Can someone tell me what is involved in the following blood tests?

Question

The doctor was in a rush and couldent explain what the following even are, and to put my mind at ease can you explain each of the following on this Requisition sheet are, and what the test will be like?

-"Hematology Profile"
-"TSH"
-"Glucose"
-"ECG"
-What looks like "AST and ALT" (ALT is underlined)
-And there is some word below "AST and ALT" I can't read

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

The following are all blood tests and will just involve a stick in the arm and drawing a few tubes of blood from that one stick. Please note, make sure you have been fasting for the blood test!

A hematology profile is another term for a CBC (complete blood count). This is a routine blood test which actually will give an idea about your health status. It will include a wbc (white blood cell count), rbc (red blood cell count), hematocrit, hemoglobin, etc.

TSH is thyroid stimulating hormone. This is to check to see if you have any problems with your thyroid gland.

Glucose is simply a test of your blood sugar.

ALT also known as SGPT is a test to measure the enzyme ALT. This test is done to test liver function.

AST also known at SGOT is another liver function test but this one tests for the enzyme AST.

I can only guess at what might be underneath them but it might be TBIL or total bilirubin which is the other liver function test usually done in the main liver function tests. Had your doctor ordered the liver function panel, it would have been a total of seven tests being performed.

************************************************
An ECG or EKG is a tracing of your heart. Not painful and takes only a few minutes. You get to lie down and relax while they connect some wires via sticky foam discs to your arms, legs and chest. This is routine depending on your age.