Blood chemistry is a laboratory research method that allows, based on the measurement of certain parameters, to get an idea of the state of metabolism (proteins, carbohydrates, fats), as well as the work of various internal organs. This analysis is informative and has fairly high reliability. Based on the results of the analysis, specialists can get an idea of the functioning of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and some other organs, as well as identify deficiencies of microelements and vitamins. Biochemical blood analysis is used in gastroenterology, therapy, urology, cardiology, gynecology and other areas of medicine.
When is a biochemical blood test prescribed?
A doctor may prescribe a biochemical blood test in the following cases:
- in order to identify pathology. A biochemical blood test can help identify abnormalities in the functioning of a particular organ, even if there are no symptoms. That is why doctors recommend donating blood for biochemistry analysis twice a year as a screening examination. This will make it possible to detect diseases at an early stage, which will greatly facilitate their subsequent treatment. Identified changes chemical composition indicate an unfavorable situation and indicate the need for medical intervention.
- To clarify the diagnosis. The results of a biochemical blood test make it possible to clarify the picture of the disease and are a necessary addition to the examination data and the patient’s complaints.
- In order to monitor the progress of treatment and the course of the disease. For this purpose, biochemistry analysis is prescribed for diseases of internal organs (kidneys, liver, pancreas) and intoxication of the body.
Biochemical blood test indicators: norm and deviations. Decoding the biochemical blood test
The necessary indicators for biochemical analysis are determined by the attending physician. The set of indicators may depend on the nature of the disease and the patient’s condition. Standard biochemical analysis includes the following main indicators:
- total protein– total protein concentration. The norm is 65-85 g/l. An increased value of this indicator may indicate infectious disease, rheumatism or cancer. A reduced value may indicate liver, intestinal, kidney disease or cancer;
- glucose. The norm is 3.5-6.5 mmol/l. An increased value of this indicator indicates a threat;
- urea- a protein breakdown product. The norm is -1.7-8.3 mmol/l. An increased level of urea indicates a problem with the kidneys, urinary tract, and may indicate heart failure, bleeding or tumors. A short-term increase in urea levels may be a consequence of intense physical activity.
- cholesterol– component of fat metabolism. The norm for total cholesterol is 3.5-5.7 mmol/l. An increased value of the indicator indicates the risk of disease of cardio-vascular system, atherosclerosis or liver diseases. Total cholesterol is made up of three indicators - VLDL (very low density lipoprotein), LDL (low density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein). Very low-density lipoproteins are deposited in plaques on the walls of blood vessels and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. High-density lipoproteins, on the contrary, help inhibit atherosclerosis by “pulling” cholesterol from plaques. Normal values: for LDL -<0,9 ммоль/л; для ЛПВП - >0.09 mmol/l.
- bilirubin- a pigment formed as a result of the breakdown of hemoglobin. Normal: total bilirubin - 3.4-20.5 µmol/l. An increased value of the indicator can be caused by hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, poisoning, etc. Direct bilirubin (normal): 0-8.6 µmol/l.
Also included are: ALT (enzymes produced by the liver), creatinine, triglycerides, phosphorus, sodium, uric acid, magnesium, lipase, sodium, calcium, potassium and many others.
Preparing for a biochemical blood test
In order for the test results to be accurate, you should donate blood for biochemistry on an empty stomach. It's best to do this in the morning. If it doesn’t work out in the morning, then you should plan so that before donating blood for analysis, do not eat or drink anything other than water for at least 6 hours.
On the eve of the test, you should not eat fatty foods or drink alcohol. It is advisable not to smoke for an hour before the test.
If you are taking any medications, you should notify your doctor. If the medication cannot be interrupted, the study may have to be postponed.
Immediately before taking the test, it is advisable to sit down and be at rest for 10-15 minutes to eliminate the influence of physical and emotional stress on the research results.
Where to get a biochemical blood test in Moscow?
You can take a biochemical blood test quickly and without waiting in line at JSC “Family Doctor”. You can take a biochemical test at any of our clinics, choosing the one that is located in the area of Moscow you need. If you need the test results urgently, do a biochemical blood test in CITO mode. Tests in CITO mode can be taken at clinic No. 15. Here you can take a biochemical blood test on weekends and holidays.
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Blood chemistry is a widely used laboratory method diagnostics various diseases and dysfunctions of internal organs and systems.Biochemical blood test - what is it?
The concept of biochemical blood analysis includes a whole list of various parameters that are determined in human venous blood. These parameters represent the concentration or activity of various substances that are formed in organs and tissues and enter the systemic circulation. Since such substances are formed and “work” in strictly defined organs or systems, depending on their concentration one can judge the state and functional activity of these organs. That is why a biochemical blood test provides a fairly large amount of information about the work and condition of internal organs based on determining the content or activity in the blood of substances formed in these organs. Thus, it is obvious that the determination of various parameters of a biochemical blood test makes it possible to judge the state and functioning of internal organs at the current moment in time and, accordingly, to identify or suspect various diseases on early stages when there are still no clinical symptoms, but there is already a dysfunction of the organ. In addition, based on the results of a biochemical blood test, it is possible to monitor the effectiveness of the therapy or monitor the development of severe side effects.
