Part 4 laboratory values 2211

Lab Values
PART 4: INTERPRETATION OF CLINICAL LABORATORY DATA

Laboratory Value Sources
▪ Reliable sources:
▪ MSD Online
▪ RCPA Manual
▪ LabTests Online
Pharmacy Student Survival Guide, 3E (Nemire, Pharmacy Student Survival Guide) 3rd Edition. Ruth E. Nemire (Author), Karen L.
Kier (Author), Michelle T. Assa-Eley (Author)
Blood Chemistry and CBC analysis. 2002 Weatherby
Douglas Hanly Moir Reference Range
2

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
4
The CBC includes:
 haemoglobin (Hb)
 haematocrit (Hct)
 white blood cell indices
 red blood cell indices
 platelets
11/20/2018

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
5
 Aids diagnosis and assessment of anaemia, nutritional deficiencies,
blood disorders, infection, and many other disorders.
 provides important information about the types, populations, and
health of blood cells
 Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) is commonly but not always
included in the FBC as part of the red cell indices, depending on the
pathology service provider.
RDW is relevant to the evaluation of vitamin deficiencies, including
vitamin B12.
11/20/2018

Hemoglobin (Hb)
6
Hb is the oxygen-carrying compound found in RBC. Hb level is a
direct indicator of the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Adaptation to high altitudes, extreme exercise, and pulmonary
conditions may cause variations in Hb values.
Conventiona
l ref range
Conventiona
l ref range
Optimal ref
range Alarm range
Male 14-18 g/dL
SI 8.7-11.2
mmol/L
14-15 g/dL
<10 or
>17g/dL
Female 12-16 g/dL
SI 7.4-9.9
mmol/L
13.5-14.5
g/dL
<10 or
>17g/dL
11/20/2018

Hemoglobin (Hb)
7
INCREASED HAEMOGLOBIN
 Polycythemia vera
 COPD
 Chronic smokers
 Athletes
 People living at high
altitudes.
DECREASED HAEMOGLOBIN
 Anaemia of all types,
particularly iron deficiency
anaemia (IDA)
 Blood loss
 Haemolysis
 Pregnancy
 Increased fluid intake or fluid
replacement
11/20/2018

Haematocrit (Hct)
8
The Hct describes the volume of blood that is occupied by RBC. It is
expressed as a percentage of total blood volume. Another name for Hct is
packed cell volume (PCV). As a rule of thumb, the Hct value is generally
about three times the value of Hb.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male SI 0.39-0.49 39-49% 0.40-0.48 SI <0.32 or >0.55
Female SI 0.33-0.43 33-43% 0.37-0.44 SI <0.32 or >0.55
11/20/2018

Haematocrit (Hct)
9
INCREASED HAEMATOCRIT
 Dehydration (burns,
vomiting/diarrhoea)
 COPD
 People living at high
altitudes.
DECREASED HAEMATOCRIT
 All types of anaemias
 Blood loss
 Haemolysis
 Pregnancy
 Cirrhosis
 Hyperthyroidism
 Leukaemia.
11/20/2018

Red Cell Count (RCC)/Erythrocyte Count
10
 RBC are produced in the bone marrow.
 They are released into the systemic circulation and serve to transport oxygen
from the lungs to the body tissues.
 After circulating for a life span of approximately 120 days, the RBC are
cleared by the reticuloendothelial system.
 The actual amount of RBC per unit of blood is the RCC.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Optimal ref range Alarm range
Male
SI 3-5.9x
1012/L
4.3-5.9x106 cells/mm3 4.2-4.9x1012/L <3.8 or >6.0
Female SI 3.5-5.0x1012/L 3.5-5.0x106 cells/mm3 4.0-4.5x1012/L <3.5 or >5.0
11/20/2018

Red Cell Count (RCC)/Erythrocyte Count
11
INCREASED RCC (erythrocytosis)
➢ Polycythemia vera
➢ High altitudes
➢ Strenuous exercise
DECREASED RCC (erythropenia)
➢ Various types of anaemias
➢ Lymphomas and leukaemia
➢ Menstruating females typically have decreased
RCC and Hb due to blood loss.
11/20/2018

Mean Cell Volume (MCV)
12

Or mean corpuscular volume, the MCV provides an estimate of the average
volume of the erythrocyte.
 The higher the MCV, the larger the average size of the RBC
macrocytic/macrocytosis
Conversely, cells with a low MCV are referred to as microcytic.
 Normocytic RBCs have an MCV that falls within the normal range.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Males
&
Females
SI 80-98fL 76-100um3 82.0-89.9fL <78.0 or >95.5fL
11/20/2018

Mean Cell Volume (MCV)
13
INCREASED MCV
Folate deficiency
B12 deficiency
Alcoholism
Chronic liver disease
Hypothyroidism
Anorexia
Particular medications.
11/20/2018
DECREASED MCV
Iron deficiency
anaemia
Haemolytic anaemia
Lead poisoning
Thalassemia.

