Laboratory Test Index
Clinical Manual
Laboratory Test Index
Blood Tests
Laboratory Test Index
Blood Tests
This section provides valuable information for practitioners who use laboratory tests to assist in diagnosis and treatment. The index offers a guideline on lab tests, reference range, possible diagnosis, and suggested herbal formulas. However, it is important to note that laboratory results do not equate to diagnosis, as one result may indicate multiple possible diagnoses. Furthermore, one diagnosis does not equate to one herbal formula, as any one disease may have significantly different clinical manifestations and may need to be treated differently. Informed professional judgment and careful evaluation must be exercised prior to recommending any herbal formulas to patients.
This index is authored by: Dr. Matt Van Benschoten
Test & Reference Range | Result | Possible Diagnosis | Herbal Formulas | Acupuncture |
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Albumin3.5–5.5 g/dL |
Low | due to kidney disorders |
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due to inflammation |
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due to chronic, mild diarrhea |
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due to liver disorders |
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due to acute, severe diarrhea |
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Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)36–92 U/L |
Elevated | due to liver disorders, if GGTP is also elevated |
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due to gallstones |
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Bone disorders with increased frequency of fractures, if GGTP is normal or low |
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Aminotransferase, alanine (ALT) [formerly SGOT]0–35 U/L |
Elevated | due to liver disorders such as fatty liver |
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due to liver disorders with cholecystitis or cholelithiasis |
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due to liver disorders |
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Aminotransferase, aspartate (AST) [formerly SGPT]0–35 U/L |
Elevated | due to liver disorders |
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due to liver disorders such as fatty liver |
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due to liver disorders with cholecystitis or cholelithiasis |
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Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)≤ 1.0 units |
Positive | due to autoimmune disease |
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due to Lupus |
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with atrophy and damage of tissues and organs |
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with blood stasis |
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Basophils0-2% |
High | due to allergy of the nose |
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due to allergy of the skin |
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Bicarbonate (carbon dioxide)23–28 mEq/L |
Elevated | due to lung disorders |
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due to adrenal insufficiency |
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due to acute, severe diarrhea |
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due to chronic, mild diarrhea |
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due to kidney disorders |
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Bilirubin0–0.3 mg/dL (direct) |
Elevated |
due to liver disorders (cirrhosis, viral hepatitis) |
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due to liver disorders (gallstones) |
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BUN |
Elevated | Placeholder for listing | ||
Low | Placeholder for listing | |||
C reactive protein (CRP)< 0.5 mg/dL |
>2.4 mg/dL | significantly higher risk of coronary event |
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Calcium9–10.5 mg/dL |
High | due to hyperparathyroidism from tumor or low vitamin D levels |
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due to kidney disorders |
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due to cancer |
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Low | due to low blood protein levels |
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with increased risk of osteoporosis |
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CD4 T cell count640–1175/μL |
Low | low T-cell count |
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CD8 T cell count335–875/μL |
Low | low T-cell count |
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Chloride98–106 mEq/L |
High | due to anemia |
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due to dehydration from diarrhea |
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due to kidney disorders |
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Low | due to adrenal insufficiency |
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due to chronic lung disorders (i.e., emphysema) |
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due to acute, severe diarrhea |
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due to chronic, mild diarrhea |
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due to ulcerative colitis |
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due to fever |
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Occurs with any disorder that causes low blood sodium |
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Cholesterol (HDL)HDL: ≥ 40 mg/dL |
<40 mg/dL | Dyslipidemia |
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Dyslipidemia with increased risk of heart disease |
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Cholesterol (LDL)LDL: ≤ 130 mg/dL |
>130 mg/dL | Hyperlipidemia |
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Hyperlipidemia with increased risk of heart disease |
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Cholesterol (Total)Total: 150–199 mg/dL |
>200 mg/dL | Hyperlipidemia |
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Hyperlipidemia with increased risk of heart disease |
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Hyperlipidemia with kidney disorders |
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Hyperlipidemia with diabetes |
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Hyperlipidemia with obesity |
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Hyperlipidemia with hypertension |
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Low | due to liver disorders |
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due to hyperthyroidism |
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due to anemia |
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due to stress |
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Complete blood cell count (CBC) |
see individual tests |
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Creatine kinase (CK or CPK)30–170 U/L |
High | due to acute heart attack |
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due to muscular dystrophy |
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due to trauma |
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due to chronic alcoholism |
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Creatinine0.7–1.3 mg/dL |
Elevated | due to kidney damage |
