Felix Onyango, RN

Blood glucose lab values are the most essential in managing diabetes mellitus. Blood sugar level is determined by the balance between absorption, storage and utilization. The body generally keeps the level of blood sugar amazingly constant despite periods of high absorption, that is, after meals and high utilization like exercise, fever, etc. The parameters that […]

The CD4 count test measures the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes (or CD4 cells) in a blood sample. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system by helping to coordinate the body’s response to infections. HIV specifically targets and destroys CD4 cells, which compromises the

The lipid profile, also called the lipid panel is a test used to measure the levels of different types of lipids (fats) in the blood. The main parameters measured in this panel include; Cholesterol is a major component of LDL that is present in all body tissues, cell membranes, brain, nerve cells, and some gallstones.

D-dimer is the degradation product of crosslinked (by factor XIII) fibrin. The current activation of the hemostatic system is identified by this test. D-Dimer is a test done to measure formation and lysis of a clot that results from the fibrin degradation. Normal Range The findings will depend on the units used. Indications The test

Bleeding time is a test to assess the body’s ability to form a clot as well as platelet function. The test involves pricking a needle in a superficial area of the skin and monitoring the duration of time needed for bleeding to stop (i.e., the bleeding site turns “glassy”). Bleeding time is done to assess

Platelet count is done as part of the coagulation profile alongside; Platelets are the smallest blood cells and are produced in the bone marrow by the fragmentation of megakaryocytes. They play a vital role in hemostasis. Normal Range 150,000 to 400,000 cells/mm³ Indications Indications of platelet count include; Interpretation A platelet count of less than

Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) measure the length of time it takes for a blood to clot. They measure both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of the clotting cascade. However, the aPTT test requires an activator to accelerate the clotting time, resulting in a smaller reference range. Since the aPTT

Prothrombin is a protein produced in the liver and helps in blood clotting. Patients taking anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners or anti-clotting medications, require regular PT/INR checks. The PT measures clot formation time in seconds. The INR is calculated using prothrombin time (PT) test results and measures the time it takes for blood to