Blood & iron lab tests

Ferritin is the protein that holds iron in storage, so it can show how full your iron reserves are. It can be the first result to drop when iron runs low.

Measures the iron moving through your blood right now. It can change through the day and after meals, so it’s read together with tests of your iron stores.

Transferrin is the protein that carries iron through your blood to where it’s needed. Your body can make more of it when iron runs low.

Counts all the white blood cells in your blood. They’re your immune system’s main defense against infection, so the total gives a quick picture of how your body is handling illness or stress.

Counts the red blood cells in a sample of your blood. These cells carry oxygen, so having too few can leave you tired and short of breath.

Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. A low level can be the main sign of anemia.

Shows what share of your blood is made up of red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen. A low share can be one sign of anemia.

MCV is the average size of your red blood cells. Whether they’re small, normal or large is one of the first clues to what may be behind anemia, a shortage of healthy red blood cells.

MCH is the average amount of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein, inside each of your red blood cells. It can help point to the cause of anemia, a shortage of healthy red blood cells.

MCHC shows how tightly packed hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein, is inside your red blood cells. Cells with less of it can look paler, which may be one sign of low iron.

RDW shows how much your red blood cells vary in size. When newer cells come out a different size from older ones, it can be an early clue to a nutrient shortage.

Platelets are tiny cell pieces that help your blood clot and stop bleeding. This counts how many are in your blood.

MPV is the average size of your platelets, tiny cell pieces that help your blood clot. Bigger platelets can be younger, so their size can hint at how fast your body is making them.

Of all your white blood cells, this shows the share that are neutrophils, the most common type and usually the first to fight bacterial infections.

Lymphocytes are the white blood cells that fight viruses, make antibodies and remember germs your body has met before. This shows what share of your white cells they make up.

Monocytes are white blood cells that clean up germs and worn-out cells, then move into tissues to help with healing. This shows their share of your white cells.

Eosinophils are white blood cells that help fight parasites and play a big part in allergies and asthma. This shows what share of your white cells they make up.

Basophils are the rarest white blood cells. They release histamine, the chemical behind the itching and swelling of allergic reactions, and this shows their share of your white cells.