Biochemical blood test - a study that is conducted in the laboratory, and is used in medicine to identify information about the functional state of the body as a whole, organs in isolation. Its results help with high accuracy to determine disruptions in the work of the body.
Correct interpretation of the biochemical blood test in adults allows for accurate diagnosis of the internal organs.
Biochemical analysis of blood includes the determination of a number of indicators that reliably reflect the state of metabolic processes, such as mineral, carbohydrate, lipid, protein.
How to decipher the biochemical analysis of blood in adults?
The interpretation of the biochemical blood test is a comparison of the results obtained with normal indices. The analysis form contains a complete list of indicators defined by the biochemical laboratory and their reference values.
Biochemical analysis of is prescribed in the diagnosis of :
- Pathologies of the gynecological system. Diseases of the circulatory system( leukemia).
- Renal, hepatic insufficiency( hereditary pathologies).
- Violations of the heart muscle( heart attack, stroke).
- Diseases in the musculoskeletal system( arthritis, arthrosis, osteoporosis).Diseases of the thyroid gland( diabetes mellitus).
- abnormalities in the functioning of the stomach, intestines, pancreas.
Sometimes it is enough to establish a definitive diagnosis on the basis of a deviation from the norm of one or several parameters, but much more often for the full-fledged diagnostics other results of additional research methods and assessment of the clinical picture of the disease are required.
Preparation for analysis of
The reliability of the blood test may be affected by the preparation and conduct of it. Therefore, it is worth noting the main points of preparation in order for the normal results of the study to come without false deviations.
- To exclude from the diet a heavy meal( fried, fatty and spicy dishes) at least a day before taking blood - it is best to follow a balanced diet a few days before the test.
- Reduce to a minimum consumption of coffee, strong tea, stimulants - 12 hours before blood donation, you should not take substances that affect the central nervous system( caffeine, alcohol).
- Provide comfortable conditions for the emotional state of , avoid stress and exercise.
- On the day of blood sampling , you can not eat before the procedure.
According to the analysis, the doctor compares the results from the laboratory with the conventional ones, and determines the presence of a possible disease.
Biochemical blood test: norm of indicators
For convenience, the norms of biochemical blood test in adults are indicated in the table:
| Analysis: | Men: | Women: |
| Total protein | 64-84 g / l. | 64-84 g / l. |
| Hemoglobin | 130-160 g / l | 120-150 g / l. |
| Haptoglobin | 150-2000 mg / l | 150-2000 mg / l |
| Glucose | 3.30-5.50 mmol / l. | 3.30-5.50 mmol / l. |
| Urea | 2.5-8.3 mmol / l. | 2.5-8.3 mmol / l. |
| Creatinine | 62-115 μmol / l | 53-97 μmol / l. |
| Cholesterol | 3,5-6,5 mmol / l. | 3.5-6.5 mmol / l. |
| Bilirubin | 5-20 μmol / l. | 5-20 μmol / l. |
| ALT( ALT) | up to 45 units per liter. | up to 31 units per liter. |
| ASAT( AST) | up to 45 units per liter. | up to 31 units per liter. |
| Lipase | 0-190 unit / l. | 0-190 unit / l. |
| Alpha-amylase | 28-100 units / liter. | 28-100 unit / l. |
| Pancreatic amylase | 0-50 units / l. | 0-50 units / l. |
Each of the criteria indicated in the table reflects the state of one or more human organs, and the combination of some of them allows in some cases to place an accurate diagnosis or to direct the diagnostic process in the right direction.
Below we will consider what each of these analyzes shows by the example of decoding the biochemical blood test in adults.
Total protein
Total protein is the total concentration of proteins that are in the blood. Proteins take part in all biochemical reactions of the body - they transport different substances, act as reaction catalysts, participate in immune defense.
Normal values of protein in the blood - 64-84 g / l. If the protein is higher than this, the body can be exposed to infection. In addition, the cause of increased protein can be arthritis, rheumatism, or the onset of cancer. With a low protein content in the blood, the likelihood of liver disease increases many times, as well as problems with the intestines, kidneys. The most difficult diagnosis with a low protein is cancer.
See more: why the blood is increased protein.
Albumin
This protein is produced by the liver and is considered to be the main one in the blood plasma. In general, experts distinguish albumins as a separate protein group, called protein fractions.
