WHAT DO BLOOD TESTS TELL

Blood test

Normal values

Implications of abnormal values

Red blood cells

5 millions per microliter

Anemia, bleeding, dehydration

White blood cells

4 to 10 thousands per microliter

Infection, blood cancer, immune system disorder

Platelets

150,000 to 450,000 per microliter

Bleeding disorder, thrombotic disorder

Haemoglobin

150g per liter

Anemia, thalassemia, diabetes (A1c)

Hematocrit

0.4 to 0.5

Anemia, dehydration, blood disorder, bone marrow disorder

Mean corpuscular volume

80 – 100 fL

Anemia, thalassemia

Glucose (fasting)

3-6 mmol/L

Diabetes

Calcium

2-3 mmol/L

Kidney, bone, thyroid, cancer, malnutrition

Potassium

3-5 mmol/L

Dehydration, kidney disease, liver disease, heart failure, high blood pressure

Sodium

130-150 mmol/L

HCO3

25-30 mmol/L

Cl

100 mmol/L

Troponin

<0.01ug/L

Heart attack

Creatine kinase

<130 u/L

Heart attack

Total cholesterol

<5 mmol/L

Increased risk for coronary heart disease

LDL

<3 mmol/L

HDL

>1 mmol/L

Triglycerides

<2 mmol/L