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due to kidney damage from kidney stones |
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Electrolytes |
see individual tests |
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Eosinophils0-7% |
High | due to allergy of the nose |
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due to allergy of the skin |
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Low | due to bacterial infection |
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Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)0–20 mm/h (female) |
High |
Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation [blood stasis] |
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RBC aggregation due to infection |
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RBC aggregation due to inflammation |
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RBC aggregation due to arthritis |
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RBC aggregation due to nephritis |
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RBC aggregation due to autoimmune disease |
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RBC aggregation due to inflammatory bowel disease |
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RBC aggregation due to anemia |
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RBC aggregation due to heavy metal poisoning |
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Low |
Inhibited RBC sedimentation due to polycythemia, leukocytosis, sickle cell anemia |
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Ferritin15–200 μg/L |
High | High ferritin due to inflammation |
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High ferritin due to arthritis |
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High ferritin due to liver disorders |
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High ferritin due to infection |
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Low | Low ferritin due to anemia |
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Low ferritin due to bleeding |
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Gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (GGT or GGTP)8–78 U/L |
High | Liver disorders, especially due to alcohol consumption |
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Glucose70–105 mg/dL (fasting) |
High |
Pre-diabetes (>105) or diabetes (>125) |
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due to acute stress |
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due to hyperthyroidism |
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due to chronic liver disorders |
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Low |
due to Addison's disease |
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due to hypothyroidism |
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Hematocrit36–47% (female) |
High |
Dehydration (#1 cause of high hematocrit) |
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Low |
Anemia |
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Anemia due to bone marrow damage during chemotherapy or radiation |
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Anemia due to hyperthyroidism |
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Anemia due to liver disorders |
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Anemia due to bleeding |
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Hemoglobin12–16 g/dL (female) |
Low | Anemia |
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Anemia due to bone marrow damage during chemotherapy or radiation |
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Anemia due to kidney disorders |
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Anemia due to liver disorders |
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Anemia due to hyperthyroidism |
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Anemia due to bleeding |
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Lipids |
see Cholesterol, Triglycerides |
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Liver function tests |
see individual tests |
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Lymphocytes21-49% |
High | due to viral infection |
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Low | due to diseases that affect the immune system |
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due to autoimmune disorders |
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Magnesium1.5–2.4 mg/dL |
High | due to hypothyroidism |
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due to Addison's disease |
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due to kidney disorders |
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Low | due to kidney disorders |
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due to thyroid disorders |
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due to acute, severe diarrhea |
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due to chronic, mild diarrhea |
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due to excessive urination in diabetes |
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due to ulcerative colitis |
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Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)80–100 fL |
High | Macrocytic RBC due to liver disorders |
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Low | Microcytic RBC due to blood loss |
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Monocyte0-14% |
High | due to inflammatory conditions |
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Neutrophils38-70% |
High | due to bacterial infection |
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due to inflammatory conditions |
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Low | due to chemotherapy or radiation therapy |
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Platelet count150–350 x 103 /μL |
High | due to infection |
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due to cancer |
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due to trauma |
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due to arthritis |
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due to cardiovascular and circulatory diseases |
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Low | with risks of bleeding and bruising |
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due to autoimmune disorders |
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due to chemotherapy or radiation therapy |
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due to kidney disorders |
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due to bone marrow damage |
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due to allergy of the nose |
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due to allergy of the skin |
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due to exposure to chemicals, toxins, or drugs |
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due to infection |
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low platelet count |
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Potassium3.5–5 mEq/L |
High | due to kidney disorders |
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due to adrenal insufficiency |
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due to infection |
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due to diabetes |
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due to chemotherapy |