MCH
14
Also known as Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin, the MCH indicates the
average weight of Hb in the RBC.
Cells with a low MCH are pale in color and are referred to as hypochromic.
Cells with an increased MCH are hyperchromic Cells with normal amounts of
Hb are normochromic.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Males
&
Females
27-33pg n/a 28.0-31.9pg <24.0 or >34.0pg
11/20/2018

MCH
15 11/20/2018
INCREASED MCH
 Folate or Vitamin B12
deficiency.
 In individuals with
hyperlipidaemia MCH may
be falsely elevated because
of specimen turbidity.
DECREASED MCH
 Iron deficiency anaemia.

MCHC
16
Also known as mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, MCHC
is a measure of average Hb concentration in the RBC.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Male &
Female
0.32-0.36 SI 32.0-36.0g/dL 32.0-35.0g/dL n/a
11/20/2018

MCHC
17
INCREASED MCHC
 Hereditary spherocytosis.
DECREASED MCHC
 Iron deficiency anaemia
 Haemolytic anaemia
 Lead poisoning
 Thalassemia.
11/20/2018

Reticulocytes
18
 Reticulocytes are immature RBC formed in the bone marrow.
 An increase in reticulocyte count usually indicates increased RBC
production, but may also be indicative of a decrease in the circulating
number of mature erythrocytes.
Conventional ref range Conventional ref range Optimal ref range Alarm range
Male & female 0.1-2.4% SI 0.001-0.02
0.5-1%
OR
0.005-0.01
>2%
OR
0.02
11/20/2018

Reticulocytes
19
INCREASED RETICULOCYTES
 Haemolytic anaemia
 Haemorrhage
 Sickle cell disease.
 Increased reticulocytes are
also indicative of response to
treatment of anaemias
secondary to iron, B12, or
folate deficiency.
DECREASED RETICULOCYTES
 Infectious causes
 Alcoholism
 Renal disease (from decreased
erythropoietin)
 Toxins
 Untreated iron deficiency anaemia
 Drug-induced bone marrow
suppression.
** Reticulocyte Count is typically not a
standard part of the FBC, and is often
ordered separately.
11/21/2018

White Cell Count (WCC)
20
 Also known as leukocyte count, the WCC represents the total number of
WBC in a given volume of blood.
 Mature WBC exist in many forms, including neutrophils, lymphocytes,
monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. White cell indices provides
differential provides a breakdown of the percentage of each type of WBC.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Male &
Female
3.2-11.3 x109/L SI
3.2-11.3
x103/mm3 5.0-7.5 x109/L
<3.0 or >13.0
x109/L
11/21/2018

White Cell Count (WCC)
21
INCREASED WCC (leukocytosis)
 Infection
 Leukaemia
 Trauma
 Thyroid storm
 Corticosteroid use.
 Emotion, stress, and seizures may
also increase WCC.
 WCC >50,000 cells/mm3 may
cause false elevations in Hb and
MCH.
DECREASED WCC
(leukopenia)
 Viral infection
 Aplastic anaemia
 Bone marrow
depression caused by
the use of
chemotherapy or
anticonvulsants.
11/21/2018

Neutrophils
22
Neutrophils are the most common type of WBC. Their primary function is to
fight bacterial and fungal infections by phagocytosis of foreign particles.
Neutrophils may also be involved in the pathogenesis of some inflammatory
disorders, for example, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel
disease. Bands are immature neutrophils. An increase in bands, often
referred to as a “shift to the left” or “left shift,” may occur during infection
or leukaemia.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male &
Female
1.8-8.0x109/L 35-74% 4-6x109/L
<3 or > 8
x109/L
11/20/2018

Neutrophils
23
INCREASED NEUTROPHILS (neutrophilia)
 Infection
 Metabolic disorders (eg, diabetic
ketoacidosis, DKA)
 Uremia
 Response to stress, emotional
disturbances,
 Burns
 Acute inflammation
 Use of medications such as
corticosteroids.
DECREASED NEUTROPHILS
(neutropenia)
 Viral infections (eg,
mononucleosis, hepatitis)
 Septicemia
 Overwhelming infection
 Use of chemotherapy agents
11/21/2018