In the complex of biochemical blood analysis, the concentration of protein compounds, substances formed during metabolic reactions, hormones, ions, as well as the activity of enzymes that ensure the normal course of metabolic processes can be determined.
Since the biochemical blood test includes parameters that reflect the work of various organs and systems, in each specific case the doctor prescribes the determination of only those parameters that reflect the work of the supposedly damaged organ. For example, if a doctor suspects liver disease, then a biochemical blood test is used to determine only parameters that reflect the condition and functioning of the liver, such as, for example, bilirubin, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), etc.
What does a biochemical blood test show?
Biochemical blood analysis reflects the state and functional activity of both the body as a whole and its individual organs and systems. Since each indicator of a biochemical analysis reflects the state and functioning of a specific organ or system, it is impossible to say in general what this analysis shows. After all, each indicator shows certain disorders and exclusively in relation to those organs by which it is produced. Therefore, it is appropriate to talk about the significance of each indicator of a biochemical blood test separately. In the section on analysis metrics, we'll look at the meaning of each and what they can tell you.Reference values and norms
Before we begin discussing the indicators of a biochemical blood test, we should highlight concepts such as norm and reference values, which are often confused in modern conditions due to the peculiarities of production laboratory tests.Thus, the norm is the range of values of any indicator of a biochemical blood test, which is typical for healthy people. Moreover, the norms are determined in each country or even region based on a survey of large numbers of healthy people, after which, using statistical methods, a normal value for a particular indicator is derived. In the process of determining the norms of each indicator, strictly the same standard method is used to determine its concentration or activity without any modifications or changes. Thus, the norm is the range of values of parameters of a biochemical blood test that are characteristic of healthy people and determined by the same standard method.
In practice, at present, each laboratory may use not the standard methods that were used to establish the standards for a particular indicator of a biochemical blood test, but their various modifications. Accordingly, the values of biochemical blood test indicators in healthy people, determined by various modifications of standard methods, differ from previously verified standards. And in such situations, laboratories and manufacturers of ready-made modified methods determine the range of values that this or that blood biochemistry indicator can take in healthy people. This range of values is called reference values, which, in fact, are indicators of the norm only for this specific modification of the standard method used.
Thus, the norm is the possible values of the indicator when it is determined by a strictly standard method. And the reference value is the norm of the indicator, which is determined not by the standard method, but by its modification.
And since almost every laboratory currently uses not standard methods, but their various modifications, to determine the parameters of a biochemical blood test, reference values are indicated for them in mandatory, which turn out to be different for each laboratory. In fact, reference values are the norms of a particular indicator in relation to the modification of the standard method for their determination used.
Accordingly, it is very important to find out the reference values in the laboratory in which the analyzes were carried out, since they may differ slightly from another laboratory. In addition, for the same reason, if it is necessary to monitor the value of any indicator of a biochemical blood test over a long period of time, it is advisable to take tests in the same laboratory.
Preparing for a biochemical blood test
On the eve of donating blood for biochemical analysis, you should exclude fatty foods from your diet, avoid alcoholic beverages, and minimize physical and psycho-emotional stress. That is, during the day before the test, it is necessary to lead a calm, measured life, not to overeat, not to drink alcohol, not to be nervous and not to engage in heavy physical labor (including during sports training). Blood for analysis is given strictly on an empty stomach after an 8-14 hour fast at night. This means that if a biochemical blood test is scheduled for 8-00 in the morning, then it is permissible to eat until 24-00 at night, but it is advisable that the fasting period be 14 hours. While abstaining from food, you are allowed to drink water before taking a biochemical blood test. If a biochemical analysis needs to be taken urgently, then blood sampling is allowed during the daytime hours after at least a 4-hour fast.
In addition, before taking the test, you must stop taking any medications 1–3 days before taking the test. If this is not possible, you should inform your doctor and laboratory staff about any medications you are taking so that they can consider their possible impact on the test results.
It is also advisable not to smoke for 12 hours before taking the test. But if it is impossible to quit smoking for such a period, then you should refrain from smoking for at least 30–60 minutes before taking a biochemical blood test.
Immediately before donating blood for analysis, it is recommended to sit in the clinic for 10–15 minutes, relax, calm down and get into a balanced state of mind.
If a child under 5 years old takes a biochemical test, then he should be given boiled water for 30 minutes before blood sampling, drinking 150 - 200 ml (a glass) during this time.
There is no need to take any other preparatory measures before taking a biochemical blood test.
How and where do you take a biochemical blood test?
To perform a biochemical analysis, blood from a vein is used. Accordingly, blood sampling for this analysis is carried out in the treatment room of a regular municipal clinic or private medical center. To do this, the nurse sits the patient on a chair, tightens his arm in the shoulder area with a rubber band, asks him to clench and unclench his fist several times so that the veins in the elbow bend swell and become clearly visible, and then pierces the vein wall with a syringe with a thin needle and draws out the required amount. blood. The blood is transferred into a test tube - either a plastic one with a gel filler, or a clean glass tube without any fillers. And then the blood is transported to the laboratory, where biochemical analysis is carried out. You can take a biochemical blood test in private laboratories or in the laboratory of a public clinic. On a paid basis, you can also take a biochemical analysis in the laboratories of various municipal multidisciplinary hospitals or medical research institutes.
Sign up for a biochemical blood test
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+7 495 488-20-52 in Moscow
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The operator will listen to you and redirect the call to the desired clinic, or accept an order for an appointment with the specialist you need.
Biochemical blood test indicators
A biochemical blood test may include the following indicators: 1. Enzyme activity:
- Alpha amylase (amylase);
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT);
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST);
- Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT);
- Acid phosphatase (AP);
- Creatine phosphokinase (CPK);
- Creatine phosphokinase, MB subunit (CPK-MB);
- Pepsinogens I and II;
- Cholinesterase (ChE);
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP).
- Indicators of fat metabolism (total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A1 and B, lipoprotein a);
- Indicators of carbohydrate metabolism (glucose, glucose tolerance test, lactate, C-peptide, glycosylated hemoglobin, fructosamine);
- Blood proteins (total protein, albumin, protein fractions);
- Inflammatory indicators (alpha-2-macroglobulin, antistreptolysin-O, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, alpha1-antitrypsin, eosinophil cationic protein);
- Indicators of cardiac damage (troponin, myoglobin, terminal propeptide of natriuretic hormone);
- Pigments and bile acids (total, direct and indirect bilirubin, as well as bile acids);
- Vitamins (cyanocobalamin, folic acid, 25-OH vitamin D);
- Indicators of iron metabolism (total iron, transferrin, ferritin, unsaturated iron-binding capacity of serum, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin);
- Indicators of osteoporosis (amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen, osteocalcin and C-telopeptide of type I collagen);
- Homocysteine;
- Medicines and psychoactive substances in the blood (alcohol, drugs, barbiturates, lithium, Lamotrigine, Phenobarbital, etc.).
3.
Concentration of ions (electrolytes) in the blood:
- Potassium;
- Sodium;
- Chlorine;
- Calcium (total or ionized);
- Magnesium;
- Phosphorus;
- Iron.
5. Tumor markers (AFP, CEA, CA-125, etc.).
In practice, the doctor prescribes only individual indicators as part of a biochemical blood test - those that are necessary to assess the condition of the diseased organ or system. Most often, determination of enzyme activity, substrate and electrolyte concentrations is prescribed as part of a biochemical analysis. But determining the concentration of microelements, although it relates to a biochemical blood test, is rarely prescribed and stands apart, since the methods for assessing the level of microelements are quite complex and are performed only in certain laboratories. Moreover, determination of the concentration of trace elements is carried out only in complex cases, when the diagnosis is unclear, and there is presumably a deficiency or excess of these chemical compounds in organism. Also special in a biochemical blood test is the determination of the concentration of tumor markers. These indicators, although they relate to the “biochemistry” of blood, are based solely on the methods for their determination. But in practice, tumor markers are never prescribed as indicators of biochemical analysis. If necessary, the doctor gives a separate referral, indicating in it which tumor markers are needed in each specific case. Below we will briefly look at the significance of each indicator of a biochemical blood test (what it talks about), leaving out only tumor markers and microelements.
Norms for biochemical blood analysis in children and adults in the table
For ease of reference, the table below shows the summary norms of biochemical blood test indicators for men, women and children.It must be remembered that the table shows standards for the most common methods for determining the activity and concentration of various enzymes and substances, which may not be valid for a particular laboratory due to the fact that it uses a different method for assessing the activity and concentration of substances. Therefore, the norms, and, in fact, reference values for each parameter of a biochemical blood test must be found out in the laboratory where the analysis was taken.
| Biochemical blood test indicator | Normal for adult men and women | Normal in children |
| Alpha amylase (amylase) | 18 – 70 years – 25 – 125 U/l Over 70 years old – 20 – 160 U/l | Under 1 year – 5 – 65 U/l From 1 year to 18 years – 25 – 125 U/l |
| Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) | Women – less than 31 U/l Men – less than 41 U/l | Under 1 year – less than 54 U/l 1 – 3 years – less than 33 U/l 3 – 6 years – less than 29 U/l 6 – 12 years – less than 39 U/l 12 – 17 years: boys – less than 27 U/l, girls – less than 24 U/l |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | Men – less than 47 U/l Women less than 31 U/l | Under 1 year – less than 82 U/l 1 – 3 years – less than 48 U/l 3 – 6 years – less than 36 U/l 6 – 12 years – less than 47 U/l 12 – 17 years: boys – less than 29 U/l, girls – less than 25 U/l 17 – 18 years – the same as for adult men and women |
| Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) | Men – less than 61 U/ml Women – less than 36 U/ml | Infants up to 6 months – less than 204 U/ml Children 6 – 12 months – less than 34 U/ml Children 1 – 3 years old – less than 18 U/ml Children 3 – 6 years old – less than 23 U/ml Children 6 – 12 years old – less than 17 U/ml Adolescents 12 – 17 years old: boys – less than 45 U/ml, girls – less than 33 U/ml Teenagers 17 – 18 years old – like adults |
| Acid phosphatase (AP) | Men - less than 6.5 U/l Women - less than 5.6 U/l | Children under 14 years of age - less than 5.5 U/l Adolescents over 14 years of age - as for adult men and women |
| Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) | Men – less than 190 U/l Women – less than 167 U/l | The first five days of life – up to 650 U/l 5 days – 6 months – 0 – 295 U/l 6 months – 3 years – less than 220 U/l 3 – 6 years – less than 150 U/l 6 – 12 years: boys – less than 245 U/l and girls – less than 155 U/l 12 – 17 years: boys – less than 270 U/l, girls – less than 125 U/l |
| Creatine phosphokinase, MB subunit (CPK-MB) | Men and women - less than 24 U/l | Less than 24 U/l |
| Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) | Men and women – 125 – 220 U/l (according to other methods of determination – 140 – 350 U/l) | Children under one year old - less than 450 U/l 1 – 3 years – less than 344 U/l 3 – 6 years – less than 315 U/l 6 – 12 years – less than 330 U/l 12 – 17 years – less than 280 U/l 17 – 18 years old – like adults |
| Lipase | Men and women: 8 – 78 U/l (when using other methods of determination - less than 190 U/l) | 3 – 57 U/l (when using other methods of determination - less than 130 U/l) |
| Pepsinogens I and II | 4 – 22 µg/l (for each pepsinogen) | |
| Cholinesterase (ChE) | 3700 – 13200 U/l when using butyrylcholine as a substrate | From birth to six months – less than 1000 U/l From 6 months to 5 years – 4900 – 19800 U/l From 6 to 12 years – 4200 – 16300 U/l From 12 years old - like adults |
| Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) | 30 – 150 U/l | Children under 1 year: boys – 80 – 480 U/l, girls – 124 – 440 U/l Children 1 – 3 years old: boys – 104 – 345 U/l, girls – 108 – 310 U/l Children 3 – 6 years old: boys – 90 – 310 U/l, girls – 96 – 295 U/l Children 6 – 9 years old: boys – 85 – 315 U/l, girls – 70 – 325 U/l Children 9 – 12 years old: boys – 40 – 360 U/l, girls – 50 – 330 U/l Children 12 – 15 years old: boys – 75 – 510 U/l, girls – 50 – 260 U/l Children 15 – 18 years old: boys – 52 – 165 U/l, girls – 45 – 150 U/l |
| Total cholesterol | On average 3.2 – 6.2 mmol/l in adult men and women | Children under 4 years of age: boys – 2.95 – 5.25 mmol/l, girls – 2.90 – 5.18 mmol/l Children 5 – 10 years old: boys – 3.13 – 5.25 mmol/l, girls – 2.26 – 5.30 mmol/l Adolescents 10 – 15 years old: boys – 3.08 – 5.25 mmol/l, girls – 3.20 – 5.2 mmol/l Adolescents 15 – 20 years old: boys – 2.95 – 5.10 mmol/l, girls – 3.08 – 5.18 mmol/l |
| High density lipoproteins | On average 0.8 – 1.6 mmol/l in adult men and women | Children 5 – 10 years old: boys – 0.98 – 1.94 mmol/l, girls – 0.93 – 1.89 mmol/l Adolescents 10 – 15 years old: boys and girls – 0.96 – 1.91 mmol/l Adolescents 15 – 20 years old: boys – 0.78 – 1.63 mmol/l, girls – 0.91 – 1.91 mmol/l |
| Low density lipoproteins | On average 1.8 – 5.1 mmol/l in adult men and women | Children 5 – 10 years old: boys – 1.63 – 3.34 mmol/l, girls – 1.76 – 3.63 mmol/l Adolescents 10 – 15 years old: boys – 1.66 – 3.44 mmol/l, girls – 1.76 – 3.52 mmol/l Adolescents 15 – 20 years old: boys – 1.61 – 3.37 mmol/l, girls – 1.53 – 3.55 mmol/l |
| Triglycerides | On average 0.50 – 3.20 mmol/l in adult men and women | Children 5 – 10 years old: boys – 0.34 – 1.13 mmol/l, girls – 0.40 – 1.24 mmol/l Adolescents 10 – 15 years old: boys – 0.36 – 1.41 mmol/l, girls – 0.42 – 1.48 mmol/l Adolescents 15 – 20 years old: boys – 0.45 – 1.81 mmol/l, girls – 0.40 – 1.53 mmol/l |
