Lab tests

red blood cell count

Tube: Lavender, EDTA, 8-10 inversions, whole blood
Department: Hematology
Purpose: evaluate anemia

red blood cell count abbreviation

RBC

White blood cell count with differential

Tube: Lavender, EDTA, 8-10 inversions, whole blood
Department: Hematology
Purpose: identify leukopenia and leukocytosis
Diff: % of each type of WBC in the blood

white blood cell abbreviation

WBC

WBC normal value

4,500 to 11,000 WBCs per microliter (4.5 to 11.0 × 109/L)

Hemoglobin

Tube: Lavender, EDTA, 8-10 inversions, whole blood
Department: Hematology
Purpose: Evaluate anemia

Hemoglobin abbreviation

Hgb, Hb

Hemoglobin normal values

males is 14 to 18 g/dl; females is 12 to 16 g/dl.

Hematocrit

Tube: Lavender, EDTA, 8-10 inversions, whole blood
Department: Hematology
Purpose: Evaluate anemia, It is the % of red blood cells per volume of blood

Hematocrit abbreviation

Hct

Hematocrit normal values

Normal: 34.0 − 46.6%

Platelet Count

Tube: Lavender, EDTA, 8-10 inversions, whole blood
Department: Hematology
Purpose: Evaluate, diagnose, and/or follow up bleeding disorders

platelet count abbreviation

plt

platelet count normal values

150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microliter (mcL) or 150 to 400 × 109/L

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

Tube: Lavender, EDTA, 8-10 inversions, whole blood
Department: Hematology
Purpose: Evaluate the nonspecific activity of infections, inflammatory states

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ESR

Tests included in hemogram

Hematocrit; hemoglobin; MCH; MCHC; MCV; RDW; red blood cell count (RBC); platelet count; white blood cell count (WBC)

What tests in a Complete Blood Count

(hemogram + differential)

Prothrombin time with INR

Tube: blue, na citrate, whole blood or plasma, 3-4 inversions
Department: Coagulation
Instructions: 2.7 mL-sized tube filled to 90% capacity or 1.8 mL-sized tube filled to 90% capacity
Purpose: Eval of the extrinsic coag system; this test is used clinically for the therapeutic monitoring of warfarin (Coumadin®) anticoagulant therapy.

Prothrombin time with International Normalized Ratio abbreviation

PT with INR

Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time

Tube: blue, na citrate, whole blood or plasma, 3-4 inversions
Department: Coagulation
Instructions: 2.7 mL-sized tube filled to 90% capacity or 1.8 mL-sized tube filled to 90% capacity
Purpose: intrinsic coag pathway

Abbreviation Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time

APTT

Fibrinogen

Tube: blue, na citrate, whole blood or plasma, 3-4 inversions
Department: Coagulation
Instructions: 2.7 mL-sized tube filled to 90% capacity or 1.8 mL-sized tube filled to 90% capacity
Purpose: Diagnosis of homozygous and heterozygous fibrinogen deficiency as well as dysfibrinogenemia;

d-dimer

Tube: blue, na citrate, whole blood or plasma, 3-4 inversions
Department: Coagulation
Instructions: 2.7 mL-sized tube filled to 90% capacity or 1.8 mL-sized tube filled to 90% capacity
Purpose: to exclude deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)

albumin

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Purpose: Evaluation of nutritional status, blood oncotic pressure; evaluation of renal disease with proteinuria and other chronic diseases.

alkaline phosphatase

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Purpose: evaluate bone issues

Alkaline phosphatase abbreviation

ALP

Alanine aminotransferase

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Purpose: A liver function test

Alanine aminotransferase abbreviation

ALT, SGPT

Amylase

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Purpose: acute pancreatitis as well as acute surgical emergencies such as gastrointestinal perforation (eg, peptic ulcer with perforation) or bowel infarct.

Amylase abbreviation

Amy

Aspartate aminotransferase

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Purpose: Liver function test

Aspartate aminotransferase

AST/SGOT

Bilirubin, Total

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: separate from cells within 45 minutes of collection, protect from light
Purpose: liver disease

bilirubin total abbreviation

tbil

Bilirubin, direct

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: separate from cells within 45 minutes of collection, protect from light
Purpose: Evaluate liver and biliary disease.

bilirubin, direct abbreviation

dbil

blood urea nitrogen

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: separate from cells within 45 minutes
Purpose: Renal (Kidney) function test

blood urea nitrogen abbreviation

BUN

calcium

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: separate from cells within 45 minutes. morning fasting is desirable
Purpose: Hyperparathyroidism; Carcinoma; Myeloma etc

Calcium abbreviation

Ca

Chloride

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: separate from cells within 45 minutes.
Purpose: Evaluate electrolytes, acid-base balance, water balance.

Chloride abbreviation

Cl

cholesterol

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: separate from cells within 45 minutes. Fasting specimen required
Purpose: Evaluate lipid status and metabolic disorders.

Cholesterol abbreviation

Chol

Cholesterol Normal values

Normal: age 0 to 19 \=acceptable:

creatinine

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: separate from cells within 45 minutes
Purpose: renal (kidney) function test

creatinine abbreviation

creat

creatine kinase

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells. . Avoid exercise before collection
Purpose: Test for acute myocardial infarct and for skeletal muscular damage;

creatine kinase Abbreviation

CK

ferritin

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells.
Purpose: Diagnose anemias. Decreased in iron deficiency anemia and increased in iron overload.

