Decoding Your Blood Tests
Blood work is a powerful tool for assessing your overall health. Here's a guide to the most commonly ordered tests.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The CBC measures several components of your blood:
White blood cells (WBC): Your immune fighters. High levels may indicate infection; low levels may suggest immune issues.Red blood cells (RBC): Carry oxygen. Low counts may indicate anemia.Hemoglobin (Hgb): The oxygen-carrying protein. Normal: 120-160 g/L for women, 140-180 g/L for men.Platelets: Help with clotting. Normal range: 150-400 × 10⁹/L.Lipid Panel (Cholesterol)
Total cholesterol: Ideally under 5.2 mmol/LLDL ("bad" cholesterol): Lower is better, ideally under 3.5 mmol/LHDL ("good" cholesterol): Higher is better, ideally over 1.0 mmol/LTriglycerides: Ideally under 1.7 mmol/LBlood Glucose
Fasting glucose: Normal is 4.0-6.0 mmol/LHbA1c: Reflects 3-month average. Normal is under 6.0%; diabetes is 6.5%+Thyroid (TSH)
Normal range: 0.4-4.0 mIU/LHigh TSH: May indicate underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)Low TSH: May indicate overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)Liver Function
ALT & AST: Liver enzymes. Elevated levels may indicate liver stress.Common causes of elevation: Medications, alcohol, fatty liver diseaseKidney Function
Creatinine & eGFR: Measure how well your kidneys filter wasteeGFR over 60: Generally normaleGFR under 60: May indicate reduced kidney functionTips for Accurate Results
Fast for 10-12 hours before fasting blood workStay hydrated — drink waterTake your medications as usual unless told otherwiseAvoid intense exercise the day beforeQuestions About Your Results?
Book an appointment to review your blood work with one of our physicians. We can explain what your numbers mean and recommend next steps.
