To understand the blood test it is necessary to be aware of the type of examination that the doctor requested, the reference values, the laboratory where the test was performed and the result obtained, which must be interpreted by the doctor.
After the CBC, the most requested blood tests are VHS, CPK, TSH, PCR, liver and PSA exams, the latter being an excellent marker of prostate cancer. Here are the blood tests that detect cancer.
VHS - Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Screening for HSV is required to investigate inflammatory or infectious processes and is usually required along with the CBC and C-reactive protein (CRP) dosage. This examination consists of observing the amount of red blood cells that settle in 1 hour. In men less than 50 years of age, normal HRV is up to 15 mm / h and up to 30 mm / h for men over 50 years. For women younger than 50 years, the normal value of HSV is up to 20 mm / h and up to 42 mm / h for women over 50 years. Understand what the VHS exam is and what it may indicate.
It evaluates the occurrence of infectious and inflammatory processes, besides being asked to follow the evolution of diseases and response to therapy. | High : Cold, tonsillitis, urinary tract infection, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammation, cancer and aging. Low : Polycythemia vera, sickle cell anemia, congestive heart failure and in the presence of ulcers. |
CPK - Creatinophosphokinase
The CPK blood test is requested in order to verify the occurrence of diseases involving the muscles and the brain, and is mainly requested to evaluate the cardiac function, being requested together with myoglobin and troponin. The CPK reference value in men is between 32 and 294 U / L and in women between 33 and 211 U / L. Learn more about the CPK exam.
Evaluates cardiac, cerebral and muscular function | High : Infarction, stroke, hypothyroidism, electric shock or burn, chronic alcoholism, pulmonary edema, embolism, muscular dystrophy, strenuous exercise, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, recent intramuscular injections and after seizures, cocaine use. |
TSH, total T3 and total T4
The total TSH, T3 and T4 dosages are requested in order to evaluate the thyroid function. The reference value of the TSH test is between 0.3 and 4 μUI / mL, and may vary between laboratories. Learn more about what the TSH test is for.
| TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone |
High : Untreated primary hypothyroidism due to withdrawal of part of the thyroid. Low : Hyperthyroidism |
| T3 - Total triiodothyronine | Alto : In treatment with T3 or T4. Low : Serious general illnesses, postoperative, in the elderly, fasting, use of medications such as propranolol, amiodarone, corticosteroids. |
| T4 - Total thyroxine | High : Myasthenia gravis, pregnancy, preeclampsia, severe disease, hyperthyroidism, anorexia nervosa, use of medications such as amiodarone and propranolol. Low : Hypothyroidism, nephrosis, cirrhosis, Simmonds disease, pre-eclampsia or chronic renal failure. |
PCR - C-reactive protein
C-reactive protein is a protein produced by the liver whose dosage is requested when there is suspicion of inflammation or infection in the body, being elevated in the blood under these conditions. The normal value of CRP in the blood is up to 3 mg / L, and may vary between laboratories. Here's how to understand the PCR test.
| Indicates if there is inflammation, infection or cardiovascular risk. |
High : Arterial inflammation, bacterial infections such as appendicitis, otitis media, pyelonephritis, pelvic inflammatory disease; cancer, Crohn's disease, infarction, pancreatitis, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity. |
TGO and TGP
TGO and TGP are enzymes produced by the liver and whose concentration in the blood is increased when there are lesions in this organ, being considered excellent indicators of hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, for example. The normal value of TGP varies between 7 and 56 U / L and that of TGO between 5 and 40 U / L. Learn how to understand the TGP exam and the TGO exam.
| TGO or AST | High : Cell death, infarction, acute cirrhosis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, kidney disease, cancer, alcoholism, burns, trauma, crush injury, muscular dystrophy, gangrene. Low : Uncontrolled diabetes, beriberi. |
| TGP or ALT | High : Hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis, liver cancer. |
PSA - Benign Prostatic Antigen
PSA is a hormone produced by the prostate gland, and is usually ordered by the doctor to evaluate the functioning of this gland. The PSA reference value is between 0 and 4 ng / mL, however it may vary according to the age of the man and the laboratory in which the test was performed, with increased values usually indicative of prostate cancer. Learn how to understand the outcome of the PSA exam.
| Evaluates the functioning of the prostate | High : Prostate augmented, prostatitis, acute urine retention, needle prostate biopsy, trans-urethral prostate resection, prostate cancer. |
Other exams
Other tests that may be required to assess the person's overall health are:
- Hemogram : it is used to evaluate the white and red blood cells of the blood, being useful in the diagnosis of anemia and leukemia, for example - Know how to interpret the hemogram;
- Cholesterol : requested to assess HDL, LDL and VLDL, relating to the risk of cardiovascular disease;
- Urea and creatinine : it is used to assess the degree of impairment of the kidneys and can be done from the dosage of these substances in the blood or urine - Understand how the urine is done;
- Glucose : requested to diagnose diabetes. As with cholesterol-related tests, checking for blood glucose levels requires a person to fast for at least 8 hours - Learn more about fasting for a blood test;
- Uric acid : used to evaluate the functioning of the kidneys, but should be associated with other tests, such as the dosage of urea and creatinine, for example;
- Albumin : helps to assess the nutritional status of the individual and check for heart and kidney disease, for example.
The pregnancy blood test is Beta hCG, which can confirm pregnancy even before the delay of menstruation. Here's how to understand the beta-hCG test result.
