A white blood cell (WBC) count is a test that measures the number of white blood cells in your body. It may also be called a leukocyte test.Add an answer here.

A low white blood cell count usually is caused by: Viral infections that temporarily disrupt the work of bone marrow. Certain disorders present at birth (congenital) that involve diminished bone marrow function. Cancer or other diseases that damage bone marrow.

A high white blood cell count may indicate that the immune system is working to destroy an infection. It may also be a sign of physical or emotional stress. People with particular blood cancers may also have high white blood cells counts.

Low hemoglobin levels usually indicate that a person has anemia. There are several kinds of anemia: Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type. This form of anemia occurs when a person does not have enough iron in their body, and it cannot make the hemoglobin it needs.

A high red blood cell count is a condition called polycythemia vera. If you have this medical condition, it means that your bone marrow is producing too many red blood cells. This can result in thickening of the blood, slow flow of blood, and eventually blood clots.

A low RBC count, also known as anemia, can affect the body’s ability to transport oxygen and nutrients around the cardiovascular system. It can cause fatigue, dizziness, and heart palpitations. The most common form of anemia is iron deficiency anemia. This can result from blood loss, malnutrition, or kidney problems.

A high hemoglobin count occurs most commonly when your body requires an increased oxygen-carrying capacity, usually because: You smoke. You live at a high altitude and your red blood cell production naturally increases to compensate for the lower oxygen supply there.

A lower than normal hematocrit can indicate: An insufficient supply of healthy red blood cells (anemia) A large number of white blood cells due to long-term illness, infection or a white blood cell disorder such as leukemia or lymphoma. Vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

f your hematocrit is high, it means that you have more red blood cells than is considered healthy. High hematocrit may be caused by [4:1]: Heart disease. Dehydration.

A high mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in a blood test indicates that red blood cells are larger than average. The presence of large blood cells is referred to as macrocytosis.

When a person has an MCV level below 80 fl , this suggests they have microcytic anemia. Microcytic anemia is a type of anemia in which red blood cells are smaller than usual. Iron deficiency causes microcytic anemia.

A low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) shows that someone’s red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein, and a lack of it may indicate anemia.

High MCH scores are commonly a sign of macrocytic anemia. This condition occurs when the blood cells are too big, which can be a result of not having enough vitamin B12 or folic acid in the body.

A high MCHC means that hemoglobin is more concentrated than usual and may occur in a few ways. For instance, hemoglobin becomes more concentrated when red blood cells break down. MCHC is often increased in people who smoke. 10 MCHC may also be falsely increased due to cold agglutinin disease.

A low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) shows that someone’s red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein, and a lack of it may indicate anemia.

If your RDW is too high, it could be an indication of a nutrient deficiency, such as a deficiency of iron, folate, or vitamin B-12. These results could also indicate macrocytic anemia, when your body doesn’t produce enough normal red blood cells, and the cells it does produce are larger than normal.

A low RDW percentage means that red blood cells are not very different in size from typical measurements. A high percentage means they differ in size more significantly, which can indicate the body is having difficulty making red blood cells.

Neutropenia is a blood condition characterized by low levels of neutrophils, which are white blood cells that protect your body from infections. Without enough neutrophils, your body can’t fight off bacteria. Having neutropenia increases your risk for many types of infection.

Having a high percentage of neutrophils in your blood is called neutrophilia. This is a sign that your body has an infection. Neutrophilia can point to a number of underlying conditions and factors, including: infection, most likely bacterial.

 A high monocyte count — also called monocytosis — is often associated with chronic or sub-acute infections. It can also be linked with some types of cancer, especially leukemia. A high monocyte count can occur when you are recovering from an acute infection..

Having low levels of monocytes may mean your body is more susceptible to infection. If your white blood cell count is low, you may also have low absolute monocytes. Causes of a low white blood cell count can include: infection.

An abnormally low eosinophil count can be the result of intoxication from alcohol or excessive production of cortisol, like in Cushing’s disease. Cortisol is a hormone naturally produced by the body. Low eosinophil counts may also be due to the time of day.

