Your Unintelligible Lab Results Quiz

Answer: alanine aminiotransferase test

This common blood test, usually part of a full blood scan, is used to detect such problems as liver injury and many liver diseases including hepatitis and cirrhosis. A normal reading is between 0 and 50. It is almost always used in conjunction with other tests.

Answer: aspartate aminotransferase test

This blood test is usually used along with other tests, such as ALT, to detect liver problems and diseases, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, enlarged liver, and cancer. A normal reading is 0-50.

Answer: bili

Bilirubin is a brownish yellow substance in bile. The liver produces it when it breaks down old red blood cells. The test is helpful in detecting liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer. A normal reading is 0.3-1.4.

Answer: blood urea nitrogen test

This routine blood test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood. It helps detect such kidney problems as nephritis and cancer and liver problems such as hepatitis and tumors. A normal reading is 8-24.

Answer: hematocrit

The HCT is part of a routine blood examination. It measures what percent of whole blood consists of red blood cells. It is used to detect many diseases, including anemia, polycythmia, kidney disease, leukemia, and lymphoma. A normal reading is 43-54.

Answer: HDL

HDL is part of a series of tests that include LDL (low density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol), TRIG (triglycerides), and CHOL ("total" cholesterol). Together they provide a screen for nearly all cardiac and vascular problems. HDL is known as the "good" cholesterol.

It helps remove LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) and significantly lowers the risk of heart and cardiovascular disease. A normal reading is 40-60 (higher is better).

Answer: False

MCHC stands for "mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration." It measures the amount of hemoglobin in a block of red blood cells. It helps detect several types of anemia, including sickle cell. Normal is between 32 and 36.

Answer: mean corpuscular volume

Using a rather complicated formula, this test measures the average volume of your red corpuscles. It helps detect several types of anemia, as well as deficiencies in vitamin B-12 and folic acid. Normal ranges from 80-98.

Answer: mean platelet volume

This test measures your mean platelet volume (the average size of your platelets). It helps determine if your bone marrow is manufacturing platelets normally. It helps detect blood and bone marrow disorders, including leukemia, and may signal cardiovascular diseases. A normal reading is 7.0-11.5.

Answer: True

This basic test measures the extent to which these hormones are being produced. A normal reading is between 0.35 and 5.6. Abnormal readings can signal such problems as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Graves disease, goiter, or cancer.