How to read the routine blood test report?

This is the 3454th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

At present, health check-ups have become popular among everyone, from the young to the elderly. During the physical examination, everyone will have a few abnormal indicators, or in daily life, they will always encounter headaches and fevers, and need to go to the hospital for a blood test. So how should we view the up and down arrows on the blood test report? Which ones should be paid attention to and which ones can be ignored? Today, let's learn about the significance of blood tests in the eyes of doctors.

As we all know, red blood flows in human blood vessels, so what substances are hidden in this red liquid? What we usually call routine blood tests are to detect the formed elements in it - blood cells.

In a blood routine test form, we only need to pay attention to three major items, which are three words: red/white/plate. The items for testing red blood cells further include hemoglobin, hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell size, etc. White blood cells can be further divided into several types such as neutrophils and lymphocytes.

Red blood cells

The normal red blood cell values ​​in different populations are slightly different, with higher values ​​in men than in women and lower values ​​in infants, pregnant women, and the elderly than in adults. We call this physiological anemia.

The following chart lists the minimum limits of hemoglobin in children at different ages. If the value is lower than this, the baby will be anemic. Now Shanghai stipulates that every baby must have a health check-up and blood test at 6 months old, because the hemoglobin of 6-month-old babies will decrease physiologically, so mothers who have low hemoglobin should not be anxious, as long as it is greater than 100g/l, it is normal and acceptable.

In addition to hemoglobin, there are two other points that need attention in red blood cells: red blood cell volume and concentration. For example, if the red blood cells are small in volume and low in concentration, we call it microcytic hypochromic anemia, which is more common in patients with iron deficiency or chronic blood loss. These indicators can give doctors some clues to find the cause of the patient's anemia and treat it.

leukocyte

White blood cells are the body's guards against pathogens, so changes in white blood cells mostly represent infections caused by various pathogens. White blood cells are divided into five categories: neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.

Each type of cell has its own different function. The increase or decrease in the percentage of each cell indicates a different disease. Doctors will make a diagnosis based on the type and number of white blood cells, combined with the patient's symptoms and other test indicators.

Platelets

Platelets maintain the integrity of our capillaries and promote coagulation and wound healing. Simply put, patients with low platelets are prone to bleeding and difficult to stop bleeding, and patients with increased platelets have a high risk of thrombosis. The normal platelet value for adults is 100~300*10^9/l. Less than 100*10^9/l is called thrombocytopenia, and more than 300*10^9/l is called thrombocytosis. The causes of increased and decreased platelet counts are as follows:

After briefly introducing the clinical significance of routine blood tests, I believe that readers have a preliminary impression of the significance and items of routine blood tests. However, do not over-interpret routine blood tests, and do not make rash diagnosis. Because a doctor's diagnosis of a disease is not only completed by looking at the test report alone, but also requires a comprehensive judgment based on medical history, symptoms, other tests and examination results.

Author: Department of Emergency Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Han Rui Attending Physician