Definition. Eosinophilia (e-o-sin-o-FILL-e-uh) is a higher than normal level of eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of disease-fighting white blood cell. This condition most often indicates a parasitic infection, an allergic reaction or cancer.

Basophilia or basophilic disorder is a sign your body is producing too many basophils. A basophil count that’s too high may be a sign you have an infection or a more serious medical condition like leukemia or autoimmune disease.

Often, a low basophils count is related to an allergic reaction which is putting the basophils into overdrive. In these cases, symptoms will include watery eyes, a runny nose, red rash and hives. However, a basophil low can also be caused by a severe allergic anaphylactic reaction.

Usually, an overnight fast will not affect blood sugar levels, because the body will prevent it from dropping to dangerous levels; for example, the liver releases some of its stored sugar overnight. Normal fasting blood sugar levels for a person with diabetes are between 70 and 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

High levels of fasting blood sugar suggest the body was not able to lower blood sugar levels. This points to insulin resistance, inadequate insulin production, or in some cases, both. Very low blood sugar levels may indicate that diabetes medications are lowering the blood sugar too much.

This is also known as an overactive thyroid. If a person’s thyroid gland is secreting levels of hormones that are too high, the pituitary gland produces less TSH. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include: irregular or rapid heartbeat.

If your TSH levels are abnormally high, it could mean you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism. That’s because it indicates your pituitary gland is producing more TSH in an effort to stimulate your thyroid to produce thyroid hormone.

High levels of any of these tests (total T4, free T4, or free T4 index) may indicate an overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism. Low levels of any of these tests (total T4, free T4, or free T4 index) may indicate an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism

Low levels of any of these tests (total T4, free T4, or free T4 index) may indicate an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism.

High PSA levels could be a sign of prostate cancer or a different condition like prostatitis or an enlarged prostate. Other things can affect your PSA level: Age. Your PSA will normally go up slowly as you get older, even if you have no prostate problems. Please Note that sex before a PSA test may effect the results often giving a slightly higher reading than normal

If your results are lower, it may mean you have ovarian failure, also called early menopause, or low estrogen from rapid weight loss or anorexia. If your results are higher, it may suggest a tumor of the ovary, testes, or adrenal glands.

Too much or too little LH can cause a variety of problems, including infertility (the inability to get pregnant), menstrual difficulties in women, low sex drive in men, and early or delayed puberty in children.

Elevated testosterone will raise your “bad” cholesterol levels, and can thus lead to heart health issues – potentially resulting in a heart attack, cardiovascular disease, or stroke. Risk of sleep apnea and infertility is also heightened if you have high testosterone levels.

If a male has low testosterone, symptoms can include erectile dysfunction, and males and females may have reduced bone mass and sex drive. The hormone has many important functions, including: the development of the bones and muscles. the deepening of the voice, hair growth, and other factors related to appearance.

Levels of creatinine are often linked with muscle mass or the amount of muscle in the body, which can decrease with age or illness. Low levels may indicate that muscles are less strong or are deteriorating, for example with a disease such as muscular dystrophy (MD).

Elevated creatinine level signifies impaired kidney function or kidney disease. As the kidneys become impaired for any reason, the creatinine level in the blood will rise due to poor clearance of creatinine by the kidneys. Abnormally high levels of creatinine thus warn of possible malfunction or failure of the kidneys.

Usually, the higher the level of GGT, the greater the level of damage to the liver. If your results show you have low or normal levels of GGT, it means you probably don’t have liver disease. Your results may also be compared with the results of an ALP test.

High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. It’s mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. It can also run in families. You can lower your cholesterol by eating healthily and getting more exercise.

High triglycerides are often a sign of other conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels.

Having low levels of HDL cholesterol can be of more concern, as it can indicate that the person is at risk of developing heart disease. Low levels can occur due to : genetic factors. type 2 diabetes.

For HDL cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol, higher levels are better. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as the “good” cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream. Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

There is no consensus on how to define very low LDL cholesterol, but LDL would be considered very low if it is less than 40 milligrams per deciliter of blood. Although the risks are rare, very low levels of LDL cholesterol may be associated with an increased risk of: Cancer. Hemorrhagic stroke.

