What Does a Full Blood Count (FBC) Test Reveal?A Full Blood Count (FBC) measures various components of your blood, providing crucial information about your overall health. It includes red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Abnormal FBC results can indicate infections, anemia, inflammation, or blood-related diseases. Each component plays a vital role: for example, red blood cells carry oxygen, while white blood cells fight infection. Understanding your FBC results helps monitor health, diagnose conditions early, and guide treatment decisions.

What Does a Ferritin Blood Test Measure?The ferritin blood test measures the amount of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in your body. Ferritin levels reflect the body's iron reserves, making this test crucial for diagnosing iron-related conditions. Low ferritin may indicate iron deficiency, potentially leading to anemia, while high ferritin levels can be a sign of iron overload or other health issues, such as inflammation or liver disease. Monitoring ferritin levels helps guide treatment decisions for various conditions related to iron metabolism and overall health.

What Do High and Low TSH Levels Mean? The TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) blood test measures how well your thyroid gland is functioning. High TSH levels generally indicate hypothyroidism, meaning the thyroid is underactive and not producing enough thyroid hormones. Symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance. Low TSH levels typically suggest hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid is overactive, leading to excessive hormone production. Symptoms may include weight loss, rapid heartbeat, and nervousness. Both conditions affect overall health and require medical intervention for proper management. TSH levels help guide diagnosis and treatment for various thyroid disorders.

What Do HbA1c Test Results Mean?The HbA1c test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months, providing critical insight into diabetes management. For non-diabetic individuals, a normal HbA1c level is below 5.7%. A result between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes, suggesting higher risk for developing diabetes. A reading of 6.5% or above confirms diabetes. For those already diagnosed with diabetes, the HbA1c test helps monitor blood sugar control over time. Maintaining an HbA1c level below 7% is typically the goal to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.