Have you received your blood test results and are looking to interpret them? From blood sugar to LDL level, including white blood cell count, a blood test allows you to explore hundreds of health parameters.
Thousands of blood tests are taken every day in France. “The doctor makes a prescription by selecting the appropriate dosages based on the patient’s symptoms, chronic pathology or treatment. Cholesterol level, blood sugar, CBC, or HIV test are common examples” explains Dr. Charlotte Guyon, medical biologist. But for many people, it is difficult to understand the results. Certainly, there are reference standards specified in the document but certain acronyms remain unknown. The biologist gives us the main benchmark definitions and reminds us of the deadlines for obtaining her results.
A blood test allows hundreds of biological parameters to be analyzed. There is no universal “standard assessment”, but certain markers are almost systematically requested by doctors who want to have a general view of the patient’s state of health:
- The lipid profile (Cholesterol) evaluates the fats in the blood (HDL/good cholesterol, LDL/bad cholesterol and triglycerides). It often requires fasting. This assessment helps define your cardiovascular risk.
- Fasting blood sugar measures blood sugar levels. A value greater than 1.26 g/L on two occasions may point to a diagnosis of diabetes. It is often supplemented by HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin), which reflects the average sugar level over the last 3 months.
- The CBC (Blood Count). This is the gold standard test for counting blood cells. There we find red blood cells (red blood cells) to detect possible anemia, leukocytes (white blood cells) to identify an infection (viral, bacterial or parasitic) and platelets for coagulation.
- CRP (C-reactive protein) and ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) are markers of inflammation. They increase in cases of inflammation or infection. The higher the level, the stronger your body’s reaction.
- Liver assessment: ASAT, ALT, GGT, PAL to monitor the liver.
- Renal assessment: Urea and creatinine to assess kidney function.
- Ionogram: dosage of sodium, potassium and chlorine to check your hydration and mineral balance.
- TSH: reflection of thyroid activity.
Table of abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Definition | Utility |
|---|---|---|
| NFS/NFP | Blood Count | General blood condition |
| GAJ | Fasting blood sugar | Diabetes screening |
| EAL | Lipid abnormality examination | Cholesterol screening |
| CRP | C-reactive protein | Checking for inflammation |
| HbA1 | Glycated hemoglobin | Diabetes monitoring |
| ASAT / ALAT | Transaminases | Liver condition |
| TSH | Thyroid | Thyroid function status |
| VGM | Mean Globular Volume | Size of red blood cells (anemia) |
| Ferritin | Iron storage protein | Evaluation of iron reserves |
| Creat | Creatinine | Kidney function |
| HCG | Chorionic gonadotropic hormone | Pregnancy test |
| U | Urea | Kidneys |
| AT | Uric acid | Drop |
Reference values: what to do if we are not within the standards?
Reference values (“norms”) are statistical indicators. “The vast majority of healthy people will have results within these ranges,” recalls Dr. Charlotte Guyon. Please note: an unusual result does not necessarily mean that you are sick. The standards depend on the assay techniques used by each laboratory. Factors such as age, gender or a transient abnormality may influence your results. Don’t panic if a number appears in bold on your report. The medical biologist is present in the laboratory to answer your questions and, of course, your attending physician remains your preferred contact to interpret these results according to your clinical context.
How long do you have to wait to get your results?
Generally, if the blood test is taken in the morning, the results are available in the afternoon. “Generally, if the blood test is taken in the morning, the analyzes will be completed and validated by the biologist in the afternoon and the results simultaneously transmitted. For blood tests taken in the afternoon, the results are sent the next morning. However, certain specialized analyzes may require a longer period of time.” the biologist informs us. For specialized analyses, the delay may be longer, up to one week or even two weeks. The majority of laboratories now allow results to be downloaded online (PDF format) via a secure identifier provided when you visit.