Lymphocytes
24
 Lymphocytes are the second most common type of circulating
WBC. They are important in the immune response to foreign
antigens.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Male &
Female
1.2-5.2x109/L 12-52% 2.4-4.4x109/L
<2 or > 5.5
x109/L
11/20/2018

Lymphocytes
25
INCREASED LYMPHOCYTES
(lymphocytosis)
 Hepatitis
 Viral infections (EBV, chickenpox,
herpes simplex, herpes zoster
etc.)
 Some bacterial infections (eg,
syphilis, brucellosis)
 Leukaemia and multiple
myeloma
DECREASED LYMPHOCYTES
(lymphopenia)
 Acute infections
 Burns & trauma
 SLE
 HIV
 Lymphoma
11/21/2018

Monocytes
26
 Monocytes are synthesized in the bone marrow,
released into the circulation, and subsequently
migrate into lymph nodes, spleen, liver, lung,
and bone marrow. In these tissues, monocytes
mature into macrophages and serve as
scavengers for foreign substances.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Male &
Female
0.0-1.0x109/L 0-10% <0.7x109/L >1.5x109/L
11/20/2018

Monocytes
27
INCREASED MONOCYTES
(monocytosis)
 Recovery phase of some infections
 Subacute bacterial endocarditis
(SBE)
 Tuberculosis (TB), syphilis and
malaria
 Leukemia and lymphoma.
 .
DECREASED MONOCYTES
(monocytopenia)
 Not usually associated with a specific
disease but may be seen with use of
bone marrow suppressive agents or
severe stress
11/21/2018

Eosinophils
28
Eosinophils are phagocytic WBC that assist in the killing of bacteria and yeast.
They reside predominantly in the intestinal mucosa and lungs.
They are also involved in allergic reactions and in the immune response to parasites.
Conventional
ref range
Conventional
ref range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male
SI 0.0-0.8x
1012/L
0-8% <0.3x1012/L n/a
11/21/2018

Eosinophils
29
INCREASED EOSINOPHILS (eosinophilia)
➢ Allergic disorders
➢ Allergic drug reactions
➢ Collagen vascular disease
➢ Parasitic infections
➢ Immunodeficiency disorders
➢ Some malignancies.
DECREASED EOSINOPHILS (eosinopenia. )
➢ Increased adrenal steroid production.
11/20/2018

Basophils
30
Basophils are phagocytic WBCs
present in small numbers in the
circulating blood.
They contain heparin, histamine,
and leukotrienes and are
probably associated with
hypersensitivity reactions.
INCREASED BASOPHILS
(basophilia)
Hypersensitivity reactions to food or
medications
Certain leukaemias
Polycythemia vera.
Conventional ref
range
Conventional ref
range
Male &
Females
SI 0.0-0.3
x1012/L
<0.3%
0.0-0.1
x1012/L
>0.5
x1012/L
11/21/2018

Platelets
31
Platelets are a critical element in blood clot
formation.
INCREASED PLATELETS (thrombocytosis,
thrombocythemia)
 Infection
 Malignancies
 Splenectomy
 Chronic inflammatory disorders (eg,
rheumatoid arthritis)
 Haemorrhage
 Iron deficiency anemia
 Myeloid metaplasia.
DECREASED PLATELETS
(thrombocytopenia)
 Autoimmune disorders such as idiopathic
thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
 Aplastic anaemia
 Radiation
 Chemotherapy
 Space-occupying lesion in the bone
marrow
 Bacterial or viral infections
 Use of heparin or valproic acid.
Conventiona
l ref range
Conventiona
l ref range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male &
Female
150-450
x109/L
150-450
X103/mm3
155-385
x109/L
<50 or >700
X109/L
11/20/2018

Serum Iron
32
The serum iron measures the concentration of iron bound to
the iron transport protein transferrin.
Under normal circumstances, approximately one-third of
transferrin molecules are bound to iron.
INCREASED SERUM IRON
Excessive iron therapy
Frequent transfusions
Pernicious anaemia
Hemolytic anaemia
Thalassaemia
Haemochromatosis (iron overload).2
In iron deficiency anaemia, serum iron levels may remain
within the lower limit of normal. Thus, serum iron levels are
best interpreted along with total iron-binding capacity (TIBC).
DECREASED SERUM IRON
Iron deficiency anaemia, (microcytic, hypochromic anaemia).
Poor dietary intake
Pregnancy
Blood loss associated with menses
Peptic ulcer disease, and gastrointestinal bleeding
Malignancies
Anaemia of chronic disease
Chronic renal disease
Haemodialysis.
Conventiona
l ref range
Conventiona
l ref range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male
SI 14–32
μmol/L
80–180 μg/dL 8.96-17.91
μmol/L
<4.5 or
>35.82
μmol/L
Female
SI 11–29
μmol/L
60–160 μg/dL 8.96-17.91
μmol/L
<4.5 or
>35.82
μmol/L
11/20/2018