Follicle-stimulating hormone

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells.
Purpose: Useful in defining menstrual cycle phases in infertility evaluation of women and testicular dysfunction in men.

follicle stimulating hormone abbreviation

FSH

glucose

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells. fasting specimen preferred
Purpose: Diagnose diabetes mellitus; evaluate disorders of carbohydrate metabolism including alcoholism;

Glucose normal value

70-110 mg/dL

human chorionic gonadotropin

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells.
Purpose: pregnancy test

human chorionic gonadotropin abbreviation

hCG

glycosylated hemoglobin

Tube:Lavender-top (EDTA) tube, green-top (lithium heparin) tube, or gray-top (sodium fluoride) tube; whole blood
Department: chemistry
Purpose: used to assess glucose control in diabetes

glycosylated hemoglobin normal value

Normal:Hemoglobin (Hb) A1c: 4.8% to 5.6%
• Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%
• Diabetes: ≥6.5%
• Glycemic control for adults with diabetes:

glycosylated hemoglobin abbreviation

hgb A1C or just A1C

Iron

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells.
Purpose: Aid in the evaluation of a number of conditions involving red cell production and destruction, iron metabolism, or iron transport

Iron abbreviation

Fe

Luetinizing Hormone (LH)

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells.
Purpose: Measurement of serum gonadotropin levels will allow for distinguishing between primary gonadal failure and deficient gonadal stimulation.

Leutinizing Hormone abbreviation

LH

Magnesium

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells.
Purpose: Increased levels relate mostly to patients in renal failure; deficiency produces neuromuscular disorders.

Magnesium abbreviation

Mg

Phosphorus

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells.
Purpose: Causes of high levels: Youth; exercise; dehydration and hypovolemia; hypoparathyroidism; pseudohypoparathyroidism; bone metastases; etc

Phosphorus abbreviation

Phos

Potassium

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells; avoid hemolysis
Purpose: Evaluate electrolyte balance

Potassium abbreviation

K

Potassium normal levels

Normal:\>1 y \= 3.5−5.2

Total Protein

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells within four hours of collection.
Purpose: High: dehydration; some cases of chronic liver disease, including chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis; neoplasms

Total protein abbreviation

TP

Sodium

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection. Label specimen as serum.
Purpose: Electrolyte, acid-base balance; water balance; water intoxication; diagnose dehydration.

Sodium abbreviation

Na

Total iron binding capacity

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Purpose: Differential diagnosis of anemia

total iron binding capacity abbreviation

TIBC

Triglycerides

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Purpose: Triglycerides commonly increase with obesity and may increase with chronic renal or liver disease.

triglycerides abbreviation

trig

uric acid

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Purpose: Diagnosis and treatment of gout, renal failure, and a variety of other disorders including leukemia, psoriasis, starvation

uric acid abbreviation

UA

free t4 (thyroxine)

**Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green lithium heparin
Department: Chemistry
Instruction: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Purpose: thyroid function test

Free t4 abbreviation

Ft4

Thyroxine

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Purpose: Thyroid function test.

Thyroxine abbreviation

T4

T3 Uptake

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Purpose: thyroid function test

Thyroid stimulating hormone

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or green-top; Serum (preferred) or plasma
Department: Chemistry
Instructions: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Purpose: Thyroid function test.

thyroid stimulating hormone

TSH

tests in basic metabolic panel (BMP)

BUN; BUN:creatinine ratio; calcium, carbon dioxide, total; chloride, creatinine, eGFR calculation; glucose, potassium, sodium

tests in comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT/SGPT); albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio; albumin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST/SGOT); bilirubin, total; BUN; BUN:creatinine ratio; calcium, carbon dioxide, total; chloride, creatinine, eGFR calculation; globulin, total; glucose, potassium, protein, total, sodium,

tests in electrolyte (lytes)

Carbon dioxide; chloride; potassium; sodium

tests in Lipid panel

Cholesterol, total; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (calculation); triglycerides; very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol (calculation)

serum protein electrophoresis

Tube: Red-top tube or gel-barrier tube
Department: Immunology
Instruction: serum only
Purpose: detection of monoclonal gammopathies (antibodies)

Serum protein electrophoresis abbreviation

SPEP

Hepatitis A antibody

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or lavender-top (EDTA) tube
Department: immunology
Instruction: transfer to transport tube
Purpose: aid in the diagnosis of previous or ongoing hepatitis A viral infection or in the identification of HAV-susceptible individuals for vaccination

Hepatitis A antibody

HAVab

Hepatitis B core antibody

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or lavender-top (EDTA) tube
Department: Immunology
Instruction: transfer to transport tube
Purpose: aid in the diagnosis of individuals with acute or chronic hepatitis B virus

Hepatitis B core antibody abbreviation

Abbreviation: anti-HBc

Hepatitis B surface antigen

Tube: Red-top tube, gel-barrier tube, or lavender-top (EDTA) tube
Department: immunology
Instruction: transfer to transport tube
Purpose: diagnose individuals with acute or chronic hepatitis B infection

Hepatitis B surface antigen abbreviation

HBsAg