Blood Tests

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to share what I have learned today about

blood tests. Many of you probably pay much more attention to what our

blood tests reveil than I ever have, but for some reason, my

anticipation of what my blood tests are going say tomorrow, has led me

the last few days to do more research, and this is what I have found.

Hopefully it can help someone out there.

These Blood Tests were ordered once every 2 - 8 weeks by my

rheumatologist in my case of RA and Arava Blood Tests (ordered once

every 2 - 8 weeks)

CRP (C-Reactive Protein) is an acute phase reactant, a substance made by

the liver and secreted into the bloodstream within a few hours after the

start of an infection or inflammation. Increased levels are observed

after a heart attack, in sepsis, and after a surgical procedure. Its

rise in the blood can also precede pain, fever, or other clinical

indications.

The level of CRP can jump a thousand-fold in response to inflammation

and can be valulable in monitoring disease activity.

CBC (Complete Blood Count) aka Hemogram, CBC with differential

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is an automated count of the cells

in the blood. A standard CBC includes the following:

* number of white blood cells (WBC) is a count of the actual number of

white blood cells per volume of blood. Both increases and decreases

can be significant.

*number of red blood cells (RBC) is a count of the actual number of red

blood cells per volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can point

to abnormal conditions.

*hemoglobin content (Hgb) measures the amount of oxygen-carrying protein

in the blood.

*Hematocrit (Hct) measures the percentage of red blood cells in a given

volume of whole blood.

*mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of

your RBCs. The MCV is elevated when your RBCs are larger than normal

(macrocytic), for example in anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.

When the MCV is decreased, your RBCs are smaller than normal

(microcytic) as is seen in iron deficiency anemia or thalassemias.

*mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculation of the average

amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin inside a red blood cell.

Macrocytic RBCs are large so tend to have a higher MCH while microcytic

red cells would have a lower value.

*mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a calculation of

the average concentration of hemoglobin inside a red cell. Decreased

MCHC values (hypochromia) are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is

abnormally diluted inside the red cells, such as in iron deficiency

anemia

and in thalassemia. Increased MCHC values (hyperchromia) are seen in

conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally concentrated inside the

red cells, such as in burn patients and hereditary spherocytosis, a

relatively rare congenital disorder.

*platelet count and volume - is the number of platelets in a given

volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can point to abnormal

conditions of excess bleeding or clotting.

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) aka Sed Rate, Sedimentation Rate

An indirect measure of the degree of inflammation present in the body.

It actually measures the rate of fall (sedimentation) of erythorocytes

(red blood cells) in a tall, thin tube of blood. Results are reported as

how many millimeters of clear plasma are present at the top of the

column after one hour. Normally, red cells fall slowly, leaving little

clear plasma. Increased blood levels of certain proteins (such as

fibrinogen or immunoglobulins, which are increased in inflammation)

cause the red blood cells to fall more rapidly, increasing the ESR.

(Transaminases) (GOT and GPT) are markers of Necrosis and are (normal

values are laboratory specific) They are enzymes that catalyze the

transfer of an amino group from an amino acid to a ketoacid (oxalacetic

acid) to generate glutamate. The amino group is then removed from

glutamate,

obtaining ammonia. Transaminases, removing amino group from amino

acids, allow their utilization to produce energy. These enzymes are

located into hepatocytes so, when liver cells are damaged or die,

transamainases are released into the bloodstream, where they can be

measured. They are

therefore an idex of liver injury in some persistent bacterial and viral

infections.