In the article, we consider the norm and decoding of a general blood test of a healthy man.
This is the most common method of laboratory diagnosis. In today's civilized society, there is hardly a person who would not donate blood for a general analysis, and many do this more than once. Such a study is carried out not only for sick people, but also healthy during routine physical examinations in the army service, in educational institutions and at work. For various pathologies, a general blood test is required, it is included in the standard of each clinical examination.
Blood refers to the internal environment of the body, which is formed by a fluid connective tissue. It includes shaped elements (post-cellular structures (platelets and red blood cells)) and white blood cells, as well as plasma. It circulates through the vascular system under the influence of heart force, which rhythmically contracts, does not communicate directly with other body tissues due to the presence of histohematological barriers.
The mass fraction of blood in relation to the total mass of the human body is 6-7% (on average).
The norm of a general blood test in men is of interest to many.
When is a general blood test necessary?
Human blood includes hundreds of elements. For each of them there are certain standards, and directly a general analysis makes it possible to conduct a wide blood test and determine whether there are hostile microorganisms; the state of human immunity, the behavior of enzymes and hormones; what is the chemical and physical composition of blood. Under the general analysis of blood refers to a comprehensive examination of a person’s condition, which makes it possible to establish the symptoms of a disease or disorders in the early stages.
An analysis is required for all patients who seek special medical care. Blood sampling from a vein or finger (venous or arterial blood) is a fairly simple and at the same time informative study for a doctor. So, for example, thanks to him, it is possible to determine the patient’s alleged allergic reactions to certain drugs, which will subsequently exclude them from the treatment regimen. But you need to remember that to determine the correct diagnosis, a general blood test is not enough, and the doctor will prescribe other studies.
It is worth noting that human blood is constantly being updated. In an adult, approximately five billion white blood cells, one billion red blood cells, and two billion platelets die every hour. Replace their young cells. As a result, approximately 25 grams of blood is completely renewed per day.
The essence of the method
Before talking about the essence of a general blood test, you need to understand how it is taken, since in some cases this issue causes unjustified fears in a number of patients.
From the Soviet years until recently, a general blood test was taken from a patient simply - a laboratory assistant-nurse pierced a nail phalanx with a special needle-scarifier on the ring finger. Blood was pumped from there by means of a rubber bulb into a capillary tube, and then sent for analysis. The whole procedure was almost painless and short-lived.
Now the methods have changed, and in many modern medical institutions, blood is taken for a general analysis from a vein. Some patients in this regard are afraid of soreness, infection with hepatitis, HIV. Such fears are simply not justified. There is no possibility of infection, even theoretically, because the nurse takes the blood with a disposable tool in sterile gloves.
Now for this, the Vakutayner system is used, in which there is no contact of blood even with air. It is collected in a disposable sterile tube by vacuum. If an experienced nurse draws blood from a vein, the pain is even lower than from a shot by a scarifier.
Regardless of the method of taking blood, the reliability of the result may be distorted due to capillary sampling of the material. The reliability of the analysis may be affected by drugs and food consumed, some diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
A blood test is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach. When you take it in the afternoon after the last meal, at least four to five hours should pass. However, this requirement is not categorical. It is necessary to exclude fatty foods from the diet the day before. The analysis can not be taken as long as there is alcohol in the blood, and after physiotherapy, x-ray examination and sunbathing.
When taking any medications, you need to inform your doctor, as a number of drugs can affect the composition of the blood. Also, norms may vary for representatives of different sexes.
What does a general blood test in men show? We will talk about this later.
Clinical blood test values
In a general blood test, the following values are mandatory:
- hemoglobin;
- color indicator;
- red blood cells;
- platelets;
- monocytes;
- reticulocytes;
- lymphocytes;
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR);
- basophils;
- eosinophils;
- neutrophils.
If necessary, the specialist can prescribe an extended clinical analysis to the patient. In this case, he will note in a special order which indicators should be additionally included in the study.
Hemoglobin
By hemoglobin is meant a protein that forms part of a red blood cell. It binds to molecules of carbon dioxide and oxygen, due to which oxygen is delivered to the tissues from the lungs throughout the body, carbon dioxide enters the lungs again. Hemoglobin contains iron, which gives red blood cells a red color, and those, in turn, blood.
Hemoglobin saturation is a very important indicator. When it falls into the body tissue, less oxygen is needed for the vital activity of any cell.
Normally, in a general blood test in men, hemoglobin ranges from 130 to 160 grams per liter. If hemoglobin values are below normal, the patient is diagnosed with anemia. In addition, a low hemoglobin content indicates excessive fluid intake, that is, hyperhydration of the human body. If the indicator is higher than normal, then we can talk about blood clotting (dehydration). The latter can be pathological or physiological (for example, due to high physical exertion). Elevated hemoglobin is a typical symptom of erythremia, that is, a violation of the formation of blood, in which red blood cells are produced in large quantities.
Red blood cells
Red blood cells are called red blood cells. They are much more than other shaped elements in the aggregate. That is why human blood is red. Red blood cells have hemoglobin, so they take part in the process of oxygen exchange in the body.
A general blood test of a healthy man normally shows a red blood cell count of 4-5.2 (* 1012) per liter of blood.
If the red blood cell count is reduced, we can talk about hyperhydration, bleeding, anemia. Exceeding the normal value indicates tumor formations, erythremia, dehydration, and pathologies such as dropsy of the renal pelvis or renal cyst.
Decryption of the general blood test in men is performed exclusively by the attending physician.