An increase in the concentration of albumin in the blood( hyperalbuminemia) may be due to the following pathologies:
- dehydration, or dehydration( loss of body fluid due to vomiting, diarrhea, profuse sweating);
- extensive burns.
A decreased albumin value is observed in smokers and in women during pregnancy, as well as in breastfeeding. In other people, a decrease in albumin may indicate a variety of liver pathologies( eg, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or oncology), intestinal inflammations of an infectious nature( sepsis).In addition, with heart failure or oncology, burns or fever, various injuries or an overdose of drugs, albumin in the blood will be below normal.
Glucose( sugar)
The most frequent indicator of carbohydrate metabolism is the sugar content in the blood. Its short-term increase occurs with emotional excitement, stressful reactions, painful attacks, after eating. Normal - 3,5-5,5 mmol / l( test for glucose tolerance, test with sugar loading).
- Sugar is elevated - diabetes, endocrine disorders, pancreatitis, pancreatic tumor, cerebral hemorrhage, chronic liver and kidney damage, myocardial infarction, cystic fibrosis.
- Sugar is lowered - liver and pancreas lesions, hypothyroidism, stomach or adrenal cancer, arsenic poisoning or some drugs, alcohol intoxication.
Uric acid
The main product of the decay of the main component of nucleic acids - purine bases. Since it is not used further in metabolic processes, it is excreted by the kidneys unchanged. The norm in blood plasma is 0.16-0.44 mmol / l.
Increased uric acid in the blood testifies to:
- renal failure;
- leukemia, lymphomas;
- prolonged starvation;
- alcohol abuse;
- overdose with salicylates and diuretics.
Reducing the level of uric acid in the blood can be observed in the treatment with piperazine series, allopurinol, prebenecid, ACTH, sometimes with hepatitis, anemia.
See more: why uric acid in the blood is increased.
Urea
Is a consequence of the breakdown of proteins. In human blood, the permissible amount of this substance varies with age. Often, the level of urea goes beyond the patients that they have pathologies in the work of the kidneys: doctors prescribe a similar blood test for diagnosis, prediction of the disease.
A decrease in the level of urea in the blood can be triggered by the reasons that have a physiological( pregnancy, fasting, excessive fizgrazki), pathological nature( celiac disease, cirrhosis, poisoning with heavy metals).
See more: why urea in the blood is increased.
Creatinine
This substance, like urea, is a product of protein metabolism and is also excreted by the kidneys. Creatinine is a product of metabolic processes occurring in skeletal muscles, and to a lesser extent in the brain. Accordingly, its level will depend on the state of the kidneys and muscles.
Elevated creatinine is noted in renal failure, severe injuries with muscle damage, with increased thyroid function, after the administration of certain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. Moderately high creatinine is found in athletes.
See more: why the blood has increased creatinine.
Alanine aminotransferase( ALT, ALAT)
This indicator along with AST is used in medical practice for laboratory diagnostics of liver damage. Alanine aminotransferase is synthesized intracellularly, and normally only a small part of this enzyme enters the blood. If the liver is damaged( with hepatitis, liver cirrhosis) as a result of cytolysis( cell destruction), this enzyme enters the blood, which is detected by laboratory methods.
The level of this transaminase may also increase with myocardial infarction and other conditions. The increase in ALT, exceeding the increase in AST, is typical for liver damage;if the AST index rises more than ALT rises, then, as a rule, it indicates the problems of myocardial cells( cardiac muscle).
See more: why ALT is enhanced.
Aspartate aminotransferase( AST, ASAT)
Cellular enzyme involved in amino acid metabolism. AST is found in the tissues of the heart, liver, kidneys, nervous tissue, skeletal muscles and other organs. A blood test of AST can show an increase in AST in the blood if there is a disease in the body, such as:
- myocardial infarction;
- viral, toxic, alcoholic hepatitis;
- angina;
- acute pancreatitis;
- liver cancer;
- acute rheumatic heart disease;
- heavy physical activity;
- heart failure.
AST is elevated for skeletal muscle injuries, burns, heat stroke and due to cardiac surgery.
See more: why the AST is enhanced.
Alkaline phosphatase
Many laboratories automatically incorporate this enzyme into biochemical analysis. From a practical point of view, it may be of interest only to increase the activity of this enzyme in the blood.