If you have a high LDL level, this means that you have too much LDL cholesterol in your blood. This extra LDL, along with other substances, forms plaque. The plaque builds up in your arteries; this is a condition called atherosclerosis.

LDL-P, or low-density lipoprotein particle number, is a blood test that measures the number of LDL particles in your bloodstream. This test provides information about the number of LDL particles rather than the cholesterol content carried by these particles, which is what is measured in a standard LDL cholesterol test. LDL-P is considered by some experts to be a more accurate indicator of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol levels. It is believed that the number of LDL particles in the blood is a better predictor of atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries) and cardiovascular disease than the concentration of LDL cholesterol. Elevated LDL particle number has been associated with a higher risk of heart disease, while a lower LDL particle number is generally considered better for cardiovascular health. It’s important to note that while LDL-P is an important marker, it is typically used in combination with other lipid tests and risk factors to assess an individual’s overall risk of cardiovascular disease. Consulting with a healthcare provider is recommended for interpreting the results of an LDL-P test and determining the appropriate course of action based on your individual health profile.

APOB, or apolipoprotein B, is a protein that is present in LDL (low-density lipoprotein) particles, VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) particles, and chylomicrons. A blood test that measures APOB levels provides information about the total number of atherogenic particles in the blood, as each atherogenic lipoprotein particle generally contains one molecule of APOB. Similar to LDL-P testing, APOB testing is considered by some healthcare providers to be a more accurate indicator of cardiovascular risk compared to traditional cholesterol measurements. Elevated APOB levels are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Some researchers and clinicians believe that APOB may provide a more comprehensive assessment of atherogenic particle concentration compared to LDL-P, as APOB includes not only LDL particles but also VLDL particles and IDL (intermediate-density lipoprotein) particles. Interpreting APOB levels in the context of other lipid tests and cardiovascular risk factors can help healthcare providers assess an individual’s overall risk of heart disease. A lower APOB level is generally considered better for cardiovascular health.

An LDL-C blood test measures the amount of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in your blood. LDL cholesterol is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol because high levels of LDL-C can lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The LDL-C test is a common component of lipid panels used to assess an individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Elevated levels of LDL-C are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Interpreting LDL-C levels in the context of other lipid measurements, such as HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol, as well as other risk factors like blood pressure, smoking status, and family history of heart disease, can help healthcare providers assess an individual’s overall cardiovascular risk. Lowering LDL cholesterol levels through lifestyle changes (such as diet and exercise) and, if necessary, medication (such as statins) is a key component of managing cardiovascular risk and reducing the risk of heart disease. It’s important to note that while LDL-C is a useful marker for assessing cardiovascular risk, it is not the only factor to consider, and healthcare providers typically evaluate multiple risk factors to develop a comprehensive picture of an individual’s risk profile. Consulting with a healthcare provider is recommended for interpreting LDL-C test results and developing an appropriate plan for managing cardiovascular risk.

A natural killer (NK) cell count blood test measures the number of natural killer cells in a person’s blood. NK cells are a type of white blood cell that plays a critical role in the immune system’s defense against viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells. The NK cell count blood test can provide important information about the immune system’s ability to mount an effective response against infections and abnormal cells. Abnormalities in NK cell count or function can be associated with various health conditions, including:
1. Immunodeficiency disorders: Low NK cell counts or impaired NK cell function can make individuals more susceptible to infections.

2. Autoimmune diseases: Abnormalities in NK cell function have been implicated in certain autoimmune conditions, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.

3. Cancer: NK cells play a role in recognizing and eliminating cancer cells. Changes in NK cell count or function can impact the body’s ability to fight cancer.

4. Chronic infections: In some chronic infections, such as viral infections, the NK cell count or function may be altered.

5. Monitoring treatment: NK cell counts can be monitored in individuals undergoing certain treatments, such as immunosuppressive therapy or cancer treatment, to assess the impact on the immune system. It’s important to note that interpreting NK cell count results requires consideration of other clinical information and context. If your healthcare provider orders an NK cell count blood test and discusses the results with you, they will provide insights into what the findings mean for your health and whether any further evaluation or treatment is necessary.