Question on blood tests, help appreciated

youlemming

Hello, after following up with the doctor following a ruptured bakers cyst I now have a list of blood tests and would be grateful if anyone can explain what they are and what they may show.

The clinical details say Arthralgia & Myalgia - Rheumatoid screen;
CK
CRP
ESR
FBC
EDTA
SST
Calcium (this one I get)

Go back on the 15th to get scan results for my knee so hoping the bloods will also be back if I can get them done this week.

Thanks

tjt6768

just wanted to say hi. Not sure about the abbreviations but it won't be long before someone much more knowledgeable than me turns up (yeah, I know, that's not a difficult ask lol)

stickywicket

FBC = Full Blood Count

Sorry, but I'm only very slightly more knowledgeable than Tony

Starburst

ESR and CRP are both inflammation markers. These days, most doctors tend to prefer CRP as it changes more frequently thus gives a better picture of what is happening right now. Not sure about the other ones. I'm sure someone else will be along later to help out a bit more.

JoeB2

A fairly standard battery of test although slightly curious no Rheumatoid Factor included. Perhaps you have had one previously.

More comprehensive information on all these (and other) tests can be found on Wikipedia, Medscape or similar sites.

However, briefly :-

CK = Creatine kinase - indicitive of several things. Generally used as a broad marker for renal (kidney) function. Can indicate (severe) breakdown of muscle fibres among other issues.

CRP = C- Reactive Protein - One of the more useful markers of an underlying inflammatory process.

ESR = Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate - Another (less useful) marker of underlying inflammatory processes

FBC = Full Blood Count - A broad assay of the common blood componants. Usually undertaken with a "Differential White Cell" count or "Diff". Many labs will do this as par for the course without it being specifically requested.

EDTA = Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (now you know why abbreviations proliferate in medicine !) - A type of bottle used for blood collection (includes an anti-coagulant agent).

SST = Serum-separating tube - Another type of bottle used for blood collection. Allows the blood cells to seperate out from the fluid part (Serum).

Calcium = (serum) Calcium - Useful, not so much as a test for issues like Osteoporosis but as a backdoor method of testing for endocrine (glandular) disorders such as Hyper / Hypo - Parathyroidism.

Hope this is of some help.

Arthur

youlemming

Thanks for your replies.

Thought about looking on wiki but as there is always so much info decided to come direct to the experts and get the straight forward explaination.

JoeB2

In addition to Wikipedia and Medscape, which I mentioned previously, Lab Tests online (www.labtestsonline.org.uk) is a very useful resource.

Arthur