topic Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting) in Wellness

What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

Plaid Pants2 — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:01:36 GMT

Today in the mail I got my lab results, but I don't know what it all means.

Sodium - 137 mmol/L

Potassium. - 3.9 mmol/L

Chloride - 101 mmol/L

Carbon Dioxide - 27 mmol/L

Calcium - 9.9 mg/dL

BUN - 16 mg/dL

Creatinine - 0.8 mg/dL

GFR Estimated (MDRD) - >60 mL/min/1.73m^2

Glucose - 105 mg/dL

Alkaline Phosphatase - 70 U/L

Bilirubin, Total - 0.5 mg/dL

AST - 17 U/L

ALT - 21 U/L

Total Protein - 7.7 Gm/dL

Globulin 3.2 Gm/dL

Albumin/Globulin Ratio - 1.4 Gm/dL

What I need to work on is getting my cholesterol numbers down.

I won't share all of those numbers, but I will share my HDL number of 61, and my cholesterol/HDL ratio of 4.1

So, what do all of these things mean?

Anyone care to explain to a dummy like me?

TIA!

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

piperbay — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:22:32 GMT

I had lab work done in April and was given a printout with the ranges. They should have given you the ranges. For example, the fasting glucose range from my test would be 70-99 mg/dl . Call and see if you can get a printout that explains the numbers in range.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

nomless — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:27:28 GMT

Ask your doctor to explain the numbers and areas of concern, if any.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

SilleeMee — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:33:04 GMT

I'm a retired lab tech and I used to perform those tests in the lab. Your lab report should show you whether or not your numbers are within normal ranges and if they are not then your doctor can explain why they are not. As far as what those tests mean to your health, you can google each one and get that info. The abnormal results, if any, are the tests you may want to ask your doctor about. Metabolic panels are used to give your doctor a general and overall picture of your health. It serves as a diagnostic tool and window into your physical wellness.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

Moonchilde — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:32:01 GMT

Every print-out I've ever received, or had emailed to me or obtained online has the lab's "normal" value range right next to or beneath the individual's numbers.

These "normal range" numbers do vary slightly from lab to lab, so there isn't one identical set of Normals applicable to everyone's results.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

lolakimono — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:33:35 GMT

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

lolakimono — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:35:49 GMT

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

SilleeMee — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:53:58 GMT

Normal ranges may vary from lab to lab. So it's important to look at the normals you got from the lab where you got tested and not those pulled off the internet. @lolakimono

Fore example...since I live at 7,000 feet above sea level, my normal hemoglobin level would be considered high by a lab at sea level.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

lolakimono — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 22:53:49 GMT

@SilleeMee

I understand, but on a Friday evening when someone starts a post about labs, I assume that the doctor's office and the lab are closed. If this helps her not to worry all weekend about something that is within the normal range, I see no harm. If it's not in the normal range, she can search other sites to see what that might mean, or just wait until Monday.

She can probably go to her lab's site and see similar information, but since I don't know what lab that is, this is what I found. I do think it's strange not to have the values explained with the report.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

Bri36 — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:05:19 GMT

You really should be talking to your doctor about this.

Telling you that blood glucose above 100 is considered pre-diabetic should be something your doctor tells you, not someone on a shopping board.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

SilleeMee — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:34:06 GMT

@Bri36 wrote:
You really should be talking to your doctor about this.

Telling you that blood glucose above 100 is considered pre-diabetic should be something your doctor tells you, not someone on a shopping board.

Not necessarily. It depends on the lab's normal ranges. Like I said earlier, it's important to refer to the normal ranges of the lab where you got tested. Glucose of 100 can be within normal range by some lab standards.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

Bri36 — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:35:22 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Bri36 wrote:
You really should be talking to your doctor about this.

Telling you that blood glucose above 100 is considered pre-diabetic should be something your doctor tells you, not someone on a shopping board.
Not necessarily. It depends on the lab's normal ranges. Like I said earlier, it's important to refer to the normal ranges of the lab where you got tested. Glucose of 100 can be within normal range by some lab standards.

That's why she should talk to her doctor

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

jackthebear — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 00:09:48 GMT

why getting yr lab reports in the mail doesn't mean much unless there is someone to interpret them for you

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

jackthebear — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 00:10:37 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
Today in the mail I got my lab results, but I don't know what it all means.

