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