Most people undergo blood tests for a variety of reasons. However, when the results are turned in, most have no idea on what the results say and you would have to rely on your doctor to interpret those results. Finding out about its interpretation so you can get a better understanding about the risks involved for your condition, as well. This article will go through the process of blood test results explained so you can get a better idea about the results for your test.
Before moving further into the process of blood tests results explained, it is important to identify the main elements found in your blood. All of these play an important role in maintaining your health and will definitely show up in your result.
There are two main components in your blood: plasma and cells. Plasma is the fluid that makes up your blood and consists of water and all other nutrients, proteins and hormones that are supplied throughout your body for health maintenance. Meanwhile, the cells found in your blood can either one of these three: white, red, and platelets. The red blood cells facilitate in delivering oxygen throughout the various parts of the body through a network of veins and capillaries. White blood cells are vital in building your body’s immune system to defend itself against common causes of illness. Platelets are responsible for producing clots in the blood whenever you cut or wound yourself.
CBC or complete blood count is one of the most basic elements found in your blood test result. It consists of hemoglobin count that is normally within the 13 to 15.5 range for men and women. You will also find red blood count that varies in average for men and women. The normal red blood count for men is at 4.7 to 6.1 per cubic meter, while the female average is at 4.2 to 5.4 per cubic meter. Another important component in your CBC is the MCV or mean corpuscular volume, which indicates how many red blood cells are present in your system. The readings must range between 80 to 97 and if the figures are lower, then it could indicate that you have anemia. The Hermatocrit on your blood test result indicate the percentage of red blood cells found in your blood, which should ideally be 38.5 to 49 percent on average.
Continuing on with the blood test results explained, another important component is the comprehensive metabolic panel. In this particular type of test, you will learn about your sodium, calcium, protein, glucose, alkaline phosphatase, and other essential electrolyte levels in the body. Some of them might require specific pre-test methods, such as fasting or refraining from consuming certain food items to ensure that the test results will return as clean as possible. This will enable doctors to accurately make diagnosis on your health condition, depending on the symptoms that were specified during the initial checkup.
