UNDERSTANDING AND READING LABORATORY
TESTS
There are
a large number of tests used to verify good health or indicate the
presence of infection or disease. The major tests and some of the
common vocabulary in lab reports are explained below. A Complete Blood
Count (CBC), indicates the number and type of cells in the the dog’s
blood. This standard test is able to identify anemia and leukemia, as
well as the presence of many infections. A Serum Chemistry Profile (SCP)
includes a variety of tests that examine the functioning of organs such
as the liver and thyroid.
Blood Analysis tests :
RED BLOOD CELLS (RBC) - these are what carries oxygen and carbon
dioxide throughout the body. Iron deficiency will lower the RBC count. A more
reduced count may indicate hemorrhage, parasites, bone marrow disease,
B-12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency or copper deficiency. Red Blood
Cells live for 120 days, so an anemia of any kind other than
hemorrhaging indicates a long standing problem.
HEMATOCRIT (HCT) or sometimes called Packed Cell Volume (PCV), provides information on the amount of red blood cells (RBC) present in
the blood.
Decreased levels may mean
anemia from hemorrhage, parasites, nutritional deficiencies or chronic
disease processes such as liver disease, cancer, etc.
Increased levels are often
seen in dehydration.
HEMOGLOBIN (Hb)
- this is what carries the oxygen in the blood.
Decreased levels indicate
the presence of hemorrhage, anemia, or iron deficiency.
Increased levels indicate
higher than normal concentration of RBC, or B-12 deficiency because there are fewer cells with B-12 deficiency.
RETICULOCYTES - are immature red blood cells. A
Decreased count usually is associated with anemia. An increased count is usually associated with chronic hemorrhage
or hemolytic anemia.
PLATELETS - (PLT) - these play a very important role in blood clotting. A Decrease in number of
platelets occurs in bone marrow depression, autoimmune hemolytic anemia,
systemic lupus, severe hemorrhage or intravascular coagulation. An increase in the number of
platelets may occur with fractures of blood vessel injury or cancer.
MCV
- is the measurement of the average size of the Red Blood Cell (RBC). An increased volume could be
due to a B-12 or folic acid deficiency. A decrease in volume or the number of MCV’s are from an iron deficiency.
WHITE BLOOD CELLS (WBC) - these are the body’s primary means of fighting off infections. A decrease of WBC’s may be the
result of an overwhelming infection or virus, or from a drug / chemical
poisoning. An increase indicates a bacterial infection, emotional upset and/ or blood
disorders.
LYMPHOCYTES (L/M) - lymphocytes are smooth, round white blood cells that increase in number or volume
with chronic infection or recovery from an acute infection or from
underactive glands. Lymphocytes decrease in number or volume with stress, or treatment with
steroids and chemotherapy drugs.
CALCIUM (CA) - the blood calcium levels are influenced by diet, hormone levels, and
blood protein levels. Decreased numbers or levels indicate acute damage to the pancreas or underactive
parathyroid. Muscle twitches may occur with decreased levels and may be
indicative of a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes. Increased levels can be
indicative of certain types of tumors, parathyroid or kidney disease, as
well as may indicate poor metabolism of fats and protein.
PHOSPHOROUS (PHOS) - Phosphorous is affected by diet, by the parathyroid hormone and by the
kidney. A decrease will
show an overactive parathyroid gland, malignancies (or tumors),
malnutrition, and malabsorption. Phosphorous increases with an
underactive parathyroid gland and also increases with kidney failure.
ELECTROLYTES are Sodium, Potassium and Chloride. The balance of
these chemicals are extremely vital to health. Abnormal levels or out
of balance can be life threatening. Electrolyte testing is important in
evaluating vomiting, diarrhea and cardiac (heart) symptoms.
CHOLESTEROL (CHOL) - a decrease in
cholesterol is found in an overactive thyroid gland or with intestinal
malabsorption. (The intestine is where all absorption of food and
nutrients take place). An increase in cholesterol is seen in disorders including hypothyroidism, diseases
of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, diabetes and stress.
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE (ALT) - this is an enzyme that becomes elevated with liver disease.
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE (ALKP) - this is an enzyme that is produced by the biliary tract in the liver. High levels indicate bone
disease, liver disease or bile flow blockage (such as in gallstones in
the bile duct).
TOTAL BILIRUBIN (TBIL) - Bilirubin is a component of the bile and is secreted by the liver into
the intestinal tract. High levels can lead to jaundice and indicate destruction in the liver and
bile duct.
TOTAL PROTEIN (TP) - total protein increases with dehydration or blood cancer, bone marrow cancer. It decreases with malnutrition,
poor digestion, liver or kidney disease, bleeding or burns.
GLOBULINS (GLOB) - A decrease indicates
problems with antibodies, immunodeficiency viruses or risk of infectious
diseases. An increase may indicate dehydration, stress, blood cancer, liver disease,
allergies, heart disease, diabetes or arthritis.
ALBUMIN (ALB) - it is produced by the liver. A reduction of this protein can be from chronic liver or kidney
disease or from parasitic infections such as that of hookworm. An elevation of this protein
will indicate dehydration and loss of protein.
