Blood Test From A Vein: What The Analysis Shows, Decoding Of Indicators

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 19:51

What shows a general blood test from a vein

The content of the article:

What is included in a general blood test from a vein: indicators and norms

What does a blood test from a vein show: decoding indicators

Hemoglobin
Erythrocytes
Hematocrit
Erythrocyte indices
Platelets
Leukocytes
ESR

A general blood test from a vein (clinical blood test) is one of the most common laboratory tests, which is carried out to monitor health status, clarify the diagnosis, select an algorithm and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Blood from a vein for general analysis is taken using a vacuum system

Before taking an analysis, it is advisable to consult a doctor, which will allow you to get detailed information about what a general blood test from a vein is, what it can show and how to properly prepare for it. Only a qualified specialist should decipher the analysis result.

Preparation rules include avoiding physical and mental stress on the eve of the study. No smoking on the day of the study. Blood for analysis is usually taken in the morning on an empty stomach. It is allowed to drink water before donating blood.

In case of taking medications, you should ask your doctor if you can use them before taking blood or if there is a need to cancel them.

Blood collection from a vein is usually carried out using a vacuum system or a closed system (monovet). Often, blood is taken from a finger for a general analysis.

What is included in a general blood test from a vein: indicators and norms

The table shows the normal values of the indicators that are included in the general blood test. In different laboratories, the norms may differ depending on the methods used for counting units, as well as on which method of blood collection is used (from a finger or from a vein).

General analysis of blood from a vein

Index	Reference values
Hemoglobin (HGB)	Men - 130-160 g / l Women - 120-140 g / l
Red blood cells (RBC)	Men - 4.0-5.0 × 1012 / l Women - 3.5-4.7 × 1012 / l
Hematocrit (HCT)	Men - 42-50% Women - 38-47%
Mean erythrocyte volume (MCV)	86-98 fl
Mean erythrocyte hemoglobin (MCH)	27–34 pg
Mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)	32-36 g / dl
Red blood cell distribution width by volume (RDW)	11-15%
Platelets (PLT)	180-320 × 109 / l
Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)	6-13 fl
Platelet volume distribution width (PDW)	10-20%
Leukocytes (WBC)	4.0-9.0 × 109 / l
Leukocyte formula	Rod neutrophils - 1-6% Segmented neutrophils - 47-72% Eosinophils - 0.5-5% Basophils - 0-1% Lymphocytes - 19-40% Monocytes - 3-11%
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)	Men - 1-10 mm / h Women - 2-15 mm / h

What does a blood test from a vein show: decoding indicators

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin (Hb, HGB) is a complex iron-containing protein whose main function is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and remove carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.

An increase in the concentration of hemoglobin is noted in erythremia, heart disease, hydronephrosis, obesity, neoplasms of the kidneys or liver, dehydration, and smoking. Physiological increase in the level of hemoglobin occurs with excessive physical exertion, stay in highlands, as well as in newborns.

Hemoglobin is lowered in bleeding, anemia, chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, hypothyroidism, malignant tumors, chronic infectious diseases, overhydration, as well as during pregnancy.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells (RBC, red blood cells) are non-nuclear biconcave blood cells containing hemoglobin, whose main function is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide.

The number of erythrocytes is increased in erythremia, heart defects, hydronephrosis, kidney cancer, pheochromocytoma, obesity, lung disease, dehydration, stress, alcoholism, smoking, as well as in newborns.

A decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood is observed with anemia, bleeding, overhydration, chronic kidney disease, hypothyroidism, metastasis of malignant tumors, infectious processes in the body, as well as during pregnancy.

Hematocrit

Hematocrit (Ht, HCT) is the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the liquid part of the blood, which depends on the mass and average volume of red blood cells and the volume of plasma.

An increase in hematocrit occurs with erythremia, obesity, polycystic kidney disease, heart and lung diseases, Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome, dehydration, and smoking. Physiological increase in hematocrit is observed in newborns and the elderly.

A decrease in hematocrit is noted with anemia, neoplasms, iron and / or vitamin deficiency in the body, overhydration, pregnancy.

