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Medical Glossary

Understanding Your Lab Results

Plain-language explanations of common blood test parameters, reference ranges for men, women, and children, and what abnormal values mean for your health.

Showing all 116 terms

Hemoglobin (Hb)

Oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.

g/dL Blood Count

Hematocrit (HCT)

Percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.

Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)

Total number of red blood cells per unit of blood.

million/µL Blood Count

White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

Total number of immune cells fighting infection in your blood.

thousand/µL Blood Count

Platelet Count

Tiny blood cells that help your blood clot to stop bleeding.

thousand/µL Blood Count

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Average size of your red blood cells.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

Average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

Concentration of hemoglobin within red blood cells.

Blood Glucose (Random)

Sugar level in your blood at any given time.

mg/dL Chemistry

Fasting Blood Glucose (FBS)

Blood sugar measured after 8–12 hours of fasting.

mg/dL Chemistry

HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin)

Average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months.

Total Cholesterol

Total amount of cholesterol in your blood.

mg/dL Chemistry

LDL Cholesterol

"Bad" cholesterol that can clog arteries.

mg/dL Chemistry

HDL Cholesterol

"Good" cholesterol that protects arteries.

mg/dL Chemistry

Triglycerides

Main type of fat stored in the body from food.

mg/dL Chemistry

Serum Creatinine

Waste product filtered by kidneys — indicates kidney function.

mg/dL Chemistry

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

Waste from protein breakdown — another kidney function marker.

mg/dL Chemistry

Estimated GFR (eGFR)

Best overall measure of how well your kidneys filter waste.

mL/min/1.73m² Chemistry

Uric Acid

Waste product from purine breakdown — linked to gout.

mg/dL Chemistry

Bilirubin (Total)

Yellow pigment from red blood cell breakdown — liver health indicator.

mg/dL Chemistry

Serum Albumin

Main protein in blood — reflects liver and nutrition status.

Total Protein

Combined albumin and globulin levels in blood.

ALT (SGPT)

Liver enzyme — most specific marker for liver damage.

AST (SGOT)

Enzyme found in liver, heart, and muscles.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Enzyme from liver and bones — elevated in bile duct or bone disorders.

GGT (Gamma-GT)

Liver enzyme sensitive to alcohol and bile duct issues.

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

Master switch that controls thyroid gland activity.

T3 (Triiodothyronine)

Active thyroid hormone that drives metabolism.

T4 (Thyroxine)

Main hormone produced by the thyroid gland.

Free T4 (Free Thyroxine)

Unbound, active portion of T4 available to your body.

ng/dL Electrolytes

Sodium (Na)

Key electrolyte controlling fluid balance and nerve function.

mEq/L Electrolytes

Potassium (K)

Critical electrolyte for heart rhythm and muscle function.

mEq/L Electrolytes

Chloride (Cl)

Electrolyte that maintains fluid balance and acid-base status.

mEq/L Electrolytes

Calcium (Ca)

Essential for bones, muscles, nerves, and blood clotting.

mg/dL Electrolytes

Magnesium (Mg)

Essential mineral for muscles, nerves, and over 300 enzyme reactions.

mg/dL Electrolytes

Phosphorus (Phosphate)

Mineral essential for bones, energy production, and DNA.

mg/dL Iron Studies

Serum Iron

Amount of iron circulating in your blood.

µg/dL Iron Studies

Ferritin

Protein that stores iron — best indicator of iron reserves.

ng/mL Iron Studies

TIBC (Total Iron-Binding Capacity)

Measures blood's capacity to transport iron — high when iron is low.

µg/dL Vitamins

Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)

Sunshine vitamin — essential for bones, immunity, and mood.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Vital for nerves, DNA, and red blood cell production.

Folate (Vitamin B9)

Essential for cell division, DNA repair, and fetal development.

ng/mL Inflammation

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Blood marker that rises with inflammation or infection.

mg/L Inflammation

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)

Non-specific marker of inflammation — how fast red cells settle.

Troponin (T or I)

Protein released when heart muscle is damaged — key heart attack marker.

BNP / NT-proBNP

Hormone released when the heart is stretched or strained.

Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine)

Active, unbound form of the T3 thyroid hormone.

Thyroid Profile (T3, T4, TSH)

Combined panel of the three basic thyroid tests.

High-Sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP)

Precise CRP measurement used for cardiovascular risk assessment.

mg/L Inflammation

Procalcitonin (PCT)

Blood marker that rises specifically in bacterial infection and sepsis.

High-Sensitivity Troponin I (hs-TnI)

Ultra-sensitive heart attack marker used in emergency rooms.

Homocysteine

Amino acid that, when high, raises cardiovascular and stroke risk.

µmol/L Coagulation

D-Dimer

Fragment released when a blood clot breaks down.

µg/mL FEU Coagulation

Prothrombin Time / INR (PT/INR)

Measures how long blood takes to clot via the extrinsic pathway.

INR Coagulation

Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)

Measures clotting via the intrinsic pathway — used for heparin monitoring.

seconds Coagulation

Fibrinogen

Blood protein that forms the scaffold of a clot.

Insulin (Fasting / Random)

Pancreatic hormone that controls blood sugar.

µIU/mL Hormones

HOMA-IR (Insulin Resistance Index)

Calculated index that estimates insulin resistance.

Serum Lipase

Pancreatic enzyme — the preferred marker for pancreatitis.

Serum Amylase

Pancreatic and salivary enzyme — older pancreatitis marker.