Sodium - 137 mmol/L

Potassium. - 3.9 mmol/L

Chloride - 101 mmol/L

Carbon Dioxide - 27 mmol/L

Calcium - 9.9 mg/dL

BUN - 16 mg/dL

Creatinine - 0.8 mg/dL

GFR Estimated (MDRD) - >60 mL/min/1.73m^2

Glucose - 105 mg/dL

Alkaline Phosphatase - 70 U/L

Bilirubin, Total - 0.5 mg/dL

AST - 17 U/L

ALT - 21 U/L

Total Protein - 7.7 Gm/dL

Globulin 3.2 Gm/dL

Albumin/Globulin Ratio - 1.4 Gm/dL

What I need to work on is getting my cholesterol numbers down.

I won't share all of those numbers, but I will share my HDL number of 61, and my cholesterol/HDL ratio of 4.1

So, what do all of these things mean?

Anyone care to explain to a dummy like me?

TIA!

call yr Dr. and ask him to explain and discuss with you

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

LTT1 — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 00:38:54 GMT

@Plaid Pants2

I can't believe they sent you those without normals. That is just not right.

I have a website I will give you that came through my doctor's portal. The message said these are your blood test results (there were normal ranges printed beside each value).

At the end of the message, it said something to the effect if you would like to have more information concerning each test value, you can visit this site:

https://labtestsonline.org/map/aindex/

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

ID2 — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 00:48:17 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
Today in the mail I got my lab results, but I don't know what it all means.

Sodium - 137 mmol/L

Potassium. - 3.9 mmol/L

Chloride - 101 mmol/L

Carbon Dioxide - 27 mmol/L

Calcium - 9.9 mg/dL

BUN - 16 mg/dL

Creatinine - 0.8 mg/dL

GFR Estimated (MDRD) - >60 mL/min/1.73m^2

Glucose - 105 mg/dL

Alkaline Phosphatase - 70 U/L

Bilirubin, Total - 0.5 mg/dL

AST - 17 U/L

ALT - 21 U/L

Total Protein - 7.7 Gm/dL

Globulin 3.2 Gm/dL

Albumin/Globulin Ratio - 1.4 Gm/dL

What I need to work on is getting my cholesterol numbers down.

I won't share all of those numbers, but I will share my HDL number of 61, and my cholesterol/HDL ratio of 4.1

So, what do all of these things mean?

Anyone care to explain to a dummy like me?

TIA!

I would just Google these results to get the answers I need.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

Moonchilde — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 01:28:16 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
why getting yr lab reports in the mail doesn't mean much unless there is someone to interpret them for you

I have never, ever been provided my lab results without the normal ranges being printed right next to my results. I've never heard of a result able to be printed any other way. There is no point.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

AuntG — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 10:52:23 GMT

My lab has the normal ranges off to the side, and prints questionable numbers in red. My glucose matched yours, but my doctor thought it was acceptable even though the lab marked it as out of range.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

151949 — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 12:57:33 GMT

The value of lab numbers vary from patient to patient, and have to be intrepreted by the doctor on an individual basis.The person's medical history , their medications and lifestyle all come in to play.It is much more complicated than this number is good and that number is bad. Heck - things like gender, race and ethnicity all play a role.

For instance the GFR - which measures kidney function will usually give 2 results - one is for if you are a black person and the other is if you are any other race. I don't know why it is different but it certainly is - and doctors have to interrupt those results for people of mixed race.

Re: What Do These Numbers Mean? (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - Fasting)

Cakers3 — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 20:22:10 GMT

@151949 wrote:
The value of lab numbers vary from patient to patient, and have to be intrepreted by the doctor on an individual basis.The person's medical history , their medications and lifestyle all come in to play.It is much more complicated than this number is good and that number is bad. Heck - things like gender, race and ethnicity all play a role.
For instance the GFR - which measures kidney function will usually give 2 results - one is for if you are a black person and the other is if you are any other race. I don't know why it is different but it certainly is - and doctors have to interrupt those results for people of mixed race.

@151949 Thank you. I was just about to post roughly the same thing. That is why a medical history is taken.

The doctor should be determining if a patient needs something addressed; the lab is only providing the info with which the PCP will work from.