What Your Blood Can Tell You

Blood comprises only nine percent of your total body weight. And, just a few drops are all that's needed for the most common blood test, a complete blood count, or CBC. It includes five major measures that provide valuable clues to your overall health.¹¹

1. White blood cell (WBC) count. This measures the number and type of white blood cells, which fight infection. The "differential" is the measurement of the five main types of white blood cells: neutrophils (polys, or mature neutrophils, and bands, or young polys), basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. A normal overall WBC range is 3.4-9.6 K/mm³, but you also want to know the results of the differential:
• Normal range for neutrophils: 1,000 to 6,000/mm³
• Normal range for lymphocytes: 15 to 51/mm³
• Normal range for monocytes: 1 to12/mm³
• Normal range for eosinophils: 0 to 8/mm³
• Normal range for basophils: 0 to 8/mm³

2. Red blood cell (RBC) count.
Normal range is 3.58 to 4.99 mil/mm³. The mean cell volume
(MCV) measures the approximate size of the red blood cell. A normal range is 77 to 99.

3. Hemoglobin (HGB) value.
Normal range is 11.1 to 15.0 g/dL. Low hematocrit and hemoglobin levels mean you could have anemia.

4. Hematocrit (HCT) value.
Normal range is 31.8 to 43.2 percent.

5. Platelet count.
Normal range is 162 to 380 K/mm³. Without enough platelets, you could have a condition called "thrombocytopenia," which causes you to bruise easily.

Your health care professional may also order a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). These 14 tests, routinely ordered as part of a blood work-up for a medical exam or yearly physical, provide important information about the current status of your kidneys, liver, and electrolyte and acid/base balance as well as your blood sugar and blood proteins. For best results, you should fast 10 to 12 hours prior to the test.¹²

Not all tests described below have ranges listed for them because the American Association for Clinical Chemistry notes that reference ranges for many tests are specific to the laboratory that produces the results. Your test results should show you a "normal" range next to your result.¹³

• Glucose levels. Screens for and monitors diabetes, prediabetes and low blood sugar. Normal range is from 70 to 109 mg/dL. Levels from 110 to 125 mg/dL suggest pre-diabetes, and 126 mg/dL and above probable diabetes.
• Calcium. Measures calcium levels in your blood.
• Albumin. Screens for a liver disorder or kidney disease, or evaluates nutritional status.
• Total protein. Screens for certain liver and kidneys disorders, as well as other diseases, and helps determine your nutritional status.
• Electrolytes. Screens for sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide/ bicarbonate and chloride levels. Among other things, provides an overview of your cardiovascular health.
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine. Evaluates your kidney function.
• Liver function tests. Includes ALP (alkaline phosphatase), ALP or SGPT (alanine aminotransferase), aspartate amino transferase (AST or SGOT) and bilirubin.

Other blood tests you should periodically have include:
• Thyroid test. The American Thyroid Association recommends adults age 35 and older should be screened every five years for thyroid problems using the TSH test.
• Cholesterol test. The National Cholesterol Education Program of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends everyone 20 and older have their blood cholesterol measured at least once every five years. Ideally, your total cholesterol should be below 200 mg/dL, your LDL (or "bad" cholesterol) below 100 mg/dL and your HDL ("good" cholesterol) 60 or more mg/dL.¹⁴X