Color indicator
The calculation of the color indicator is carried out according to the formula, which correlates the number of red blood cells and the degree of hemoglobin. The color index should normally be close to unity (from 0.85 to 1.05). Violation of the norm is typical for anemia, and manifests itself in different ways with its different types: a color indicator with a value lower than the norm in a general blood test in men indicates iron deficiency anemia (the degree of hemoglobin is reduced more than red blood cells). If the color index exceeds the norm, then this indicates other types of anemia (the content of red blood cells is lower compared to the hemoglobin level).
Reticulocytes
Reticulocytes are understood as unripe, young forms of red blood cells. The latter are formed continuously, so they are always contained in the blood. Normal indicators in the general analysis of blood in men: from 2 to 10 reticulocytes out of a thousand red blood cells (0.2-1%). If the norm is exceeded, it can be judged that the body has a need to increase the number of red blood cells (for example, due to blood loss or their accelerated destruction). Reduced content of reticulocytes is usually observed with radiation sickness, anemia, oncology (when metastases have affected the bone marrow) and a number of renal diseases.
Platelets
The main purpose of platelets is to provide hemostasis, or, in other words, blood coagulation. They take part in the immune response of the human body to infection. Normally, the value is from 180 to 320 * 109 per liter. Reduced platelet count may indicate a severe inflammation or autoimmune disease. An increased degree is characteristic for conditions after large blood loss (for example, after an intervention), as well as for atrophy (decreased functioning) of the spleen and cancer.
What else does a general blood test of an adult male reveal?
White blood cells
White blood cells are understood as white blood cells that perform a protective function, that is, they represent the immune system. Normally, in a general blood test of a healthy man, the number of leukocytes as a whole should be from 4 to 9 * 10 9 per liter.
With an increased content of leukocytes, one can judge the body's immune response, which is noted in infectious diseases (primarily provoked by bacteria), allergic reactions and inflammation. A high white blood cell count may also be due to recent stress, bleeding, tumor processes, and a number of other diseases.
A decrease in white blood cell count indicates a depressed state of the immune system. Such results are noted in cases of viral infection (rubella, measles, flu), sepsis, severe toxicosis, pathologies of the blood-forming organs, autoimmune disorders and radiation sickness.
It is not only the estimate of the number of white blood cells in general that matters. Five types of leukocytes are distinguished: monocytes and lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils. All of them have different functions, and therefore it is important to know their proportion in the composition of blood in the body. The ratio of different types of leukocytes in the total volume is called the leukocyte formula.
Eosinophils
Thanks to eosinophils, neutralization is mainly carried out of the immune complexes that arise as a result of exposure to the allergen. Eosinophils normally range from 1 to 5% of the total number of leukocytes. An increase in the concentration of eosinophils indicates a parasitic infection or an allergic reaction.
We continue to consider the norm and decoding of a general blood test in men.
Neutrophils
By neutrophils are meant cells of an immune non-specific response. Their purpose is the connection of the infectious pathogen (intracellular parasites, fungi, bacteria). When an inflammatory focus appears in the body, neutrophils begin to move towards it, their number increases. The production of neutrophils is carried out by the bone marrow, in which the various stages of maturation are replaced: first, a myelocyte is formed, then it is converted into a metamyelocyte, then the stage of the stab neutrophil begins. Matured neutrophil is segmented. Metamyelocytes and myelocytes should normally be absent in the blood. The number of segmented neutrophils - from 47 to 72% of the total number of leukocytes; from 1 to 6% - stab.
With the tension of the immune system, the proportion of stab increases (the body has to send neutrophils that are not fully matured to fight the infection). Such research results are called a stab shift.
An increase in the number of neutrophils, thus, indicates an infection (first of all, it is necessary to suspect a bacterial infection), an ongoing process of inflammation. It can also be the result of cancer, intoxication, stress.
Basophils
With a normal general blood test in men, basophils: from 0 to 1% of the total number of leukocytes. Deviation from the norm indicates the need for further diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Next, we will consider leukocytes.
Lymphocytes
Under the lymphocytes refers to the main cells of the immune system. Thanks to them, specific immunity is provided, recognition of a foreign agent and its destruction.
Through lymphocytes, the human body fights viruses. Normally, they make up from 19 to 37% of the total number of leukocytes. An increased concentration of lymphocytes in the blood indicates a viral infection. It is also noted for syphilis, tuberculosis and toxoplasmosis.
A reduced degree of lymphocytes is a sign of a suppressed state of the immune system.
What else can the transcript of a general blood test in men show?
Monocytes
On average, monocytes are in the blood for about thirty hours, then leave the channel and sent to tissues in which they are transformed into macrophages. The purpose of macrophages is to permanently destroy bacteria and dead tissues of the human body, cleansing the inflamed area for further restoration of normal tissue. For monocytes, the norm in the general analysis of blood in men is from 3 to 11% of the total number of leukocytes.
A high content of monocytes is characteristic of prolonged and sluggish diseases; it is noted in syphilis, sarcoidosis, and tuberculosis. It is a specific symptom of mononucleosis.
ESR
If you leave the tube with blood in an upright position, then the red blood cells will begin to settle, since they are a heavier blood fraction relative to the plasma. The contents of the tube are ultimately divided into two parts: the dark and the thick part below (these will be the red blood cells), and the light part above (the blood plasma).
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is measured in mm per hour. Normally, ESR in a general blood test for men should be from 2 to 10 mm per hour.
ESR increases if red blood cells adhere more strongly (while their total number increases, that is, they settle faster). Faster bonding is determined by a number of factors. The most common cause is the presence of inflammation in the body. In this case, the ESR is higher, the stronger the inflammation. In addition, a high rate indicates:
- about diseases of the biliary tract and liver;
- about processes caused by tissue death (malignant tumors, tuberculosis, stroke, heart attack);
- about blood pathologies;
- autoimmune disorders;
- endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis, etc.).
We examined the norm and decoding of the results of a general blood test in men.