| Apolipoprotein A1 | Men – 0.95 – 1.86 g/l Women – 1.01 – 2.23 g/l | Infants under 1 year: boys – 0.61 – 1.64 g/l, girls – 0.59 – 1.69 g/l Children 1 – 12 years old: boys – 0.93 – 1.72 g/l, girls – 0.86 – 1.79 g/l |
| Apolipoprotein B | Men 0.49 – 1.73 g/l Women 0.53 – 1.82 g/l | Infants under 1 year: boys – 0.16 – 1.24 g/l, girls – 0.17 – 1.20 g/l Children 1 – 12 years old: boys – 0.48 – 1.25 g/l, girls – 0.51 – 1.26 g/l Teenagers over 12 years of age - as for adults |
| Lipoprotein a | Less than 3 g/l | Like adults |
| Glucose | In blood plasma 3.9 – 6.1 mmol/l In whole blood 3.3 – 5.5 mmol/l | Newborns up to one year: in blood plasma – 2.2 – 3.3 mmol/l, in whole blood – 1.8 – 2.8 mmol/l Children 1 – 18 years old: in blood plasma – 3.3 – 5.6 mmol/l, in whole blood – 2.9 – 5.1 mmol/l |
| Glucose tolerance test | Less than 8.0 mmol/l is normal 8.0 – 11.1 mmol/l – initial stage of diabetes mellitus More than 11.1 mmol/l – diabetes mellitus | |
| Lactate | 0.5 – 2.2 mmol/l | 0.5 – 2.2 mmol/l |
| C-peptide | 0.78 – 1.89 ng/ml, or 0.26 – 1.63 mmol/l, or 260 – 1730 pmol/l | |
| Glycosylated hemoglobin | 4.0 – 5.2% (less than 6% acceptable) | |
| Fructosamine | 205 – 285 µmol/l | 188 – 271 µmol/l |
| Total protein | Men and women 65 – 85 g/l | Newborn under 1 month – 44 – 67 g/l Infants 1 – 6 months – 45 – 70 g/l Children 6 – 12 months – 50 – 76 g/l Children 1 – 2 years old – 55 – 75 g/l Children 2 – 14 years old – 60 – 80 g/l |
| Albumin | 18 – 60 years – 35 – 52 g/l 60 – 90 years – 32 – 46 g/l Over 90 years old – 29 – 45 g/l | Newborns up to 1 month – 27 – 43 g/l Children 1 month – 1 year – 28 – 48 g/l Children 1 – 14 years old – 38 – 54 g/l Children 14 – 18 years old – 32 – 45 g/l |
| Protein fractions | Albumin – 35 – 52 g/l Alpha1-globulins – 2 – 4.5 g/l Alpha2-globins – 4 – 10 g/l Beta globulins – 5 – 11 g/l Gamma globulins – 6 – 14 g/l | Children under 6 months: albumins – 27 – 48 g/l, alpha1-globulins – 2.1 – 5.4 g/l, alpha2-globulins – 3.4 – 8.6 g/l, beta-globulins – 3, 5 – 6.7 g/l, gamma globulins – 7 – 16 g/l Children 6 – 12 months: albumins – 28 – 48 g/l, alpha1-globulins – 1 – 3.7 g/l, alpha2-globulins – 5.0 – 9.5 g/l, beta-globulins – 4.7 – 7.8 g/l, gamma globulins – 5 – 13 g/l Children 1 – 16 years old: albumins – 32 – 54 g/l, alpha1-globulins – 1 – 4 g/l, alpha2-globulins – 4.8 – 12.1 g/l, beta-globulins – 4.3 – 11 .0 g/l, gamma globulins – 5 – 17 g/l Children over 16 years old: same as adults |
| Alpha-2-macroglobulin | Men: 18 – 30 years – 1.5 – 3.7 g/l Over 30 years – 1.5 – 3.5 g/l Women: 18 – 30 years – 1.58 – 4.1 g/l Over 30 years – 1.75 – 4.2 g/l | Children 1 – 10 years old – 2.0 – 5.8 g/l Children 11 – 18 years old – 1.6 – 5.1 g/l |
| C-reactive protein | 0 – 5 mg/l | 0 – 5 mg/l |
| Antistreptolysin-O | Less than 200 U/l | Children under 7 years old – less than 100 U/l Children 7 – 14 years old – 150 – 250 U/l Adolescents over 14 years old – less than 200 U/l |
| Rheumatoid factor | 0 – 30 IU/ml | 0 – 30 IU/ml |
| Alpha 1-antitrypsin | 18 – 60 years – 0.78 – 2.0 g/l (780 – 2000 mg/l) Over 60 years old – 1.15 – 2.0 g/l (1150 – 2000 mg/l) | Newborns up to one year – 1.45 – 2.7 g/l (1450 – 2700 mg/l) Children 1 – 18 years old – 0.78 – 2.0 g/l (780 – 2000 mg/l) |
| Eosinophilic cationic protein | Less than 24 ng/ml | Less than 24 ng/ml |
| Troponin | 0 – 0.07 ng/ml | Children under 3 months – less than 0.1 ng/ml Children 3 months-18 years – less than 0.01 ng/ml |
| Myoglobin | Women: 12 – 76 µg/l Men: 19 – 92 µg/l | Like adults |
| Natriuretic hormone terminal propeptide | Under 75 years – less than 125 pg/ml Over 75 years – less than 450 pg/ml | |
| Total bilirubin | 18 – 60 years: 3.4 – 21 µmol/l 60 – 90 years: 3 – 19 µmol/l Over 90 years old: 3 – 15 µmol/l | Newborns on the first day – 24 – 149 µmol/l Newborns 2 – 5 days – 26 – 205 µmol/l Children 1 month – 18 years – 3.4 – 21 µmol/l (from 5 to 30 days in newborns, bilirubin decreases to the levels of adults) |
| Direct bilirubin | 3.4 – 8.6 µmol/l | Newborns up to 14 days – 5.7 – 12.1 µmol/l 14 days – 1 year – 3.4 – 5.2 µmol/l 1 – 9 years – no more than 3.4 µmol/l 9 – 13 years – 2.1 – 5.0 µmol/l 13 – 19 years: boys – 1.9 – 7.1 µmol/l, girls – 1.7 – 6.7 µmol/l |
| Indirect bilirubin | Up to 19 µmol/l | Less than 19 µmol/l |
| Bile acids | Less than 10 µmol/l | Less than 10 µmol/l |
