The Full Blood Count (FBC) is a comprehensive blood test that measures several key components of your blood. It provides essential information about your red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin levels, hematocrit, and platelets. By evaluating these elements, FBC helps diagnose various conditions such as anemia, infections, and blood clotting disorders. The test is often used as a routine health check, or when patients present symptoms like fatigue, weakness, or frequent infections, helping doctors monitor overall health and detect potential issues early.
Creatinine clearance is a crucial test used to assess how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood. It measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle metabolism, cleared from the body through the kidneys over a specific period. A healthy kidney efficiently removes creatinine, and abnormal levels may indicate kidney dysfunction. This test helps in diagnosing conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and monitoring kidney function in patients with known kidney issues. Normal creatinine clearance levels range between 90-140 mL/min for healthy adults, varying slightly by age and sex.
The AST (aspartate aminotransferase) blood test is used to assess the health of your liver and muscles. AST is an enzyme found in the liver, heart, muscles, and other tissues. When these tissues are damaged, AST is released into the bloodstream. Elevated AST levels can indicate liver damage, such as from hepatitis or alcohol-related disease, or muscle injury from conditions like muscular dystrophy. Normal AST levels range from 10 to 40 units per liter (U/L). This test is a vital component in diagnosing and monitoring conditions affecting both liver and muscle health.
Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are a key marker used to assess liver health. ALT is an enzyme found primarily in the liver, and when liver cells are damaged, ALT is released into the bloodstream. Elevated ALT levels can indicate liver damage from conditions such as hepatitis, fatty liver disease, or alcohol-related liver issues. Normal ALT levels generally range between 7 and 56 units per liter (U/L). Regular monitoring of ALT levels through blood tests is crucial for early detection of liver dysfunction, enabling timely treatment and management of liver diseases.