reading lab reports

[TriciaK]

I know this has been covered before, but I can't find the info: Is there a place where we can go to understand what our lab reports say? For instance, I saw my oncologist yesterday and he is concerned about some values outside the reference range on my recent blood test, especially that there seems to be some kidney problems. He is scheduling some tests, including my usual yearly PET/CT scan, which will now include the kidneys as well as lungs. I have had a severe pain in the right kidney area for about a week, like someone hit me there with a baseball bat, but no apparent sign of fever or infection. Here are the values:
Hematocrit: L@ 33.2---RDW:H@ 15.4--- Eosinophils: H@ 9
Glucose: H@ 110--- Urea Nitrogen(BUN): H@ 28
Creatinine: H@ 1.8--- GFR EST.: L@ 29
If anyone can explain these figures and/or give me the website to check, I would appreciate it. Thank you! and hugs! Tricia

[astrid]

Check out:

http://mycourses.med.harvard.edu/ResCourses/_online_textbooks/PBD/nrrt.htm



For more information go to google and type in what is Hematocrit? or any other term you want



Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the blood or the measure of the volume of red blood cells as a percentage of the total blood volume. Normal Range in males is 43-49%, in females 37-43%



RDW: The red cell distribution width is an electronic measure of anisocytosis (variation of cell size). It increases where the degree of anisocytosis is increased. In regenerative anemia, it increases when large cells are produced even before the MCV exceeds the reference range. It also increases when small cells are produced as with iron deficiency anemia. The red blood cell distribution width, or RDW, is a measure of the variation of red blood cell volume that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count. Range 11.0 - 15.0

[StephN]

Hi Tricia -
I can see that your creatinine is up past normal, but this may not have changed much for you - do you have some old lab results to compare these new ones with??

Here is a web site for understanding your lab results:

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/index.html

Hope this will help.

I agree with Steph - you need to review prior lab tests to see where you 'were'. I track all lab tests, especially liver panel as I have mets to liver.

[Mary Anne in TX]

www.webmd.com has some good information on the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel which includes all the things he mentioned.

ma