What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 13 Feb 2016

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

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 Answered on

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I’m a 30-year old caucasian male residing in XXXXXXX XXXXXXX where I manage an IT company. I’ve suffered from periods of extreme fatigue starting November 2014.

The first period of fatigue was in November 2014 and lasted for 18 days. During December 2014 - March 2015 I felt fine. But from April 2015 till today I’ve hade 1-2 weeks of fatigue followed by 1-2 weeks of feeling ok.

During periods of fatigue I sleep an average of one extra hour each night. I get very little work done. I don’t have the energy to exercise (which I’ve always enjoyed). I have no physical or mental energy, and “brain fog”.

I’ve done some blood tests which have been attached. Does high IgA, IgM, lymphocytes and ferritin point to an infection? What do you suspect and what specific tests can be done to confirm what the problem is?

I will upload three lab reports.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, these high values suggest infection.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the reports you have attached.
Ferritin is marker of inflammation.
High IgA and IgM are also raised in infection.
Lymphocytes are raised in viral and tubercular infection.
So possibility of chronic infection is more in your case.
Honestly speaking, I am suspecting tuberculosis in your case. But for this I need to know few more things.
1. Do you have weight loss, decreased appetite?
2. Do you have cough or abdominal pain?
3. Do you have past history of tuberculosis?
I would like to get done TB Gold test, chest x ray and ultrasound examination of abdomen to rule out or confirm tuberculosis.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (17 minutes later)

Thanks for your quick reply.

I would reply NO to all your three questions:
1. Do you have weight loss, decreased appetite?
2. Do you have cough or abdominal pain?
3. Do you have past history of tuberculosis?

Do you think I should still get the TB tests done? Or other tests (as well)?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should get done TB Gold test.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
In some cases of tuberculosis, only presenting symptom is fatigue. Possibility of tuberculosis is less because of absence of other constitutional symptoms.
But I still advice you to get done TB Gold test.
It is screening test for tuberculosis and if it is positive then you should get done CT thorax and abdomen to rule out lymphnode enlargement.
Do you have joint pain?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 minutes later)

I have no joint pain either.

Any other possible infections I should get tested for?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Have you ever checked for PCT?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
Possibility of chronic infection is more in your case.
Chronic infection like tuberculosis or fungal infection is more.
Have you ever undergone PCT level?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (11 hours later)

PCT is Serum Procalcitonin? I have not taken it but will do so now.

Any other blood tests you recommend me to take at the same time to get even more information on what infection it could be? I'm willing to take many blood tests to exclude possible infections from the list.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
How those symptoms improve?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Get done TB Gold, Procalcitonin.
Please let me know few more things to guide you more blood tests if needed.
1. How those symptoms of fatigue improve at the time of episodes?
2. Do you have any family history of cancer or allergy?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)

1. Improvement from fatigue is spontaneous and not linked to any change in behavior, sleep, diet or anything like that. I just spontaneously get better from fatigue, typically 1-2 weeks after the onset of fatigue.

2. Only one grandparent got stomach cancer at the age of 70 (a smoker though). I have some allergies: pollen (not in XXXXXXX though, only during summers in Europe), hazelnuts, apples, pears and some other fruits.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Also get done CEA level.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion you should get done these tests.
1. Tb gold
2. CEA level
3. PCT.
TB Gold is for tuberculosis.
CEA is for screening of cancer.
PCT is for bacterial infection.
I will be happy to hear your progess.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Do let me know your progess. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

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