Urine Microalbumin / ACR

Urine test that detects early kidney damage in diabetes and hypertension.

Urine Routine (Urinalysis)

Standard screening test covering urine physical, chemical, and cellular content.

G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase)

Red blood cell enzyme that protects against oxidative stress.

U/g Hb Blood Count

Reticulocyte Count

Count of young, immature red blood cells — reflects bone marrow activity.

Hemoglobin Electrophoresis

Test that separates hemoglobin types — diagnoses thalassemia and sickle cell.

Hemoglobin F (HbF / Foetal Hemoglobin)

Fetal hemoglobin — high in infants, low in healthy adults.

Beta-hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)

Pregnancy hormone — also a tumor marker for certain cancers.

mIU/mL Tumor Markers

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)

Blood marker used to screen and monitor prostate cancer.

ng/mL Autoimmune

Anti-TPO Antibody

Antibody against thyroid peroxidase — key marker of autoimmune thyroiditis.

IU/mL Autoimmune

ANA (Antinuclear Antibody)

Screening test for autoimmune connective tissue disease, especially lupus.

Anti-dsDNA Antibody

Highly specific antibody for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Rheumatoid Factor (RF)

Antibody used in rheumatoid arthritis workup — sensitive but not specific.

Anti-CCP Antibody

Highly specific rheumatoid arthritis antibody — often positive before symptoms.

Direct Coombs Test (Direct Antiglobulin Test)

Detects antibodies already stuck to red blood cells.

Indirect Coombs Test (Antibody Screen)

Detects free antibodies in serum that could react with donor red cells.

ASO Titre (Anti-Streptolysin O)

Antibody against streptococcal toxin — evidence of recent strep infection.

IU/mL Infectious

Widal Test

Antibody test for typhoid fever — used cautiously due to specificity issues.

Dengue NS1 Antigen

Early dengue virus antigen — detectable in the first week of fever.

Dengue IgM Antibody

Antibody that rises in the second week of dengue infection.

Dengue IgG Antibody

Antibody marking past or long-term dengue infection.

Chikungunya IgM Antibody

Antibody confirming recent chikungunya virus infection.

Malaria Parasite (MP)

Blood smear or rapid antigen test for malaria diagnosis.

HBsAg (Hepatitis B Surface Antigen)

Antigen indicating current hepatitis B virus infection.

Anti-HCV Antibody

Antibody screening test for hepatitis C virus infection.

HIV Screening (ELISA / Rapid Test)

Initial screening test for HIV infection.

VDRL / RPR

Non-treponemal screening test for syphilis.

TORCH Panel

Panel of infections that can harm a developing fetus.

Cystatin C

Kidney function marker less affected by muscle mass than creatinine.

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

Protein that binds sex hormones in blood, controlling their availability.

nmol/L Hormones

Total Testosterone

Total blood level of the main male sex hormone.

Free Testosterone

Unbound, biologically active fraction of testosterone.

DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate)

Adrenal androgen, main marker of adrenal androgen production.

µg/dL Hormones

Estradiol (E2)

Main estrogen — varies by menstrual phase and pregnancy.

FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone)

Pituitary hormone that drives follicle growth in ovaries and sperm production in testes.

mIU/mL Hormones

LH (Luteinizing Hormone)

Pituitary hormone that triggers ovulation and testosterone production.

mIU/mL Hormones

Prolactin

Pituitary hormone — high levels cause menstrual and fertility problems.

17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP)

Steroid precursor used to diagnose congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Aldosterone

Adrenal hormone that controls sodium, potassium, and blood pressure.

Cortisol

Main stress hormone — measured to diagnose adrenal disorders.

µg/dL Hormones

PTH (Parathyroid Hormone)

Hormone that controls blood calcium and bone metabolism.

IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1)

Liver hormone that mediates most of growth hormone's actions.

Growth Hormone (GH)

Pituitary hormone driving growth in children and metabolism in adults.

Calcitonin

Thyroid C-cell hormone — tumor marker for medullary thyroid cancer.

pg/mL Chemistry

Ceruloplasmin

Copper-carrying blood protein — the key test for Wilson's disease.

mg/dL Chemistry

Haptoglobin

Blood protein that binds free hemoglobin — a key hemolysis marker.

mg/dL Chemistry

Serum Copper

Copper level in blood — used alongside ceruloplasmin for Wilson's disease.

µg/dL Chemistry

Serum Zinc

Essential trace mineral needed for immunity, wound healing, and growth.

µg/dL Chemistry

Blood Lead Level

Test for lead exposure and poisoning.

µg/dL Tumor Markers

Beta-2 Microglobulin (β2-M)

Small protein used as a marker for multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

mg/L Autoimmune

Serum Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM)

Panel of the three main antibody classes — screens immune deficiency and gammopathies.

Serum IgE (Total)

Antibody class involved in allergy and parasitic infection.

IU/mL Autoimmune

Tissue Transglutaminase IgA (TTG-IgA)

First-line serological test for celiac disease.

Aspergillus-Specific IgE

Allergen-specific antibody for diagnosing Aspergillus sensitization.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (A1AT)

Liver-made protein that protects lung tissue — deficiency causes emphysema and liver disease.

mg/dL Chemistry

Serum ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme)

Blood enzyme — used to support a sarcoidosis diagnosis.

Aldolase

Muscle enzyme — supports diagnosis of inflammatory muscle disease.

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