Metabolism & organs lab tests

Glucose is the sugar in your blood and your body’s main source of energy. The test is often done after fasting and shows your level at that moment.

Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen, and sugar sticks to it over time. Measuring that sugar can show your average blood sugar over the past few months.

This test measures a natural sugar that can drop when your blood sugar spikes, such as after meals. It can reflect the past couple of weeks, a shorter window than a typical blood sugar average.

Adiponectin is a hormone made by your fat tissue that helps your body respond to insulin, the hormone that moves sugar into your cells. Higher levels may be a good sign for blood sugar and heart health.

When your pancreas, the organ behind your stomach, makes insulin, it releases C-peptide at the same time. Measuring it can show how much insulin your own body is making.

Fructosamine can show your average blood sugar over the past few weeks. It measures how much sugar has stuck to proteins in your blood.

Glucagon is a hormone your pancreas, an organ behind your stomach, makes to raise your blood sugar when it runs low. It’s the counterpart to insulin, which lowers blood sugar.

Growth hormone comes from your pituitary, a small gland at the base of your brain. In adults, it helps keep muscles, bones and metabolism healthy.

This test can show your average blood sugar over the past few months. If the result lands in a certain range, the lab automatically adds a second test that looks at recent sugar spikes.

Leptin is a hormone made by your fat cells. It tells your brain how much energy your body has stored, which helps control hunger.

ZnT8 antibodies are immune proteins aimed at the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Finding them can help show that diabetes is type 1, the kind caused by the immune system, rather than type 2.

Insulin is the hormone that moves sugar from your blood into your cells for energy. A high level on an empty stomach can be an early sign your body is working harder to keep blood sugar steady.

ALT is an enzyme, a type of protein, found mostly in your liver. When liver cells are irritated or hurt, more of it can leak into your blood.

AST is an enzyme, a type of protein, found in your liver, heart and muscles. When these tissues are hurt, it can leak into your blood, so it’s usually read together with ALT, a more liver-specific enzyme.

GGT is an enzyme, a type of protein, found mostly in your liver and the tubes that drain it. It can rise early when the liver is under strain, such as from alcohol or fat buildup.

Albumin is the main protein in your blood. Your liver makes it, and it keeps fluid inside your blood vessels and carries vitamins, hormones and medicines around your body.

Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme, a type of protein, made mostly in your liver and bones. Higher levels can point to a problem in the bile ducts, the tubes that drain your liver, or faster bone growth or repair.

Bilirubin is a yellow substance made when your body breaks down old red blood cells. Your liver clears it, and very high levels can turn your skin and eyes yellow.

Total protein adds up the main kinds of protein in your blood, albumin and globulins. Together they fight infection, carry nutrients and keep fluid inside your blood vessels.

Your liver makes this protein to shield your lungs from damage. Some people inherit genes that leave them with too little, which can affect the lungs and liver over time.

Ammonia is a waste product made when your body breaks down protein. A healthy liver turns it into urea, which your kidneys pass in urine, so high levels may point to a liver that’s struggling.

Your liver processes bilirubin, a yellow substance left over when old red blood cells break down, and sends it out in bile, a digestive fluid. This test measures only the processed part.

Ceruloplasmin is the main protein that carries copper in your blood. Your liver makes it, and low levels may point to problems with how your body handles copper.

Lactate dehydrogenase, or LD, is an enzyme, a type of protein, found in almost every part of your body. When cells are damaged, more of it can spill into your blood.

Prealbumin is a protein made by your liver that helps carry thyroid hormone and vitamin A in your blood. Your body replaces it quickly, so it can show changes in your nutrition within days.

Urea nitrogen is a waste product made when your body breaks down protein. Your kidneys filter it out, so this test helps show how well they’re working and how hydrated you are.

Calcium is a mineral your bones, muscles, nerves and heart all rely on. This test shows how much is in your blood, which your body keeps within a tight range.

Measures bicarbonate, a form of carbon dioxide that helps keep the acid level of your blood steady. Your kidneys and lungs work together to keep it in balance.

Chloride is one of your electrolytes, minerals that carry a small electric charge and keep your body’s fluids and acid levels in balance. It can move up and down with sodium.

Creatinine is a waste product your muscles make through everyday use. Your kidneys filter it out of your blood, so the level is one of the main ways to check how well they’re working.

Your eGFR is an estimate of how well your kidneys filter waste out of your blood. This one is worked out from creatinine, a waste product of your muscles, along with your age and sex.

Potassium is a mineral that helps your heart keep a steady beat and your muscles and nerves work. Your kidneys keep the level in your blood within a narrow range.

Sodium is a mineral, best known as part of table salt. In your blood, it helps control how much water your body holds and keeps your nerves and muscles working.

Some of the calcium in your blood rides on proteins, and some floats free. This measures only the free, active form your nerves, muscles and heart actually use.

Your body makes lactic acid when your cells work hard or don’t get enough oxygen. Here, the lab measures how much is in your blood.

Osmolality measures how concentrated your blood is, meaning how much salt, sugar and other dissolved particles it holds. It helps show whether your body’s water balance is on track.

Phosphorus is a mineral that works with calcium to build bones and teeth and helps your cells make energy. Your kidneys keep the level in your blood in balance.

Uric acid is a waste product made when your body breaks down purines, natural substances found in many foods and in your own cells. Your kidneys clear most of it.

Amylase is an enzyme that helps you digest starches, made mainly by your pancreas (an organ behind your stomach) and your salivary glands. A high level can be one sign that your pancreas is inflamed.

Lipase is an enzyme your pancreas makes to help you digest fat. A high level can be one of the clearest blood signs that the pancreas, an organ behind your stomach, is inflamed or irritated.