BLOOD UREA NITROGEN (BUN) - BUN is produced by the liver and excreted by the kidneys in the
urine. A decrease in BUN
levels are seen with low protein diets, liver insufficiency, and with
the use of anabolic steroid drug use. An increase BUN level will
likely indicate any condition that reduces the kidney’s ability to
filter body fluids in the body and interferes with protein breakdown.
CREATININE (CREA) - Creatinine is a by-product of muscle metabolism and is excreted by the
kidneys. An increase indicates kidney disease or urinary obstruction (such as stones or tumor),
muscle disease, arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes. An increased BUN and normal
creatinine suggest an early or mild problem. An increased creatinine and increased BUN with elevated
phosphorus indicate a long standing kidney disease.
BLOOD GLUCOSE (GLU) - a high level can help
diagnose diabetes and can also indicate stress, excess of the hormone
progesterone, or an overactive adrenal gland. A low level can indicate liver
disease, tumors or abnormal growth on pancreas, or an underactive
adrenal gland.
AMYLASE (AMYL) - The pancreas produces and secrets amylase to aid in digestion. An increased blood level can
indicate pancreatic and / or kidney disease.
Urine tests or analysis:
COLOR - the normal color of urine is yellow to amber (which is light yellow).
Red is caused by blood in the urine. Dark yellow to brown with yellow
form are caused by bilirubin. Reddish brown is caused by hemoglobin/
myoglobin.
TRANSPARENCY
- Urine is normally clear. Cloudy urine is caused by crystals, cells,
blood, mucous, bacteria or cast. Anything other than clear is
abnormal.
GRAVITY
- 1.007 ~ 1.029 occurs with diabetes mellitus, insipidus, overactive
adrenal glands, excessive thirst and pyometra. Over 1.040 occurs with
high fever, dehydration, diabetes mellitus, vomiting, diarrhea, and
severe hemorrhage.
PH levels - should be 6.2 ~ 6.5, a little on the acidic side.
PLEASE NOTE : any time you have to have blood work done on your pet, make sure he/she
has not had anything to eat or drink for at least 12 hours before the
test. Some difference in clinical chemistries exist between breeds.
You
should also establish what is normal for your pet. Their bodies are all
different. An abnormal reading may be normal for your pet. You will
need to do a baseline while the dog/cat is healthy to establish a
baseline reading.
| Normal Values |
Canine |
Feline |
Unit Of Measure |
| Glucose |
65-120 |
70-120 |
mg/dl |
| BUN |
6-24 |
17-30 |
mg/dl |
| Creatinine |
0.4-1.4 |
0.6-1.6 |
mg/dl |
| Total Protein |
5.2-7.2 |
5.3-7.2 |
g/dl |
| Albumin |
2.5-4.3 |
2.6-3.9 |
g/dl |
| Calcium |
9.5-12.0 |
9.4-11.2 |
mg/dl |
| Phosphorus |
3.3-6.8 |
4.0-7.0 |
mg/dl |
| Alkaline Phosphatase |
20-200 |
20-220 |
U/L |
| GGT |
1.2 |
0-10.0 |
U/L |
| AST |
10-40 |
8-35 |
U/L |
| LDH |
30-190 |
35-280 |
U/L |
| Cholestrol |
110-314 |
90-150 |
mg/dl |
| Total Bilirubin |
.04-4.0 |
.08-.30 |
mg/dl |
| ALT |
10-70 |
10-130 |
U/L |
| Amylase |
200-1290 |
not valid |
U/L |
| CPK |
20-200 |
20-160 |
U/L |
| CO2 |
17-24 |
17-24 |
mEq/L |
| Triglycerides |
20-200 |
20-100 |
mg/dl |
| Direct Bilirubin |
0-0.30 |
0-0.30 |
mg/dl |
| Uric Acid |
0-2.0 |
0-1.0 |
mg/dl |
| Sodium |
140-151 |
143-153 |
mEq/L |
| Potassium |
3.4-5.4 |
3.5-5.2 |
mEq/L |
| Chloride |
105-120 |
108-128 |
mEq/L |
| Lipase |
120-258 |
120-258 |
U/L |
| Globulins |
0.9-4.0 |
1.5-4.0 |
g/dl |
| A/G |
0.53-3.5 |
0.56-2.6 |
|
| Anion Gap |
5-30 |
5-30 |
|
| HgB |
120-180 |
80-150 |
g/L |
| Hct |
0.37-0.55 |
0.24-0.45 |
L/L |
| RBC |
5.5-8.5 |
5.0-10.0 |
x106/ul |
| MCV |
60-77 |
39-55 |
fl |
| MCH |
19.5-24.5 |
13-17 |
pg |
| MCHC |
32-36 |
30-36 |
g/dl |
| Reticulocytes |
0-1.5% |
0-1% |
0% |
| WCB |
6.0-17.1 |
5.5-19.5 |
x1000/ul |
| Segs |
3.6-11.5 |
2.5-12.5 |
x1000/ul |
| Bands |
0.0-0.3 |
0.0-0.3 |
x1000/ul |
|
