Understanding lab results
Make sense of your bloodwork at home — what the markers mean and how to track them over time.
A lab report is a column of numbers, flags and reference ranges that rarely explains itself. These guides translate it into plain language: what each marker measures, what a high or low result can mean, and — just as importantly — why a single value is only one data point, not a verdict.
We cover the common panels — cholesterol, CBC, thyroid, glucose and HbA1c, liver and kidney markers and more — and how to track them over time so you can see the trend, not just today's snapshot. Educational only, never a substitute for your clinician.
How often should you get blood work done?
How often to get blood work by age, sex, risk factors, medications, and goals — which panels and how often, why the trend beats any single reading, and what to do with an abnormal result.
What causes high ferritin?
High ferritin doesn't always mean iron overload — most often it's inflammation. The real causes of high ferritin, how doctors tell them apart, and when to worry.
At-home blood testing: a 2026 guide
How at-home blood testing works in 2026, what you can and can't measure, finger-prick vs venous draws, accuracy, and how to actually make sense of your results over time.
What your creatinine and eGFR mean
A plain-English guide to creatinine and eGFR on your blood test: what they measure, typical ranges, the eGFR G-stages, why muscle mass and hydration skew the numbers, where urine albumin (ACR) and cystatin C fit, and why the trend beats any single reading.
How to track your lab results over time
Learn how to track lab results over time, organise numbers from different labs, and read trends instead of single readings — including which markers to trend and how to compare labs — privately, on your own device.
What HDL, LDL, TSH and CBC actually mean
What do lab result abbreviations mean? A plain-language decoder for HDL, LDL, TSH, CBC, HbA1c, CRP and the other common blood test markers — what each measures, why it's ordered, and how to read it against your lab's range.
What your cortisol level means
A plain-English guide to the cortisol test: what it measures, normal morning and evening ranges in µg/dL and nmol/L, what high (Cushing's) and low (Addison's) cortisol mean, the different test types (serum, salivary, urine, suppression and stimulation), and why timing and method matter.
What your vitamin B12 level means
A plain-English guide to the vitamin B12 blood test: what low, normal and high mean, why borderline results need context, and how active B12, MMA and homocysteine confirm a true deficiency.
What your vitamin D level means
A plain-English guide to the vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) blood test: what it measures, deficient/insufficient/sufficient ranges in ng/mL and nmol/L, what causes low levels, how it's read alongside calcium and PTH, and why the yearly trend matters.
What your uric acid level means
A plain-English guide to the uric acid blood test: normal ranges in mg/dL and µmol/L, what high uric acid (hyperuricemia) means, its link to gout, kidney stones, what drives it up or down, dietary levers, and when medication is considered.
How to read your blood test results
A plain-English guide to reading your blood test results: how to read a lab report, what a reference range really means, why units differ, and why patterns and trends matter more than one flagged line.
What a high lymphocyte count means
A plain-English guide to a high lymphocyte count (lymphocytosis): what lymphocytes measure, the normal range, what specific values mean, why most high counts are reactive and viral, and when a raised count is worth attention.
What a high neutrophil count means
A plain-English guide to a high neutrophil count (neutrophilia): what neutrophils measure, the normal range, what specific values mean, why most high counts are reactive, and when a raised count is worth attention.
What a high eosinophil count means
A plain-English guide to a high eosinophil count (eosinophilia): what eosinophils measure, the normal range, what specific values mean, why allergies and parasites are the usual causes, and when a raised count is worth attention.
What a low platelet count means
A plain-English guide to a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia): what platelets do, the normal range, what specific values mean, common causes, when a low count is urgent, and why a lab artifact can sometimes be to blame.
What a high CRP means
A plain-English guide to CRP and hs-CRP on your blood test: what they measure, typical ranges, what a high or markedly-high CRP means, the common causes, how it's used with other markers, and why the trend matters.
Understanding your CBC: what the combinations mean
A plain-English guide to the complete blood count — the three cell lines (red cells, white cells, platelets), what each value can suggest, and how to read combinations like low MCV + low MCH or high WBC with low RBC as a whole. Educational, not diagnostic.
What a high monocyte count means
A plain-English guide to a high monocyte count (monocytosis): what monocytes measure, the normal range, what specific values mean, why most high counts are reactive, and when a raised count is worth attention.
What your RDW blood test means
A plain-English guide to RDW (red cell distribution width): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 14.5 or 15 mean, why RDW is read alongside MCV, and when a high RDW is worth attention.
What 'large unstained cells' (LUC) mean on a blood test
A plain-English guide to large unstained cells (LUC) on a CBC: what this analyzer flag measures, the normal range, why a high LUC is usually reactive, and when a blood smear is the next step.
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR): what a high NLR means
A plain-English guide to the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR): how it's calculated, the normal range, what a high NLR means as a marker of stress and inflammation, and why it's read alongside the CBC.
What immature granulocytes (IG) mean on a blood test
A plain-English guide to immature granulocytes (IG) on a CBC: what they are, the normal range, why a high IG is usually a reactive 'left shift' to infection, what a value like 0.1 means, and when it's worth a closer look.
What your MPV blood test means
A plain-English guide to MPV (mean platelet volume): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 12 mean, why MPV is read alongside your platelet count, and when a high or low MPV matters.
What your MCH blood test means
A plain-English guide to MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 34 or 25 mean, why MCH is read alongside MCV and MCHC, and when a high or low MCH is worth attention.
What your MCHC blood test means
A plain-English guide to MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 32 or 33 mean, why a high MCHC is often a lab artifact, and when a low MCHC is worth attention.
What your MCV blood test means
A plain-English guide to MCV (mean corpuscular volume): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 100 or 80 mean, why MCV is read alongside RDW, and when a high or low MCV is worth attention.
What your potassium level means
A plain-English guide to blood potassium: what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 5.2 or 3.4 mean, why a high reading is often a sample artifact, and when high or low potassium is worth attention.
What your hemoglobin level means
A plain-English guide to hemoglobin (Hgb): what it measures, the normal range by sex, what specific values like 13.5, 12 or 10 mean, why it's read alongside hematocrit and MCV, and when a high or low hemoglobin is worth attention.
What your RBC blood test means
A plain-English guide to the RBC count (red blood cells): what it measures, the normal range by sex, what specific values like 5.5 or 6.1 mean, why a high count is often just dehydration, and how it's read alongside hemoglobin and MCV.
What your hematocrit level means
A plain-English guide to hematocrit (HCT): what it measures, the normal range by sex, what specific values like 50 or 45 mean, and why it's read alongside hemoglobin and RBC.
What your free T4 level means
A plain-English guide to free T4 (free thyroxine): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 1.2 or 0.8 mean, why it's always read alongside TSH, and when a high or low free T4 is worth attention.
What your free T3 level means
A plain-English guide to free T3 (free triiodothyronine): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 3.1 mean, why it's read alongside TSH and free T4, and the honest truth about the 'optimal range' idea.
What your TSH level means
A plain-English guide to the TSH thyroid test: what it measures, typical ranges, and what high TSH (hypothyroidism) and low TSH (hyperthyroidism) mean — plus free T4/T3, TPO antibodies, pregnancy, biotin interference, and why tracking it over time matters.
What your ALP blood test means
A plain-English guide to ALP (alkaline phosphatase): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 120 or 150 mean, why a high ALP can come from the liver OR bone, and how GGT helps tell them apart.
What your total protein level means
A plain-English guide to total protein: what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 7.9 or 6.0 mean, why it's really about the albumin-to-globulin split, and when a high or low total protein is worth attention.
What your chloride blood test means
A plain-English guide to blood chloride: what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 102 or 109 mean, why it usually tracks sodium, and how it's read with bicarbonate for acid-base balance.
What your ferritin level means
A plain-English guide to ferritin on your blood test: what it measures, why inflammation can raise it and mask iron deficiency, typical ranges, what high and low ferritin mean, how it's read with transferrin saturation and CRP, and why the trend matters.
What your cholesterol/HDL ratio means
A plain-English guide to the cholesterol/HDL ratio (CHOL/HDL): what it is, how to calculate it, the normal range, what specific values like 3.5, 4, or 5 mean, and why it can beat total cholesterol alone as a heart-risk clue.
What your LDL cholesterol level means
A plain-English guide to LDL cholesterol: the value bands (optimal, borderline, high), what specific numbers like 130 or 160 mean, why the 'right' LDL target depends on your overall heart risk, and when to act.
What your HbA1c means
A plain-English guide to the HbA1c blood test (A1C / glycated haemoglobin): what it measures, how it maps to average blood sugar (eAG), the normal, prediabetes and diabetes ranges in both % and mmol/mol, what falsely raises or lowers it, why targets are individual, and why the trend matters.
What your HDL cholesterol level means
A plain-English guide to HDL cholesterol: the sex-specific ranges, what specific values like 45 or 60 mean, why HDL is the 'good' cholesterol but higher isn't always better, and how it's read with LDL and triglycerides.
How to lower LDL cholesterol
Evidence-based ways to lower LDL cholesterol — the diet and lifestyle changes that actually move it, how much and how fast, when medication matters, and why tracking your LDL trend over time is what proves it's working.
What high triglycerides mean
A plain-English guide to triglycerides: the normal, borderline-high, high and very-high ranges in mg/dL and mmol/L, what causes them to rise, the risks, the lifestyle levers that lower them, and how they fit with HDL, LDL and the metabolic picture.
What a high white blood cell count means
A plain-English guide to a high white blood cell count (leukocytosis): what WBCs and the differential measure, what each cell type suggests, why a raised count is usually reactive rather than serious, and when it's worth attention.
