Hi all:

And if this is not the correct place to put this, kindly advise me. Thanks

Trying to help a friend who just went for routine blood work. (They are re-doing the tests).
She is a tip top fit 51 year old who exercises and goes the the gym all the time. I typed up what it said on the top of the test results page.

Can anyone please translate this for me? Thanks much Melody



Examination of the barrier tube shows an inadequate barrier between the red cells and serum. Optimum barrier formation requires:
-Inversion of barrier tube 5 times immediately after blood is drawn.
-Clotting in a vertical position fo 30 minutes.
Centrifugation for 15 minutes

We have re-centrifuged and separated the serum from the packed cells in order to complete the test requested.However a false elevation of LD, POTASSIUM, IRON, AND PHOSPHATE. as well as a false decrease in Glucose may result due to prolonged contact of red blood cells with serum.

The following is the blood work that came out abnormal.

Potassium 5.5
Globulin Calculated = 2.1
A/G ratio - 2.2
WBC - 3.6
MCH - 34.1
NEUTROPHILS ,ABSOLUTE = 1490

There should be ranges listed with those results.

The text is explaining how a false result can happen if the
sample is not handled correctly. (the red cells may burst and release potassium, etc and give a false high or false normal).

I don't have tests memorized. If you have the ranges, that would help.

The white count is kind of low... I think around 5000 is the low end of normal.

Here is a site with some values:
http://www.drstandley.com/labvalues_hematology.shtml

Mrs. D.

I went online and found the ranges.

Potassium (She has 5.5) Normal is 3.5 - 5.0
Globulin,calculated - (She is is 2.1) Normal is 2.2 - 4.2
A/G Ratio (she is 2.2) Normal is 1.1 to 1.8
WBC She is 3.6 Normal is 4,500 to 10,000
MCH She is (34.1 ) Range is 25.4 - 34.6 pg/cell Optimal is 30
Neutrophil Absolute - (she is 1490) Normal is 1,500 - 8000

Believe me, I'm getting an education on these things. Do you have ANY idea why she is getting these results. I know they are going to run these tests again. She is absolutely faithful to a good fitness routine, good eating habits, no drinking, no drugging, nothing out of the ordinary. She's probably the most fittest person I know.

Her family background however, DOES INCLUDE colon cancer. Her dad, and several other family members have had this. She gets regular screenings.

Any clue?

Melody

Sometime viruses lower the white count.

The potassium may be high due to the reason I gave. But it is not dangerously high.
(or she takes ACE inhibitors or Dyazide etc.)

Lab ranges are averages not absolutes, and some people fall out of the range just normally.

Well, her daughter who lives upstairs has this nasty virus that she's had for 4 days. Fever, vomiting diarrhea, etc. Maybe she caught something?

She takes NO meds at all. She's a health nut.

So they will re-do the centrifuge thing. She's on pins and needles.

Thank you very much for reading the numbers for us.

Much appreciated.

Melody