This is evidence of either intrahepatic bile stasis in the small bile ducts that occurs with mechanical and parenchymal jaundice, or progressive osteoporosis or destruction of bone tissue( myeloma, aging of the body).
Cholesterol
The fat metabolism component, participates in the construction of cell membranes,the synthesis of sex hormones and vitamin D. There are common cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein( LDL) cholesterol and high-density( HDL) cholesterol.
Degrees of increasing cholesterol in the blood:
- 5,2-6,5 mmol / l - mild increase in the substance, risk zone of atherosclerosis;
- 6.5-8.0 mmol / l - moderate increase, which is adjusted by diet;
- over 8.0 mmol / l - high level, requiring medication.
Increased cholesterol in serum or plasma - an argument in favor of atherosclerosis, hypothyroidism( low activity of the thyroid gland), chronic hepatitis, decompensated diabetes mellitus, mechanical jaundice.
This index decreases with:
- malignant liver tumors;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- hyperthyroidism of the thyroid and parathyroid glands;
- fasting;
- infringement of absorption of substances;
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a yellow-red pigment that forms when hemoglobin breaks up in the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Its norm in the blood of children and adults is 3.4-20.5 μmol / l.
If the table with test results contains an excessive level of bilirubin, the doctor can diagnose one of the following diseases in adults:
- cholelithiasis;
- of pancreatic tumor;
- inflammatory diseases of the biliary tract.
If bilirubin is below normal, the patient may have one of the following:
- acute viral hepatitis;
- bacterial liver damage( leptospirosis, brucellosis, etc.);
- toxic hepatitis;
- medicinal product;
- neoplasm in the liver and primary biliary cirrhosis;
- hemolytic anemia of various etiologies.
Bilirubin, formed as a result of the decomposition of hemoglobin( indirect), enters the blood, where it binds to albumins and is transferred to the liver. In liver cells, bilirubin combines with glucuronic acid. This bilirubin, associated with glucuronic acid, is called direct.
See more: why bilirubin is elevated in the blood.
Amylase
Cleaves carbohydrates from food, ensures their digestion. Contained in salivary glands and pancreas. There is alpha-amylase( diastase) and pancreatic amylase.
- alpha-amylase rate: 28-100 U / l.
- the norm of pancreatic amylase: 0-50 U / l.
A high content of amylase in a biochemical blood test indicates: peritonitis, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, pancreatic cyst, stone, cholecystitis or kidney failure.
Reduction of alpha-amylase: thyrotoxicosis;myocardial infarction;complete necrosis of the pancreas;Toxicosis of pregnant women.
Potassium
Another important intracellular electrolyte. Its normal content in the body ranges from 3.5 to 5.5 mmol per liter.
Decreased potassium content:
- excess adrenal cortex hormones( including the administration of cortisone dosage forms);
- chronic fasting( non-potassium with food);
- prolonged vomiting, diarrhea( loss with intestinal juice);
- impaired renal function;
- cystic fibrosis.
Increase in potassium content:
- dehydration;
- acute renal failure( impaired renal excretion);,
- adrenal insufficiency.
- cell damage( haemolysis - destruction of blood cells, severe starvation, convulsions, severe injuries).
The condition, when potassium is elevated, is called hyperkalemia, and when hypokalemia is reduced.
Sodium
Sodium does not directly participate in the metabolism. Its complete is full of extracellular fluid. Its main function is to maintain the osmotic pressure and pH.Isolation of sodium occurs in the urine and is controlled by the hormone of the adrenal cortex - aldosterone.
Decreased sodium content:
- decreased concentration due to increased fluid volume( diabetes mellitus, chronic cardiac
- deficiency, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, edema).
- loss of element( abuse of diuretics, renal pathology, adrenal insufficiency).
Increased sodium content:
- increased function of the adrenal cortex;
- excessive salt intake;
- loss of extracellular fluid( profuse sweat, severe vomiting and diarrhea, increased urination in diabetes insipidus);
- violation of the central regulation of water-salt metabolism( pathology of the hypothalamus, coma).
An increase in the microelement is called hypernatremia, and a decrease is hyponatremia.
Result of
Different laboratories can carry out biochemical analysis of blood in accordance with excellent methodological tools, use other units for measuring element concentrations.
Therefore, the norms of indicators can vary significantly. When the lab technician gives you the results of the tests, be sure to make sure that the form is written standards. This is the only way you can understand if there are changes in your analyzes or not.