Blood Panels

Blood Panels & Core Lab Values Complete Blood Count (CBC) White Blood Cell Count (WBC) – Infection, inflammation, leukemia. Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) – Anemia, dehydration, bone marrow disorders. Hemoglobin (Hgb) – Oxygen-carrying capacity, anemia, bleeding. Hematocrit (Hct) – Percentage of RBCs in blood; hydration status. Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) – RBC size; iron deficiency, B12/folate deficiency, calcium ion crisis. Platelets (PLT) – Clotting ability, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytosis. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) – Platelet production in bone marrow. Metabolic Panel Sodium (Na) – Fluid balance, kidney function. Potassium (K) – Cardiac function, arrhythmias. Chloride (Cl) – Acid-base balance. Bicarbonate (HCO3) – Respiratory/metabolic acidosis or alkalosis. Calcium (Ca) – Bone metabolism, parathyroid function, calcium ion crisis. Magnesium (Mg) – Nerve and muscle function, arrhythmias. Phosphate (PO4) – Bone health, kidney disease. Liver Function Tests (LFTs) Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) – Liver damage, muscle breakdown. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) – Liver-specific damage. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) – Biliary obstruction, bone disease. Bilirubin (Total/Direct) – Liver function, hemolysis, gallbladder disease. Albumin – Liver synthetic function, protein status. Total Protein (TP) – Nutritional status, liver/kidney disease. Kidney Function Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) – Kidney function, dehydration. Creatinine (Cr) – Kidney filtration rate. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) – Kidney disease staging. Inflammatory & Autoimmune Markers Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) – Non-specific inflammation. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) – Acute inflammation, cardiovascular risk. D-Dimer – Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism. Thyroid Panel Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) – Thyroid function regulation. Free T4 (Thyroxine) – Active thyroid hormone. Free T3 (Triiodothyronine) – Metabolically active thyroid hormone. Thyroid Antibodies (TPO, TGAb) – Autoimmune thyroid disorders. Lipid Panel Total Cholesterol – Cardiovascular risk. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) – “Bad” cholesterol, atherosclerosis. Calcium Ion Crisis. (Calcium ions ride on the back of the LDL) High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) – “Good” cholesterol. Triglycerides – Metabolic health, pancreatitis risk. Cardiac Markers Troponin – Myocardial infarction. Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB) – Muscle damage, heart attack. Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) – Heart failure. Coagulation Panel Prothrombin Time (PT) – Blood clotting time. International Normalized Ratio (INR) – Anticoagulation monitoring. Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) – Clotting disorders. Fibrinogen – Clotting cascade function. Glucose & Metabolic Health Glucose (Fasting & Random) – Diabetes, insulin resistance. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) – Long-term glucose control. Insulin – Insulin resistance, metabolic disorders. C-Peptide – Distinguishes type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes. Hormonal & Endocrine Cortisol – Adrenal function. Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) – Pituitary-adrenal axis. Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) – Calcium metabolism. Prolactin – Pituitary tumors, lactation issues. Testosterone/Estrogen – Reproductive health, endocrine disorders. Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S) – Adrenal androgen production. Hematology & Blood Disorders Ferritin – Iron stores. Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) – Iron metabolism. Transferrin Saturation – Iron availability. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) – Tissue breakdown, hemolysis. Haptoglobin – Hemolysis marker. Electrolytes & Acid-Base Balance Anion Gap – Metabolic acidosis. Lactate – Tissue hypoxia, sepsis. Ammonia – Liver dysfunction, encephalopathy. Infectious Disease Markers Complete Urinalysis (UA) – Kidney function, UTI, dehydration. Urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio – Kidney damage. Blood Cultures – Sepsis, systemic infections. HIV, Hepatitis B/C Panels – Viral infections. Lyme Disease, Epstein-Barr, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) – Chronic infections. Other Diagnostic Markers Vitamin D – Bone and immune health. Vitamin B12/Folate – Neuropathy, anemia. Heavy Metals (Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium) – Toxic exposure. Tryptase – Mast cell disorders, anaphylaxis. Urinary Catecholamines – Pheochromocytoma, adrenal tumors.