Routine lab tests

Question 1

RBC count

Answer 1

Helps with anemia diagnosis

Question 2

Hemoglobin (Hb)

Answer 2

RBC hemoglobin content; helps with anemia diagnosis

Question 3

Hematocrit

Answer 3

Percent RBC volume in the blood; helps with anemia diagnosis

Question 4

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)

Answer 4

RBC size, helps to distinguish microcytic and microcytic anemia

Question 5

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)

Answer 5

RBC Hb conc; helps with diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia

Question 6

White blood cell (WBC) count

Answer 6

WBC number: may indicate immune status, infection or inflammation

Question 7

Total protein

Answer 7

Not specific to disease; may reflect body prot content, illness, infection, inflammation, changes in hydration or metabolism, pregnancy or use of certain medications

Question 8

Albumin

Answer 8

Levels may reflect illness or PEM, slow to respond to improvement or worsening of disease

Question 9

Transferrin

Answer 9

Levels may reflect illness. PEM or iron deficiency slightly more sensitive to changes in health status than albumin

Question 10

Preakbumin

Answer 10

Levels may reflect illness or PEM more responsive to changes in health status than albumin or transferrin

Question 11

C-reactive protein

Answer 11

Elevated levels may indicate inflammation or disease

Question 12

Creatine kinase

Answer 12

Different forms are found in the muscle, brain, tissue damage or skeletal muscle injury

Question 13

Lactate dehydrogenase

Answer 13

Found in many tissues specific types may be elevated after a heart attack lung damage or liver disease