Erythrocyte indices

A complete blood count (CBC) typically calculates erythrocyte indices, which include mean erythrocyte volume (MCV), mean erythrocyte hemoglobin (MCH), mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red blood cell volume distribution width (RDW). Their change in one direction or another is evidence of pathological processes in the body.

Platelets

Platelets (PLT) are small non-nuclear blood cells that take part in the processes of blood clotting and fibrinolysis, and carry circulating immune complexes on their membrane.

An increase in the number of platelets in the blood is observed in myeloproliferative diseases, infections, tumors of different localization, after surgery. In addition, the number of platelets in the blood increases in winter, after physical exertion, injuries, when climbing to a height.

A decrease in the number of platelets is observed in pregnancy, atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, thrombosis of the renal veins, some malignant neoplasms, disseminated intravascular coagulation, angiopathies, spleen diseases, massive blood transfusions, vitamin deficiency, as well as in women before menstruation.

When conducting a general blood test, platelet indices can be calculated - the average platelet volume (MPV) and their distribution width by volume (PDW).

Leukocytes

Leukocytes (WBC, white blood cells) are blood cells, the main function of which is the specific and nonspecific defense of the body against exogenous and endogenous pathogens. According to morphological characteristics, leukocytes are divided into five main types: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes.

An increase in the number of leukocytes is observed in infectious and inflammatory processes, acute bleeding, thyroid pathologies, neoplasms, after removal of the spleen, during intense physical exertion, during pregnancy (slightly), after childbirth, as well as in newborns.

A decrease in the number of leukocytes occurs in bacterial and viral infections, genetic diseases, poisoning with salts of heavy metals, exposure to the body of ionizing radiation.

A detailed blood test includes the calculation of the leukocyte formula - determining the percentage of different types of leukocytes in the patient's blood. A certain change in the leukocyte formula makes it possible to diagnose leukemia.

Changes in the leukocyte formula make it possible to diagnose a number of diseases, including leukemia

Neutrophils account for 50–75% of the total number of leukocytes. According to the degree of maturity, stab (young) and segmented (mature) neutrophils are distinguished. The main function of this type of white blood cell is to protect the body from infections by phagocytosis and chemotaxis.

An increase in the number of neutrophils is noted in infectious diseases, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, malignant tumors, physical strain, stress, pregnancy, as well as after surgery.

The number of neutrophils decreases with some infections, anemia, thyrotoxicosis, anaphylactic shock.

Eosinophils are leukocytes that take part in tissue reactions in infectious, oncological, autoimmune diseases and allergic processes.

An increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood occurs with allergies, dermatitis, in the acute period of infectious diseases, malignant neoplasms, rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic diseases, myocardial infarction, lung diseases, as well as during pregnancy.

A decrease in the number of eosinophils occurs at the initial stages of the inflammatory process, with severe purulent infections, poisoning with salts of heavy metals, stress.

Basophils are the smallest type of leukocytes involved in allergic and cellular inflammatory reactions.

The number of basophils increases with hypothyroidism, chickenpox, nephrosis, ulcerative colitis, after removal of the spleen, with food intolerance and hypersensitivity to drugs.

Lymphocytes are white blood cells whose task is to form and regulate the cellular and humoral immune response.

An increase in the number of lymphocytes occurs in infectious diseases, lymphocytic leukemia, exposure to toxic substances.

A decrease in the number of lymphocytes is characteristic of acute infections, renal failure, immunodeficiency states, oncological diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Monocytes - the largest cells of all leukocytes, are involved in the formation and regulation of the immune response.

The number of monocytes increases with infectious diseases, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and phosphorus poisoning.

A decrease in the number of monocytes occurs during surgery, shock, aplastic anemia, hairy cell leukemia, and during childbirth.

ESR

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, ESR) is one of the indicators determined during a general blood count from a vein. It is the ratio of protein fractions in blood plasma.

An increase in this indicator occurs in inflammatory processes in the body, liver and kidney diseases, anemia, endocrine diseases, as well as in women during menstruation, pregnancy and after childbirth.

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