blood test

[gina32]

does anyone know where i can fnd out, other than from the pathologist, what the the words on the form mean. i.e what are the tests for?

[LazyGun]

You could try asking here gina, or alternatively something like NHS direct may be able to help you.

[crete]

post the ino on the form someone may be able to help, hope you mean a haematologist and not a pathologist ?

[beejaybee]

Your doctor should have told you what he wanted tests for.

[gina32]

oops yes crete that what i meant, thinking of the path lab!!!

[campbellking]

If you stick them up here I will try and help.
Most drs will ask for FBC ( full blood count, gives the numbers of various blood cells, i.e. white blood cells, red blood cells etc). If numbers are slightly deranged, will point to various problems, i.e. raised white cell count could indicate infection, decreased red cell count, anaemia etc.
LFT - liver function test (does what it says on the tin)
U+E -urea and electrolytes . Gives an idea of whether the kidneys are working efficiently enough to get rid of waste products.
Any others, just put them in and I will try to help.

[Le Chat]

Go to google - type in "blood test" and then the word ie, blood test Fe or perhaps blood test renal etc

[Le Chat]

http://www.amarillomed.com/howto.htm
This should help!

[gina32]

campbellking, they tests are FBC,ESR,CRP. many thanks

[LazyGun]

Gina, the tests you mention and what they are probably looking for are as follows;

FBC = Full Blood Count. Conventionally a measure of the quantity and morphology of the red blood cells (oxygen carrying cells, so checking for anaemia etc), the number and ratio of the types of white blood cells (principally the infection fighting cells, can be raised in all sorts of disease states), and the number and size of platelets. (used in clotting)

ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. This is a broad screening test principally looking for inflammatory disease states. The higher the result, the more likely it is that a disease state is present.

CRP = C-Reactive Protein. A measure of a particular protein, produced in the liver, that is present in serum during acute inflammation or infection. Again, it is a non specific test, like the ESR, but has a different "decay" rate, so having the results of both an ESR and a CRP can be helpful.

I would guess they are looking for the presence or absence of evidence of an inflammatory episode for example infection or possible onset of something such as rheumatoid arthritis. There is some linkage to suggest that elevated CRP levels may be associated with some heart conditions also.

[gina32]

thanks very much for your answers