Lab test guides
Your blood and urine tests, explained
What each test measures, the typical adult range and what a high or low result can mean. Written in plain words, with the sources we used.
Complete blood count
What each part of a complete blood count (CBC) measures, typical adult ranges, and what high or low red cells, white cells, haemoglobin and platelets can mean.
HaemoglobinHaematocritRed blood cell countMean cell volumeWhite blood cell count
Read the guideCholesterol test
Understand your lipid panel: total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, non-HDL and triglycerides, with typical targets in mg/dL and mmol/L and what they mean for heart health.
Total cholesterolLDL cholesterolHDL cholesterolNon-HDL cholesterolTriglycerides
Read the guideHbA1c and blood sugar tests
What HbA1c and fasting glucose results mean, the usual cut-offs for normal, prediabetes and diabetes in % and mmol/mol, and what to ask your doctor.
HbA1cFasting glucose
Read the guideThyroid tests
What TSH, free T4 and free T3 measure, typical adult ranges, and what high or low results can mean for an underactive or overactive thyroid.
TSHFree T4Free T3Thyroid antibodies
Read the guideLiver function tests
What ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin and albumin measure, typical adult ranges, and common reasons each can be high or low.
ALTASTALPGGTBilirubin
Read the guideKidney function tests
What creatinine, eGFR, BUN and urine albumin (ACR) show about your kidneys, typical adult ranges and the eGFR stages, in plain English.
CreatinineeGFRBUNUrine albumin-creatinine ratio
Read the guideVitamin D blood test
What a 25-hydroxy vitamin D result means in ng/mL and nmol/L, the usual cut-offs for low, adequate and high, and why labs and doctors sometimes disagree.
25-hydroxy vitamin D
Read the guideUrine test
What each line of a urinalysis means: colour, pH, specific gravity, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, nitrite, leukocytes and what is seen under the microscope.
Specific gravitypHProteinGlucoseKetones
Read the guide
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