrhosis,
alcohol abuse, acetaminophen overdose
(same as ALT)
Total Serum Protein test includes
(includes Albumin & Globulin)
Albumin
Purpose of test
liver function test to determine amount of protein albumin in blood
High albumin caused by
High value: severe dehydration
low albumin caused by
Low value: malnutrition, kidney or liver disease, inflammation
Globulin
Purpose of test
liver function test to determine amount of protein globulin in blood, helps determine chance of developing infection
Alpha 1, Alpha 2, Beta, Gamma
High value globulin caused by
blood diseases,
autoimmune disorders,
liver or kidney disease
low values of globulin caused by
kidney disorders,
hematologic disorders
Sodium
Purpose of test
measure amount of sodium in the blood; check water & electrolyte balance of body
High value Na caused by (hypernatremia)
high sodium diet,
dehydration,
hyperaldosteronism
Low value Na caused by (hyponatremia),
excessive sweating,
burns,
severe vomiting or diarrhea,
malnutrition,
underactive adrenal or thyroid gland
(hyperkalemia) high values of Potassium caused by
kidney damage/injury,
severe burns,
heart attack,
excessive supplementation
hypokalemia low values of potassium caused by
high aldosterone levels – adrenal gland dysfunction, Cystic fibrosis, alcohol abuse, diet
High value Ca (hypercalcemia),
hyperparathyroidism, cancer, TB
Low value Ca (hypocalcemia)
hypoparathyroidism, low albumin level, malnutrition
High Mg
dehydration,
renal failure,
adrenal gland disease (Addison’s disease), hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism,
too much MOM
Low Mg
alcohol abuse,
diabetes complications,
hypercalcemia,
pancreatitis,
kidney disease
High Chlorine Cl
High value: dehydration, high salt diet, kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism
Low Chlorine Cl
Low value: conditions that cause water build-up in the body, Addison’s Disease, heart failure
High phosphate test
High value: kidney disease, hypoparathyroidism, healing fractures
Low phosphate test
Low value: hyperparathyroidism, bone disease, severe malnutrition
BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide)
Purpose of test
to measure amount of BNP hormone in the blood, assess for heart failure
High BNP brain natriuretic peptide
High value: heart failure, increased pressure or fluid in the heart
high troponin
High value: Heart muscle injury; levels typically rise 4-6 hours after a heart attack, highest level 12-24 hours after a heart attack
CK-MB (creatinine phosokinase MB), also known as CPK-MB high value
Heart muscle damage caused by heart attack; levels rise within 4-6 hours after heart attack, reach highest levels within 12-24 hours
high specific gravity
High value: dehydration, diuretic use, kidney disease
low specific gravity
Low value: overhydration, sugar or protein present
causes of high vs low pH of urine
High value: metabolic or respiratory alkalosis
Low value: metabolic or respiratory acidosis
protein above expected amount in the urine indicates
If present: kidney damage, HTN, pregnancy, infection
glucose in urine
If present: uncontrolled diabetes, kidney disease
ketones in urine
If present: uncontrolled diabetes, alcoholism, low CHO diet
RBC WBC nitrites
UTi