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Low | due to acute, severe diarrhea |
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due to chronic, mild diarrhea |
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due to liver disorders |
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due to chronic stress |
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due to fever |
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Prostate specific antigen, total (PSA T)0–4 ng/mL |
High | due to enlarged prostate |
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Protein, total6–7.8 g/dL |
High | due to chronic inflammation |
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due to autoimmune disease |
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due to rheumatoid arthritis |
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due to chronic infection |
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due to hepatitis or acute liver disorders |
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Low | due to liver disorders |
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due to kidney disorders |
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Malabsorption due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) |
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due to hemorrhage |
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due to acute, severe diarrhea |
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due to chronic, mild diarrhea |
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Malabsorption due to weakened digestive system |
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Red blood cell (RBC) count4.2–5.9 x 106 cells/μL |
High | Coronary artery conditions |
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Poisoning |
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Lung disorders |
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Low | Anemia due to chemotherapy or radiation |
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Anemia due to bone marrow damage |
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Anemia due to chronic inflammatory conditions |
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Anemia due to kidney disorders |
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Anemia due to trauma |
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Anemia due to bleeding |
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Anemia |
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Sequential multiple analyzer (SMA 6, 12, 20) |
see individual tests |
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SGOT |
see Aminotransferase, alanine (ALT) |
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SGPT |
see Aminotransferase, aspartate (AST) |
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Sodium136–145 mEq/L |
High | due to frequent urination in diabetes |
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Low | due to adrenal insufficiency |
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due to acute, severe diarrhea |
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due to chronic, mild diarrhea |
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excessive fluid accumulation due to liver disorders (cirrhosis) |
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excessive fluid accumulation due to kidney disorders |
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Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)0.5–5.0 μIU/mL |
High | Hypothyroidism with high TSH and low T3 and T4 |
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Low | Hyperthyroidism with low TSH and high T3 and T4 |
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Thyroxine (T4)0.9–2.4 ng/dL (free) |
High | Hyperthyroidism with low TSH and high T3 and T4 |
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Low | Hypothyroidism with high TSH and low T3 and T4 |
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Triglycerides< 250 mg/dL |
Elevated | Hypertriglyceridemia |
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due to obesity |
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with diabetes |
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due to hypothyroidism |
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with increased risk of heart disease |
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Triiodothyronine (T3)25–35% (uptake) |
High |
Hyperthyroidism with low TSH and high T3 and T4 |
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Low |
Hypothyroidism with high TSH and low T3 and T4 |
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Urea nitrogen (BUN)8–20 mg/dL |
Elevated | due to acute or chronic kidney disease, damage, failure |
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due to kidney damage from kidney stones |
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due to kidney damages from diabetes |
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due to kidney damages from chronic gout |
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due to gastrointestinal bleeding |
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due to infection |
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decreased blood flow to kidneys due to cardiovascular conditions |
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Low | due to liver failure |
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Uric acid2.5–8 mg/dL |
Elevated | due to gout |
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due to recurring kidney stones |
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due to kidney disorders |
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due to chemotherapy |
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due to lead poisoning |
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White blood cell (WBC) count3.9–10.7 x 103 cells/μL |
High | due to inflammation |
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due to stress |
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due to hemorrhage |
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due to trauma |
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due to cancer |
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due to accumulation of toxins, chemicals, or drugs |
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due to allergy of the nose |
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due to allergy of the skin |
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due to hepatitis |
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due to heavy metal toxicities |
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due to bacterial infection |
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Low | with weaken immune system |
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due to chemotherapy or radiation therapy |
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due to bone marrow damage |
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due to heavy metal toxicities |
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due to alcoholism |
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due to diabetes |
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due to autoimmune disorders |
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due to viral infection |
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