What a high platelet count means
A plain-English guide to a high platelet count (thrombocytosis): what platelets measure, the normal range, what specific values like 450 or 500 mean, why most high counts are reactive, and when a raised count is worth attention.
What your transferrin saturation means
A plain-English guide to transferrin saturation (TSAT / iron saturation): what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 20% or 50% mean, why low points to iron deficiency and high to iron overload, and how it's read with ferritin.
What your fasting glucose means
A plain-English guide to the fasting glucose (fasting blood sugar) test: normal, prediabetes and diabetes ranges in mg/dL and mmol/L, what raises or lowers a reading, how insulin resistance fits in, and how it compares to HbA1c and the OGTT.
Albumin & ALP: the rest of your metabolic panel
What albumin and ALP (alkaline phosphatase) measure on a comprehensive metabolic panel, what high and low values commonly point to, and how they are read together with your other liver and kidney markers. Educational, not diagnostic.
What your CO2 (bicarbonate) blood test means
A plain-English guide to the CO2 / bicarbonate blood test on a metabolic panel: what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 22 or 30 mean, why it reflects acid-base balance, and how it's read with chloride and the anion gap.
What your BUN/creatinine ratio means
A plain-English guide to the BUN/creatinine ratio: what it measures, the normal range, what a high ratio (often dehydration) and a low ratio mean, and why it's read alongside eGFR and creatinine.
What your sodium level means
A plain-English guide to blood sodium: what it measures, the normal range, what specific values like 133 or 145 mean, why sodium reflects water balance rather than how much salt you eat, and when high or low sodium is worth attention.
High ALT & AST (elevated liver enzymes): what they mean
What high ALT and AST mean on a blood test: typical ranges, common causes (fatty liver, alcohol, medications), the AST/ALT ratio, where GGT and ALP fit, and when to worry. Also written ALAT/ASAT or SGPT/SGOT.
What your platelet count means
A plain-English guide to the platelet count (PLT): what it measures, the normal range, what values like 150 or 450 mean, why a high count is usually reactive, and how it's read with MPV.
Low hemoglobin and anemia
A plain-English guide to hemoglobin and the CBC red-cell indices (Hb, hematocrit, RBC, MCV, MCH, RDW): what they measure, normal ranges for men and women in g/dL and g/L, what low hemoglobin and anemia mean, how MCV classifies the type, the symptoms, and how it links to ferritin, iron, and B12.
What your albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio means
A plain-English guide to the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio: what it measures, the normal range, what a low A/G ratio (often high globulin) and a high ratio mean, and why it's read with total protein and albumin.
What your white blood cell count means
What your white blood cell count (WBC / leukocytes) means: the normal range, what values like 3.5 or 11 mean, low vs high, and reading it with the differential.
Nitrites in urine: what your result means
A plain-English guide to nitrites on a urine test: what a positive result means, how it's read with leukocyte esterase, why a negative doesn't rule out a UTI, false negatives and positives, and when to talk to a doctor.
What your bilirubin level means
A plain-English guide to the bilirubin blood test: total, direct and indirect bilirubin, normal ranges in mg/dL and µmol/L, what high bilirubin (jaundice, Gilbert's syndrome, hemolysis, liver and bile-duct problems) means, how it's read with ALT/AST/ALP/GGT, and when to worry.
Urobilinogen in urine: what your result means
A plain-English guide to urobilinogen on a urine test: the normal range, what results like 0.2, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/dL mean, what high urobilinogen says about the liver and red blood cells, why absent can matter too, and when to talk to a doctor.
Occult blood in urine: what your result means
A plain-English guide to occult (hidden) blood on a urine test: what trace, 1+, 2+ and 3+ mean, common harmless causes vs the ones that need follow-up, false positives like myoglobin, and when persistent blood always deserves a doctor.
Leukocyte esterase in urine: what your result means
A plain-English guide to leukocyte esterase on a urine test: what it measures, what results like trace, 1+, 2+ and 3+ mean, how it's read with nitrites, what can cause a positive without an infection, and when to talk to a doctor.
Urine specific gravity: what your number means
A plain-English guide to urine specific gravity: the normal range, what results like 1.010, 1.020, 1.025 and 1.030 mean, dehydration vs kidney causes, what falsely raises the number, and when to talk to a doctor.
Mucus in urine: what your result means
A plain-English guide to mucus on a urine test: why small amounts are normal, what results like rare, few, moderate or many mucus threads mean, when mucus points to a UTI or contamination, and when to talk to a doctor.
Squamous epithelial cells in urine: what your result means
A plain-English guide to squamous epithelial cells on a urine test: what results like 5–10 per LPF, rare, few, moderate or many mean, why they usually point to the sample rather than your health, and when they actually matter.