Ferritin
33
Ferritin is the storage form of iron. The
serum ferritin level provides an accurate
reflection of total body iron stores.
INCREASED SERUM FERRITIN
Haemochromatosis
Recent iron supplementation or transfusion
Since ferritin is an acute phase reactant it
may also be elevated in patients with
malignancies, inflammatory disorders, or
infection/fever.
DECREASED SERUM FERRITIN
Iron deficiency anaemia
Severe protein deficiency
Hemodialysis
Conventional
ref range
Conventional
ref range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male 15-250ug/L n/a n/a
<8ug/L
>500ug/L
Female
10-150ug/L
After
menopause
10-263ug/L
n/a n/a n/a
11/20/2018

TIBC
34
TIBC is an indirect measurement of the
iron transport protein transferrin.
The test is performed by adding an
excess of iron to a plasma sample.
Any excess unbound iron is removed
from the sample, and the serum iron
concentration in the sample is
determined.
The measured serum iron concentration
reflects the TIBC of serum transferrin.
INCREASED TIBC
 Iron deficiency anaemia
 Pregnancy
 Oral contraceptive use.
DECREASED TIBC
 Anaemia of chronic disease
 Malignancy
 Infections
 Uremia
 Cirrhosis
 Hyperthyroidism
 Haemochromatosis.
Conventiona
l ref range
Conventiona
l ref range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male &
Female
SI 45–82
μmol/L
250-350
μg/dL
44.8-62.7
μmol/L
n/a
11/20/2018

Serum B12
35
Measures serum levels of vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 is important in DNA synthesis,
neurologic function, and haematopoiesis.
Deficiency of vitamin B12 produces a
macrocytic anaemia.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
 Glossitis
 Parasthesias
 Muscle weakness
 Gastrointestinal symptoms
 Loss of coordination
 Tremors
 Irritability
DECREASED SERUM B12 CAUSES
 Inadequate dietary intake (rare except for vegan
diets)
 Deficiency of intrinsic factor (necessary for
absorption of B12)
 Increased requirements.
 Pernicious anaemia
 Gastrectomy
 Crohn's disease
 Small bowel resection
 Intestinal infections
 Medication use including colchicine or neomycin.
Conventional
ref range
Conventional
ref range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male &
Female
SI 148–664
pmol/L
n/a n/a MUST BE IX
11/20/2018

Homocysteine 4-14 umol/L
36
Increased levels:
Cardiovascular Disease
Cerebrovascular Disease
Peripheral vascular disease
Cystinuria
Folate B6 or B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
11/20/2018

Serum B12
37
Increased levels of vitamin B12 in
the blood can exist for a number
of reasons, which can be divided
roughly into the following
categories.
The test was simply carried out too
soon after the taking of vitamin B12
supplements
The body is failing to use the B12
correctly
A severe disease is present
Cancer BioMarker
Alongside alcoholism
Genetic make-up
An impaired B12 absorption and
increased transport molecules in
the blood
Diseases of the liver, kidneys and
the blood, such as leukemia, can
be considered potential reasons for
an increased vitamin B12 blood
level
Conventional
ref range
Conventional
ref range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male &
Female
SI 148–664
pmol/L
n/a n/a MUST BE IX
1E. Andrès, K. Serraj, J. Zhu, A.J.M. Vermorken. The pathophysiology of elevated vitamin B12 in clinical practice QJM Feb 2013
11/20/2018

Serum Folate
40
Measures serum folate. Like
vitamin B12, folate is a vitamin
necessary for synthesis of DNA.
➢ Deficiency of folate results in
megaloblastic anaemia.
DECREASED SERUM FOLATE
CAUSES
➢ Inadequate intake (major cause)
➢ decreased absorption
‘TRAPPING’
➢ Inability to convert folic acid to
the active form tetrahydrofolate
DECREASED SERUM FOLATE
➢ Alcoholism
➢ Poor nutrition
➢ Pregnancy
➢ Hyperthyroidism
➢ Crohn's disease
➢ Small bowel resection
➢ Coeliac disease
➢ Medication use including trimethoprim,
triamterene, methotrexate, phenytoin, and
sulfasalazine.
Conventional
ref range
Conventional
ref range
Optimal ref
range
Alarm range
Male &
Female
SI 6.8–56.8
nmol/L
n/a n/a n/a
11/20/2018

Part 4 laboratory values 2211

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