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What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

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Posted on Mon, 17 Aug 2015
Question: A year between testing but I switched doctors and therefore labs have different reference ranges. Curious specifically about liver tests/functioning such as evidence of damage and/or deteriorating:

2015:
Albumin 3.9, lab reference range 3.7-4.8
2014:
Albumin 4.4, lab reference range 3.0-5.5

2015
Bilirubin .5 , lab reference range <1.2
2014:
Bilirubin, total .8, lab reference range 0-1.5

2015:
AST 16, lab reference <35
2014:
AST 19, lab reference range 10-50

2015:
ALT 17, lab reference rage <75 (this high range was surprising and makes me question if I can compare to the 2014 result)
2014
ALT 9, reference range 2-5

What is concerning me is the change in the Albumin and ALT but the reference ranges for the labs are very different.

To add:
2015
alkaline phosphate: 38, lab range <130
2014
alkaline phosphate: 34, lab range 40-150
doctor
Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You are fine.All values are within normal limit.Variation is natural.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

I have gone through your all your reports.All are within normal limit.
There is no indication of any deviation of results which may indicate liver disease.
It is right that different labs has different standards,so normal range differs.

There is complex dynamic metabolic process in our body and we can't expect same values all the time.Some variation is natural and it happens in every person.
Main factor is that whether values are in normal limit or not.

I don't think there is any reason to concern.Your values are fine.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (17 hours later)
Thanks. Since you are a radiologist, could you help me understand why my first abdominal ultrasound would show an common bile duct of 3mm and then about six months later it measured at 1.6mm?

The only change was the size of the CBD. The other findings were:

- The liver is normal in size and echotexture. There are no focal intra hepatic lesions evident.

-The gallbladder is normal in appearance without evidence of wall thickening, calculi, or pericholecystic fluid. Sonographic Murphy's sign is absent per the technologist.

- the common bile duct is normal measuring 1.6 mm There is no intrahepatic biliary ductal dilation evident

- The visualized portion of the pancreas appears normal.

- The right kidney measures 10.1 cm and the left kidney measures 9.9 cm. There is no

hydronephrosis or intrarenal mass evident.

- The visualized portions of the spleen, aorta, and inferior vena cava are unremarkable.

- There is no ascites.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Due to error in placing calipers or measuring at slight different position

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Both 3.0 mm and 1.3 mm measurement of CBD are normal.
Variation may be due to different sonologist.It is not concerning,it happens some times.It may be due to slight error in placing calipers or measuring at slight different positions.

All findings are normal.Don't worry at all.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Indu Kumar

Radiologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 6728 Questions

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What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Brief Answer: You are fine.All values are within normal limit.Variation is natural. Detailed Answer: Hello I have gone through your all your reports.All are within normal limit. There is no indication of any deviation of results which may indicate liver disease. It is right that different labs has different standards,so normal range differs. There is complex dynamic metabolic process in our body and we can't expect same values all the time.Some variation is natural and it happens in every person. Main factor is that whether values are in normal limit or not. I don't think there is any reason to concern.Your values are fine. Get well soon. Hope I have answered your question. Further queries are most welcome. Take Care Dr.Indu XXXXXXX