What is included in a biochemical blood test? Blood sampling procedure and interpretation of the results

Today we suggest you talk about what is included in a biochemical blood test and how to decipher the results of this analysis. In addition, let us turn our attention to why such a survey is prescribed and what it can show to an experienced specialist.

Let's start with the fact that this method of hematological research is particularly distinguished along with others. What is the reason for this? First of all, with the fact that the LHC (biochemical blood test) is able to give the most complete information about the state of human health. If you are interested in knowing what is hidden behind these obscure results, we offer you an article where we will examine in detail the question: what is included in the biochemical analysis of blood?

When is a biochemical blood test prescribed?

To begin with, we suggest you pay attention to the reasons: why does the doctor prescribe this particular examination?

As mentioned earlier, the results of the analysis can be used to judge the patient’s health status. LHC is the most informative research method, as it indicates malfunctions in the body at once in several parts of the organ system. If a person does not yet feel any symptoms, the pathology has just begun its development - biochemistry will help to identify it at the initial stage.

What is included in a biochemical blood test? It is quite difficult to answer this question unequivocally, because the test panel directly depends on several indicators:

1. Age.
2. The reasons for the study.

Particular attention should be paid to pregnant women, to whom biochemistry is prescribed without fail. The analysis helps to identify diseases not only in the expectant mother, but also in her child. Control examinations are carried out only in the first and third trimester. If there are no special assignments, then this analysis will no longer be taken.

What indicators are included in a biochemical blood test? This is decided individually for each patient. As mentioned earlier, it all depends on the age and cause of the study (complaints, alleged diagnosis).

Pay attention to the fact that LHC is an auxiliary form of diagnosis. Biochemistry is rarely prescribed without prior research. As a rule, LHC is recommended after poor results of the main analysis. For example, KLA showed high blood sugar for a patient. It is necessary to find out the reason - why is this happening? The reason may lie in:

• a disorder in the work of the pancreas or other organs of the human endocrine system;
• pathological condition of the liver;
• heredity.

How to prepare for the analysis?

Before we talk about what is part of a biochemical blood test, we will tell you how to properly prepare for the study.

Consider the basic rules, which are not so many.

1. The analysis is performed only on an empty stomach.
2. Be sure to exclude dairy products, coffee, strong tea and alcohol from your diet twelve hours before the analysis. Ignoring this item will lead to incorrect display of the amount of some enzymes.
3. A few hours before the analysis, it is better to refrain from smoking. This is necessary to accurately determine the level of glucose. From smoking, this figure may be increased.
4. Two weeks before the test, you must stop drinking any medications. If this is not possible, be sure to inform your doctor about this.
5. 4-5 days before the analysis, you should refrain from physical exertion. As for emotional overexcitation, an hour before the study, you need to completely calm down.

The procedure itself does not last long. The patient can be either in a sitting or lying position. A laboratory assistant should take 10 ml of blood from a vein with a sterile syringe and transfer it to a treated tube. Then she is sent to the laboratory. The result will be ready in 1-2 days. If you urgently need to receive it (for example, before an emergency surgery), then the analysis will be ready within thirty minutes.

Referral to the LHC can only be prescribed by the attending physician, where he is obliged to indicate specific markers for diagnosis. After receiving the results, the doctor will compare the indicators with the normative. We will talk about them in the next section of the article.

Norms

Now we will try to answer the question: what is included in the biochemical analysis of blood? LHC has no clear parameters. In some laboratories, some results are indicated by default, while others indicate different results. In order not to get confused in the results of laboratory tests, you must always visit one clinic.

In this section, we give a table of normative values ​​of the main indicators of LHC for men and women. This is necessary to decipher the results of the study.

Please note: each indicator indicates the state of a particular organ of the patient. The combination of some of them may reflect the diagnosis of a person. Next, we propose to talk about each criterion separately.

Protein

We have already said what indicators are included in the biochemical analysis of blood, now we turn to the consideration of each separately. Let's start with the total protein.

We are now talking about high molecular weight biochemical compounds, which are also called:

• polypeptides;
• proteins.

Please note that in the blood you can find about 170 different protein compounds, and the KLA shows only hemoglobin. LHC is able to show additionally the main protein fractions:

1. Albumen.
2. Globulin.
3. Fibrinogen.

The indicator "total protein" reflects the total number of all protein fractions contained in human blood. What the disadvantage says:

• poor nutrition;
• diseases of the genitourinary system;
• oncology;
• hepatitis;
• blood loss;
• pregnancy;
• burns.

An excess indicates the following:

• good nutrition;
• myeloma
• the presence of an inflammatory process;
• arthritis;
• rheumatism;
• initial stage of oncology.

Note that proteins are involved in many biochemical reactions of the body:

1. Transportation of substances.
2. Reaction catalysts.
3. Immune defense.

Albumen

Now we will talk about another indicator of a biochemical blood test. What is included in this study? It is important to note that albumin, which is a protein, is isolated in a separate protein group (fraction). The main in plasma is this protein produced by the liver.

