Have Had Blood Test. Can You Interpret Result?

Posted on Tue, 6 Aug 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 6 Aug 2013 Answered on

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Can you interpret my blood test and possibly tell me the symptoms I may have because of it

omponent     Your Value     Standard Range     Flag
     Iron     169      ug/dL     H
     Iron Binding     433      ug/dL
     IRON SATURATION     39      %
COMPLETE BLOOD CELL COUNT
Result Date: 6/22/2013
Select     Component     Your Value     Standard Range     Flag
     White Blood Cell Count     8.9      K/uL
     Red Blood Cell Count     4.45      M/uL
     Hemoglobin     10.8      g/dL     L
     Hematocrit     34.2      %     L
     MCV     77      fL     L
     MCH     24.3      pg     L
     MCHC     31.6      g/dL
     RDW     18.3      %     H
     Platelet Count     237      K/uL
     Differential Type     Automated
     Neutrophil %     68      %
     Lymphocyte %     22      %     L
     Monocyte %     10      %
     Eosinophil %     0      %
     Basophil %     0      %
     Abs. Neutrophil     6.0      K/uL
     Abs. Lymphocyte     2.0      K/uL
     Abs. Monocyte     0.9      K/uL     H
     Abs. Eosinophil     0.0      K/uL
     Abs. Basophil     0.0      K/uL
FERRITIN (IRON TEST)
Result Date: 6/23/2013
Select     Component     Your Value     Standard Range     Flag
     Ferritin     8      ng/mL

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (33 minutes later)

Hi
Thanks for your query.
It appears that your hemoglobin is a bit low (10.8 g/dl), which qualifies as anemia (low hb). The blood picture points towards iron deficiency but iron profile is normal. The ferritin may a bit low (it indicates iron stores) but please check with the normal range for ferritin in your lab.

Other than may be weakness on exertion, you are not expected to have anything else as symptom at this hb level. Your doc may order some other tests to find out the cause for this. Sometimes inherent disorders in hemoglobin may cause this but obviously this is a minor form.

Overall I do not see cause for too much concern.

Hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer further follow-up queries, if any.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (2 hours later)

Yes, I've always been iron deficient anemic. I was taking iron tablets everyday for about 3 weeks when these tests were done and was told to take iron every other day after the results. I have heavy menstraul cycles and about 3 days into my cycle I get light headed, short of breath, extremely fatigued and weak. Is this due to PMS or anemia or something totally different?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (19 minutes later)

Ok this explains the finding of normal iron. That means you need to still continue the iron supplements to replenish the stores.
Your symptoms seem to be a combination of anemia and menstrual syndrome to me. No need to search for other things in my opinion.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar