Lab Blood Flyer

Attachment 14e

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics

Laboratory Tests on Blood
Below are brief descriptions of some of the blood tests you may have had as part of the health survey.
Complete Blood Count
Basophils: White blood cells that fight infection.
Blood: The blood is composed of several parts. These include
white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit,
platelets, and other parts.
Eosinophils: White blood cells that fight infection that can cause
allergic reactions.

White Blood Count (WBC): The number of white blood cells in
your blood. White blood cells help fight infection. There are
different types of white blood cells.

Other Lab Tests
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): ALT is an enzyme involved in
breakdown of body chemicals and is mostly found in the liver. ALT
levels reflect the health of your liver.
Albumin: The major protein in your blood.

Hematocrit: The percentage of your blood that is made up of
red blood cells.
Hemoglobin: The molecule in red blood cells that carries
oxygen to all body tissues.
Lymphocytes: White blood cells that fight viral infection in the
body.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): MCV is the average red
blood cell size.
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): MCH is the
average amount of hemoglobin in each red blood cell.
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC):
MCHC is the average concentration of hemoglobin in a red
blood cell.

Monocytes: White blood cells that target infection and cancer.

Alkaline Phosphatase: An enzyme found in your blood
and comes from liver and bone cells.
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST): AST is an enzyme involved
in the breakdown of body chemicals, and AST levels reflect the
health of your liver.
Bicarbonate: A chemical in blood that shows the balance between
your breathing and chemical systems.
Bilirubin: A chemical produced when hemoglobin breaks down.
Bilirubin is broken down by the liver and then it becomes a waste
product. It is used as a measure of the health of your liver.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): Urea is a waste product that your
kidneys filter out of your blood. This measure shows how much
urea nitrogen is in your blood. This test helps show how well your
kidneys are working.

Neutrophils: White blood cells that target bacterial infection in
the body.

Cadmium:.Cadmium is a natural element found in tiny amounts in
air, water, soil, and food. It can also be found in tobacco smoke.
High levels can be harmful and is identified as a cancer causing by
the National Cancer Institute.

Nucleated Red Blood Cells (NRBC): Red blood cells that
have a nucleus. These immature cells can be seen in newborns,
but are not normal if seen in children and adults and can be
found in blood diseases.

Calcium: A mineral found mostly in the bones. Calcium is needed
for muscle and nerve action, bone strength, and blood clotting.

Platelets: Small disk-shaped blood cells involved in the process
of blood clotting.

Chloride: One of the major electrolytes found in your body’s
fluids. Chloride plays an important role in the balance of body
fluids.

Red Blood Count (RBC): The number of red blood cells in
your blood. Red blood cells provide oxygen to the different
organs of the body. Oxygen allows the organs to function.

Cholesterol: A fat substance found in the bloodstream and in all
your body's cells. It's normal to have cholesterol. But too much
cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for a heart attack and stroke.

2021

Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK): An enzyme found primarily in Magnesium: Magnesium regulates diverse biochemical reactions in
the heart and skeletal muscles. Injury to these tissues will lead to an the body, such as muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control,
increase in CPK levels.
and blood pressure regulation.
Creatinine: A waste product of normal muscle breakdown filtered
by the kidneys out of your blood into your urine. This test shows
how well your kidneys are working.

Mercury: The result shows the amount of mercury in your blood.
Mercury is a metal found in the environment (food, water, or air), and
dental fillings. Exposure to mercury may result from
breathing air containing mercury vapor, from skin absorption
Cytomegalovirus: A virus that infects people of all ages and can when handling mercury liquid, by eating contaminated foods
cause severe illness in persons with a weakened immune system.
(especially fish) or by drinking contaminated liquids. Mercury
can cause kidney, brain and gastrointestinal disease.
Ferritin: A protein found inside cells that store iron so your body
can use it later. This test measures the amount of iron stored in the Phosphorus: A mineral found in your body’s cells (mostly in cells
body.
that make up bones and teeth). Phosphorus is needed for
muscle and nerve action.
Folate (Red Blood Cell or RBC): An indicator of long-term folate
stores in your body.
Potassium: An nutrient found in your body’s cells. Potassium helps
control muscle and nerve actions.
Folate (Serum): An indicator of recent folate intake. Folate is a
water-soluble vitamin that helps the body form red blood cells and Protein: The total amount of protein (both albumin and
aids in the formation of genetic material within every body cell.
globulin) in the fluid part of your blood. Protein is an important
part of all your body’s cells and tissues.
Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT): GGT is an enzyme in your
blood. This test looks at the health of your liver.
Sodium: One of the major electrolytes found in body fluids. Sodium
plays an important role in the balance of body fluids and muscle and
Glucose: The amount of sugar in your blood. Glucose is an nerve actions.
important source of energy for all body organs and functions. High
levels are seen in diabetes.
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO): An enzyme normally found in the
thyroid gland that plays an important role in the production of
Hemoglobin A1c: Gives information about your average blood
thyroid hormones.
sugar level during the past 2–3 months. High levels are seen in
diabetes.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): SH is a hormone secreted
from the pituitary gland in the brain that controls how much thyroid
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL): HDL cholesterol is known as the hormone is made by the thyroid gland.
“good” cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from the
body cells and helps prevent fatty buildup in blood vessels.
Thyroxine (T4): A hormone made by the thyroid gland. Thyroid
Iron: An important mineral found in your body’s cells. Iron helps hormones regulate body temperature and the metabolism of protein,
fat, and carbohydrates.
make red blood cells that carry oxygen from our lungs to the rest of
the body. It is also part of many proteins and enzymes in your
Triiodothyronine (T3): A hormone made by the thyroid gland.
body.
Thyroid hormones regulate body temperature and the metabolism of
protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
Iron-binding capacity: A blood test to see if you have too much
or too little iron in your blood. Iron moves through the blood
Transferrin and Transferrin Saturation: Transferrin is a protein
attached to a protein called transferrin. This test helps your health
that helps carry iron in red blood cells. Transferrin saturation shows
care provider know how well that protein can carry iron in your
how much serum iron is attached to the transferrin protein.
blood.
Triglycerides: A fat in the blood. High triglyceride levels can lead to
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH): LDH is an enzyme
heart disease and stroke.
found in many of your body’s tissues. These include your
Uric Acid: A chemical breakdown product flushed out of your
heart, liver, kidneys, blood cells, and lungs. High LDH is
body by the kidneys. High blood levels are found in people with
seen in liver disease.
gout and kidney disease.
Lead: Lead is a metal found in the environment. High
Vitamin A: Vitamin A is a fat-soluble micronutrient. It plays an
blood lead levels can be harmful and may cause brain and learning
important role in immune function and is important for good eye
problems in children.
health.
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL): LDL cholesterol is known
as the “bad” cholesterol because it can lead to cholesterol buildup in Vitamin C: Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid, and is a
powerful water-soluble antioxidant that helps to protect cells from
your body cells and can lead to fatty buildup in
blood vessels.
damage and supports immune function.
Manganese: Manganese is a metal. Getting small amounts from
food or water is good for health. Very high levels come from
exposure to contaminated air or water and can cause damage to the
brain.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a nutrient that is obtained from the diet
and can be made in the skin after exposure to sunlight. It helps to
form and maintain strong bones, maintain normal blood levels of
calcium absorption; it also helps to maintain a healthy immune
system and control cell growth.