| Total iron | Men: 10 – 31.3 µmol/l Women: 9 – 24.3 µmol/l | Newborns up to a month: 17.9 – 44.8 µmol/l Children 1 month – 1 year: 7.2 – 17.9 µmol/l Children 1 – 14 years old: 9.0 – 21.5 µmol/l Teenagers over 14 years of age - as for adults |
| Transferrin | Women: 16 – 60 years – 2.5 – 3.8 g/l Men: 16 – 60 years old - 2.0 – 3.65 g/l Men and women 60 – 90 years old – 1.9 – 3.75 g/l Men and women over 90 years of age – 1.86 – 3.47 g/l | Newborns up to 4 days – 1.3 – 2.75 g/l Children 4 days – 3 months – 1.3 – 3.32 g/l Children 3 months – 16 years – 2.03 – 3.60 g/l Teenagers over 16 years of age - as for adults |
| Ferritin | Men – 20 – 250 ng/ml Women: before menopause – 10 – 120 ng/ml, after menopause – 30 – 400 ng/ml | Newborns up to 1 month – 200 – 600 ng/ml Infants 2 – 5 months – 50 – 200 ng/ml Children 6 months – 15 years – 7 – 140 ng/ml Teenagers over 15 years old - as for adults |
| Unsaturated iron binding capacity of serum | Men: 12.4 – 43 µmol/l Women: 12.5 – 55.5 µmol/l | |
| Haptoglobin | Men: under 60 years old – 14 – 258 mg/dl, over 60 years old – 40 – 268 mg/dl Women: under 60 years old – 35 – 250 mg/dl, over 60 years old – 60 – 273 mg/dl | Children under 1 year: boys – 0 – 300 mg/dl, girls – 0 – 235 mg/dl Children 1 – 12 years old: boys – 3 – 270 mg/dl, girls – 11 – 220 mg/dl Teenagers over 13 years of age - as for adults |
| Ceruloplasmin | Men and women: 15 – 45 mg/dl Pregnant women – 2 – 3 times higher than normal adult norm | Newborns up to 3 months – 5 – 18 mg/dL Children 6 – 12 months – 33 – 43 mg/dl Children 1 – 5 years old – 26 – 56 mg/dl Children 6 – 7 years old – 24 – 48 mg/dl Children 7 – 18 years old – 20 – 54 mg/dl |
| C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen | Men: 18 – 30 years: 0.087 – 1.2 ng/ml 30 – 50 years: less than 0.584 ng/ml 50 – 70 years: less than 0.704 ng/ml 70 years or more: less than 0.854 ng/ml Women: From 18 years to |
Sometimes people confuse a general clinical blood test with a biochemical one: their purpose, reasons and method of implementation. It is worth immediately defining the concepts: the first one is taken from a finger, with its help the concentration of blood cells (erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and other indicators are determined, it is prescribed for preventive purposes and donors, you need to donate blood on an empty stomach.
Important! Testing blood for donation does not require an empty stomach. On the contrary, a light breakfast is recommended before the procedure.
A biochemical blood test determines the concentration of certain substances and gives a more complete picture of the state of human vital organs and systems. This analysis is intended to:
- identify diseases based on clinical indications;
- confirm/refute the preliminary diagnosis;
- monitor the effectiveness of therapy;
- examine the patient for preventive purposes.
Biochemistry is indispensable for therapists, gastroenterologists, urologists, cardiologists, gynecologists and other specialized doctors. But in order for the results to reflect the true state of the body, you need to know how to correctly pass the AK for biochemistry.
Biochemistry analysis
Why donate blood for biochemistry
Many doctors are of the opinion that blood biochemistry as a screening should be done twice a year, as this will make it possible to effectively treat diseases in the initial stages. But more often in medical practice, such an examination is prescribed when any pathology is suspected, and in the referral the doctor indicates the indicators necessary for diagnosis (one or more).
- patients with diabetes mellitus type 1, 2;
- women during pregnancy;
Blood biochemistry during pregnancy - patients with pathologies of the thyroid gland and other abnormalities in the endocrine system (for this purpose, TSH - thyroid-stimulating hormone) is studied;
- patients with cardiovascular diseases (heart attack, stroke and others);
- patients with arthritis and similar joint diseases;
- suffering from blood diseases (for example, leukemia);
- patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system (osteoporosis);
- patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction, kidney and liver diseases;
- one-year-old children and older during a routine comprehensive examination by a pediatrician;
- infants and adults with hereditary pathologies.
Analysis for such people will allow us to observe not only the development of the condition over time, but also the effectiveness of the treatment used.
Important! Biochemistry is prescribed to newborn children in order to identify possible hereditary ailments.