Hyperalbuminemia (that is, a hanged amount of this protein in the blood) indicates many ailments of a person. For instance:

• dehydration (it can occur as a result of diarrhea, vomiting or severe sweating);
• severe burn.

Conversely, low rates may indicate the following:

• the patient smokes;
• the woman is pregnant;
• a woman is breastfeeding;
• cirrhosis;
• hepatitis;
• oncology;
• sepsis
• heart failure;
• fever;
• injuries
• overdose of drugs.

Glucose

Another indicator included in the biochemical analysis of blood is glucose. It reflects the amount of sugar in the blood. It is worth noting that this is the most common indicator of carbon metabolism. Despite the fact that the norm is 3.5-5.5 mmol / l, this indicator can increase briefly in some cases:

• emotional arousal;
• stress response;
• pain attack;
• food intake.

High sugar can talk about the following problems:

• diabetes
• endocrine disorders;
• pancreatitis;
• pancreatic tumors;
• cerebral hemorrhage;
• chronic damage to the liver and kidneys;
• myocardial infarction;
• cystic fibrosis.

Low blood sugar indicates:

• liver damage
• pancreatic diseases;
• hypothyroidism;
• stomach cancer;
• adrenal cancer;
• arsenic poisoning;
• drug poisoning;
• alcohol intoxication.

Uric acid

Now in more detail about another indicator of a biochemical blood test. What is included in its composition? Uric acid is a byproduct of purine metabolism in metabolism. This is stone acid, which will be discussed in this section of the article.

Let us immediately draw your attention to the fact that its small content in the body does absolutely no harm to human health. But increased concentration threatens its accumulation in cartilage and joints. The result of this process is inflammation. The most common reason for the accumulation of uric acid is the poor functioning of the urinary system (kidney stones).

Let's talk in more detail about hyperuricemia. There are only two causes of the disease:

• violation of the excretion of uric acid;
• increased decay of purines.

The reason for the accumulation of uric acid may be the deposition caused by:

• diseases of the urinary system (in cases where the kidneys can not cope with the filtering function);
• endocrine diseases;
• diabetes mellitus;
• malnutrition;
• fasting;
• an overabundance of meat and dairy products.

As for the low level of the indicator, the reason may lie in:

• piperazine treatment;
• hepatitis;
• anemia.

Urea

We continue to consider indicators of a general biochemical blood test. What is included in it? Another important indicator is urea. In other words, urea, which is the final product of protein metabolism.

Do not confuse urea and uric acid. These are completely different things. Uric acid can harm the human body. With its high concentration, gout and urolithiasis develop. And an increased level of urea does not have external manifestations, such as deformation or education. It is important to remember that urea is an indicator of the disease, and not its provocateurs.

There are several factors that affect the level of the indicator:

• liver function;
• kidney function;
• nutrition;
• Bcc;
• genetic diseases affecting the metabolism;
• age of a person.

Very interesting is the fact that this indicator fluctuates by about 20% during the day. It is also important that the level of urea rises with age. This can easily be explained by a slowed metabolism and decreased kidney activity.

A reduced level of urea can have physiological and pathological rocks. The first group includes:

• pregnancy;
• hunger;
• physical exercise.

The second group includes:

• celiac disease;
• cirrhosis;
• heavy metal poisoning.

Creatine

So, we continue to consider the general biochemical analysis of blood. What is included in this study? Another indicator is creatine. We must say right away that this is the final stage of protein metabolism (protein breakdown). Pay attention to the fact that the synthesis of creatine occurs in the muscle tissues of the body, then it enters the bloodstream. Creatine is excreted by the kidneys. Thus, we can conclude: creatine in the LHC reflects the work of the urinary system and muscle tissue.

Let's look at the reasons for the increased blood count. As in the previous case, physiological and pathological causes are distinguished. First group:

• increased physical activity (special attention should be paid to athletes involved in powerlifting and bodybuilding);
• the predominance of protein foods of animal origin in the diet;
• taking certain medications.

The second group includes:

• renal failure (both acute and chronic);
• excessive thyroid activity;
• impaired blood circulation in the body;
• radiation sickness;
• oncology;
• dehydration;
• muscle injuries;
• burn;
• acromegaly;
• gigantism;
• elevated levels of glucose, fructose and urea in the blood.

Reduced creatine levels can only be observed in three cases:

• pregnancy;
• vegetarianism;
• insufficient muscle mass.

Alanine aminotransferase

What is included in the extended biochemical blood test? It is rather difficult to answer this question, because the doctor himself prescribes exactly the indicators that interest him for the diagnosis. In this section, we propose to talk about ALT, which is used to diagnose the condition of the liver.

