Lab Test Abbreviation Lookup

Understanding Lab Test Abbreviations

When you receive your blood test results, the report is often filled with abbreviations and acronyms that can be confusing. Understanding what each abbreviation stands for is the first step to making sense of your lab work. Below is a guide to the most commonly tested categories.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A CBC is one of the most frequently ordered blood tests. It measures the different types of cells in your blood, including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets (PLT). Key markers like hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) help detect conditions such as anemia, infection, and clotting disorders.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

The CMP includes 14 tests that measure your blood sugar (glucose), electrolyte balance (sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2), kidney function (BUN, creatinine, eGFR), liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), and proteins (albumin, total protein). It provides a broad snapshot of your metabolic health.

Lipid Panel

A lipid panel measures your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, including total cholesterol (TC), LDL ("bad" cholesterol), HDL ("good" cholesterol), triglycerides (TG), and sometimes VLDL. These values are critical for assessing your cardiovascular risk.

Thyroid Function Tests

Thyroid tests typically start with TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). If TSH is abnormal, free T4 (FT4) and free T3 (FT3) are often measured to assess thyroid hormone production. TPO antibodies can help diagnose autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Liver Function Tests (LFTs)

Liver function is assessed through enzymes including ALT (SGPT), AST (SGOT), ALP, and GGT. Bilirubin levels (total and direct) and albumin are also important markers. Elevated liver enzymes can indicate liver inflammation, fatty liver disease, or other hepatic conditions.

Kidney Function Tests

Key kidney markers include creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). These tests assess how well your kidneys filter waste from the blood. Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride are also closely linked to kidney health.

Inflammatory Markers

C-reactive protein (CRP), especially high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are used to detect inflammation in the body. Elevated levels may indicate infection, autoimmune disease, or increased cardiovascular risk.

Vitamins & Minerals

Common deficiency screens include vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, and iron studies (serum iron, TIBC, transferrin). These nutrients play essential roles in energy production, immune function, bone health, and red blood cell formation.