Before taking the AK for biochemistry, you need to prepare, this will help you get reliable results. About whether to donate blood on an empty stomach or not will be written below.
How to pass the BAC correctly?
Biological material for analysis is taken exclusively from a vein, most often from the elbow. If this place is inaccessible for some reason (for example, due to injury or burn), then venous blood is taken from the hand or leg. This event is held in the clinic, and you need to prepare for it:
- Should I take a biochemical blood test on an empty stomach or not? Yes, before taking blood, you need to refrain from eating fatty, smoked, spicy and canned foods, alcohol and sugar-containing drinks for 48 hours; 8-12 hours before, exclude food altogether; and 3 hours before the procedure you cannot drink even non-carbonated clean water so that your stomach is empty.
Preparing for Biochemistry - One hour before the test, you should not smoke, as nicotine affects the level of red blood cells and other biologically active microelements, as well as the glucose level.
- If the purpose of the study is to determine blood sugar levels, then it is not recommended to even brush your teeth or use other oral hygiene products in the morning.
- Stop taking medications the day before or several days before the test (depending on the time required for their elimination). If there are concerns on this point, it is necessary to notify the doctor who prescribed the biochemistry about the fact of taking the drugs, and make a decision based on the importance for health.
- During the day you should refrain from physical and nervous stress, as they can provoke changes in hormonal levels.
- No examinations should be carried out within 24 hours before the procedure: ultrasound, radiography, physiotherapy and others, because they affect the composition of the blood.
Video on the topic:
If the test is aimed at determining the level of specific substances (for example, bilirubin or glucose) in the blood, the doctor may add requirements for donating blood for biochemistry. In any case, it is the specialist who prescribed this procedure who must familiarize the patient with the preparation rules.
Important! : how to take it - on an empty stomach or not? Definitely on an empty stomach! After all, residues of sugar and fat in biological fluid can misinform the doctor and lead to a diagnostic error.
Information content of the LHC
Since donating blood for biochemistry is required to monitor the general condition of the body or correctly diagnose pathological manifestations, it is worth expanding its main indicators:
Squirrels
This general concept includes the definition of total and C-reactive protein, as well as albumin, since they make up the bulk of the blood and are responsible for coagulation, immune reactions, and hormonal levels.
A decrease in protein concentration below the permissible level indicates exhaustion of the body, liver and kidney pathologies, anemia, complications of diabetes, HIV infection, bleeding consequences, progressive oncology, gastrointestinal diseases, infectious diseases or colds, heart failure.
Enzymes
These substances are special proteins that act as the main catalyst for chemical cellular processes. These include: AlAt (alanine aminotransferase, ALT), AsAt (aspartate aminotransferase, AST), Alpha-Amylase (Diastase), alkaline phosphatase. The peculiarity of these markers is that they are synthesized in organs and enter the blood only when the corresponding cells decay, which indicates a disease.
Increased values are possible with an unbalanced diet, the presence of viruses, physical stress, cirrhosis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, blood diseases, excess of certain pharmaceuticals, cardiac and pulmonary pathologies, injuries and other diseases.
A reduced concentration is characteristic of vitamin B6 deficiency, necrotic processes in the liver, toxicosis and insufficiency of pancreatic function.
Enzymes Lipids
Lipid substances are responsible for the energy function of the body and are an integral part of cellular fat metabolism. To diagnose the condition of the body, biochemistry determines the content of cholesterol and very low, low and high density lipoproteins in the blood.
Exceeding the permissible values is possible due to abuse of fat-containing foods, obesity, cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke and the like), hormonal imbalances, renal or hepatic dysfunction.
A decrease in indicators indicates stress, starvation, intoxication, tuberculosis, sepsis, cirrhosis, diabetes and kidney failure.
Diabetes Carbohydrates
The main substances of carbohydrate metabolism are glucose and fructosamine. Their deficiency is common in diseases of the pancreas and liver, intoxication, adenoma and oncology. An increase in the indicator is inherent in: diabetes, pancreatitis, stroke, heart attack, endocrine and pancreatic pathologies, as well as smokers, stress and poor nutrition.
Pancreatin Pigments
Holicestitis Low molecular weight nitrogenous substances
Nitrogenous low molecular weight elements are formed during the breakdown of protein. These include urea, uric acid and creatinine, which indicate the functioning of the kidneys and urinary system, as they remove harmful substances from the body.
Increased values occur with increased growth of muscle tissue, physical overexertion, toxicosis, pregnancy, lactation, pathologies of the kidneys, liver and biliary tract, dehydration, heart failure, blood diseases, burns, bleeding, urinary tract obstruction and others.
Reduced indicators indicate diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, cachexia, muscle dystrophy, Wilson-Konovalov disease and improper diet.
Liver diseases Inorganic substances
Such vital processes of the body as oxygen saturation, hematopoiesis, muscle contractions, work nervous system, building bone tissue, water metabolism, DNA synthesis and many others require inorganic substances. Namely in iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin B12, phosphorus and sodium. Their deficiency or excess is fraught with disruption of the above-described functions and requires immediate correction.
Above are the main indicators of the chemical and biological vital activity of the body’s cells and the probable values of their deviations. But only a doctor should diagnose the presence of certain diseases, based on additional examinations.