An increased level can talk about:

• liver damage (hepatitis, cirrhosis) - ALT is greater than AST;
• problems with myocardial cells - AST is greater than ALT.

Pay attention to the fact that ALT and AST are interrelated.

Aspartate aminotransferase

Speaking about the biochemical analysis of blood that enters there, one cannot ignore the AST indicator. After all, he can give a lot of useful information to the attending physician and make the most accurate diagnosis. It is important to indicate that AST is contained in:

• in the heart;
• in the liver;
• in the kidneys;
• in nerve tissue;
• in muscles and so on.

An increased indicator may indicate the following ailments:

• myocardial infarction;
• viral hepatitis;
• toxic hepatitis;
• alcoholic hepatitis;
• angina pectoris;
• acute pancreatitis;
• liver cancer;
• acute rheumatic heart disease;
• heavy physical exertion;
• heart failure.

Also, pay attention to the fact that AST can be increased due to muscle injury, burns, heat stroke, cardiac surgery.

Alkaline phosphatase

Answering the question: what is included in the study of biochemical analysis of blood, alkaline phosphatase cannot be missed. Many laboratories include this default indicator in the analysis results. High blood levels may indicate:

• intrahepatic stagnation of bile;
• progressive osteoporosis;
• destruction of bone tissue.

Cholesterol

Now we will talk a little more about markers of the general therapeutic biochemical blood test. What is part of this analysis? Necessarily noted cholesterol level.

I want to start with a common misconception - cholesterol is very harmful to our health. It is dangerous to health only if its level is significantly higher than normal. Cholesterol is involved in many biological processes. It is produced in the liver (80% of the total content), and also comes with food. It is important to know that cholesterol is an important building component for body cells, an increased amount of which can be seen in the muscles, brain and liver. In addition, he is involved in the synthesis of sex hormones.

An increased level can talk about:

• atherosclerosis;
• hypothyroidism;
• chronic hepatitis;
• diabetes mellitus;
• obstructive jaundice.

A low level indicates the following problems:

• liver cancer;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• hyperfunction of the thyroid and parathyroid glands;
• fasting;
• impaired absorption of substances;
• chronic lung diseases.

Bilirubin

If you are going to take a biochemical blood test for a gastroenterologist, what is mandatory? It:

• ALT;
• AST;
• alkaline phosphatase;
• bilirubin;
• lipase;
• pancreatic amylase;
• GGTP.

Now let's dwell a little on bilirubin. Its high level can talk about:

• gallstone disease;
• pancreatic tumors;
• inflammatory processes of the biliary tract.

Low bilirubin levels may indicate:

• acute viral hepatitis;
• leptospirosis;
• brucellosis;
• toxic hepatitis;
• neoplasms in the liver;
• primary biliary cirrhosis;
• hemolytic anemia.

Amylase

Now briefly about amylase as one of the components of a standard biochemical blood test. What is included in the LHC is decided solely by the attending physician.

The content of this enzyme can give an idea of ​​the pancreas and salivary glands. Just note that it is in these glands that amylase is produced. It is also important that the presented enzyme does not function in the blood, but is detected in miserable amounts (as a result of cell renewal), and excreted by the kidneys with urine (where it can also be seen).

A high indicator indicates:

• peritonitis;
• pancreatitis;
• diabetes mellitus;
• pancreatic cyst (pancreas);
• cholecystitis;
• renal failure.

A low level indicates:

• myocardial infarction;
• complete pancreatic necrosis;
• toxicosis during pregnancy.

Potassium and sodium

We examined almost all the indicators included in the basic biochemical blood test. What is included (most often):

• protein;
• albumen;
• glucose;
• urea;
• creatinine;
• cholesterol;
• bilirubin;
• ALT;
• AST;
• lipase;
• amylase.

Now we suggest paying a little attention to potassium and sodium. Potassium is mainly concentrated inside the cells, and sodium outside it (intercellular fluid).

Elevated Potassium:

• acute renal failure;
• severe stage of chronic kidney disease;
• Addison's disease;
• diabetic nephropathy;
• tubulointerstitial kidney disease;
• abuse of potassium-sparing drugs;
• acidosis;
• injuries.

Elevated Sodium:

• acute renal failure;
• chronic kidney disease;
• taking glucocorticoids;
• glomerulonephritis;
• pyelonephritis;
• urinary tract obstruction;
• arterial hypertension;
• heart failure.

Low potassium levels:

• diuretic abuse;
• profuse vomiting, diarrhea;
• insulin abuse.

Low sodium:

• diuretic abuse;
• kidney disease with sodium loss;
• prolonged vomiting, diarrhea;
• acidosis;
• diseases accompanied by ascites, edema;
• hypoaldosteronism.

We told you in detail about what is included in a detailed biochemical blood test. We also considered each indicator separately. Once again, we remind you that different laboratories can use separate teaching aids. That is, it is possible to use different units of measurement. Be careful when deciphering the results and visit only one medical institution.