Normal blood biochemistry values Important! If a biochemistry test is required to be repeated after a 14-day, monthly or other period, it must be done in the same laboratory and at the same time as the first time.
Biochemical blood test is a method medical research, which allows assessing the patient’s health status by the presence and concentration of certain substances in plasma and blood cells.
Donating blood requires some preparation and following simple rules.
What is included in a biochemical blood test?
A specialist can prescribe blood biochemistry both for the purpose of establishing a final diagnosis and for the purpose of prevention, to identify the functional state of organs and systems of the human body.
Indeed, with the help of this study, it is possible to determine more than 200 indicators (analytes) that will help the doctor get a detailed understanding of the activity of the patient’s internal organs, metabolic processes, and the sufficiency of vitamins, macro- and microelements.
Depending on the preliminary diagnosis, it is possible to prescribe an analysis for basic analytes or a detailed biochemical study.
The main indicators include:
- total protein;
- bilirubin (total, indirect);
- total cholesterol;
- blood glucose;
- blood electrolytes (potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium);
- enzymes synthesized in the liver (AlAT, AST);
- urea;
- creatinine
How is the analysis performed?
To conduct a blood biochemistry examination, material is taken from a vein. To do this, after tightening the arm in the forearm with a tourniquet, a vein (most often the ulnar) is punctured, and the biomaterial enters a syringe, and then into a test tube.
The value of blood biochemistry indicators is influenced by many factors of the internal and external environment, therefore, to obtain a true result, careful preparation for the analysis is necessary.
What is the algorithm for preparing for a biochemical blood test? Let's look at the main points.
On an empty stomach or not?
Blood sampling for analysis is carried out strictly on an empty stomach. This is explained by the fact that the plasma concentration of certain compounds (glucose, bilirubin, creatinine, cholesterol) can change significantly after eating.
In addition, after eating food, nutrients in the form of chylomicrons are absorbed into the blood, which makes it cloudy and unsuitable for research.
That is why the material for analysis is submitted no earlier than 8 hours after the last meal, and for assessing cholesterol levels - no earlier than 12 hours. In case of emergency, blood can be taken for analysis 4 hours after eating.
However, it is important to know that you need to fast for no more than 24 hours before taking blood, otherwise the results obtained may also be false. In a person who has been hungry for more than 48 hours, the level of bilirubin in the blood plasma rises sharply. And after 72 hours, there is a strong drop in glucose levels and a simultaneous increase in the amount of uric and fatty acids.
What to exclude from food before the examination?
It must be remembered that the composition of food intake can have a direct impact on the reliability of blood biochemistry values. Therefore, to obtain error-free results, the following rules must be followed.
A few days before the examination, it is necessary to exclude fatty, fried, spicy foods, fast food, and alcoholic beverages from the diet. When analyzing for uric acid content, you also need to remove meat, fish, offal, coffee, and tea from the menu. When determining the level of bilirubin - ascorbic acid, oranges, carrots.
A modest dinner is recommended the night before. On the morning of the test, you can drink only still water. And when assessing your blood glucose levels in the morning, it is better to refrain from brushing your teeth or using mouth rinses, since they may contain sweeteners.
What time of day should I take the test?
Sampling for biochemical examination is carried out in the morning, between 7 and 10 o’clock.
This is due to the fact that the components of the biomaterial can change under the influence of the daily biological rhythms of the human body. And the standardized values in all medical reference books are indicated specifically for the morning time of day.
In emergency situations, blood is taken for analysis regardless of the time of day or night. However, to monitor indicators over time, it is advisable to repeat the study during the same period of time.
Effect of drugs
Taking medications can significantly affect the quantitative content in the body of a number of studied indicators.
This is due to the influence of medications on physiological or pathophysiological processes in the human body (the therapeutic effect itself or adverse reactions), or the influence medicinal product on the course of the chemical reaction carried out to determine the value of the analyte (interference phenomenon). For example, diuretics and oral contraceptives may falsely increase calcium levels, and ascorbic acid and paracetamol increase plasma glucose levels.
Therefore, when preparing an adult or child for a biochemical study, it is necessary to avoid taking medications (if they are not given for vital reasons) before taking blood material. If you are regularly taking vital medications, you must inform your doctor about this and follow his recommendations for preparing for the test.
Video material about biochemical research and its interpretation:
Reasons for distorting results
For variations in results laboratory research two groups of factors influence:
- Laboratory and analytical.
- Biological.
Laboratory-analytical factors arise when the algorithm for performing research in the laboratory is violated. The patient is unable to influence their occurrence and elimination.
Factors of biological variation include:
- physiological ( physical activity, nutrition);
- factors environment(climate, composition of water and soil in the area of residence, time of year and day);
- compliance with the preparation algorithm for sample collection (food, alcohol, medicines, smoking, stress);
- blood collection technique (manipulation technique, time of day);
- conditions and duration of transportation of biomaterial to the laboratory.
Thus, the accuracy of the results obtained largely depends on the patient’s preparation for conducting a biochemical blood test, which is the key to a correct diagnosis, correct treatment and a favorable outcome of the disease.
