Abnormal plasma viscosity blood test results...what does it mean?!
Question: Abnormal plasma viscosity blood test results!.!.!.what does it mean!?
i have to have them repeated, but cant find a site that explains what the test is actually for in clear english!.!.!.only those with medical jargon!.!.can anyone tell me what they are testing for and what might be wrong!.!.!.i have to have the test repeated but i have to wait another week, just for the bloods to be taken!. is it serious!? should i go pricate nd have them done quicker!?
i havent spoken to the doc, only the receptionist who has booked another appointment for me!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
i havent spoken to the doc, only the receptionist who has booked another appointment for me!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Plasma viscosity is a very non-specific test and increased viscosity can be caused by a whole range of conditions, many of them very minor!.
Don't bother to go private, the results are not urgent and may even be normal when they are repeated!. It is important that the second test is done in the same laboratory as the first test so that your doctor knows if the levels are going up or down!. Different laboratories may measure different proteins which cannot be compared!. A second test is quite a common request!.
Any inflammatory condition or mild infection can influence the acute phase proteins that cause the viscosity change!. It is impossible to say what your doctor may be looking for without a full medical history!.
If you are having more blood taken your doctor may ask for some more specific investigations the second time!.
When you go back to the surgery, ask your doctor to explain the results of the tests to you, he/she will be happy to do this!. Don't be fobbed off by the receptionist, only the doctor is able to interpret these results!.
Edit: In view of the extra information:
Yes, having a cold may have caused an abnormal test result!. The same proteins that can be elevated in internal inflammation, such as gut problems, are also increased by infections, even mild infections!.
There are many reasons for abnormal electrolytes, without knowing which electrolytes were abnormal and whether the results were high or low it is not possible to comment!. I will say, however, that in my laboratory experience one of the major causes of abnormal results is a problem with the sample!. This could be contamination, poor phlebotomy resulting in trauma affecting the sample, filling of sample tubes in the wrong order, poor storage of the sample, insufficient mixing of the sample, overenthusiastic shaking of the sample, excessive transportation delay resulting in degradation of the sample, the list is almost endless!.
An experienced biomedical scientist can usually spot a falsely abnormal result but unfortunately, nowadays, not all results are looked at in detail in every laboratory and automatic screening of test results by computerised systems may only catch gross abnormalities!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Don't bother to go private, the results are not urgent and may even be normal when they are repeated!. It is important that the second test is done in the same laboratory as the first test so that your doctor knows if the levels are going up or down!. Different laboratories may measure different proteins which cannot be compared!. A second test is quite a common request!.
Any inflammatory condition or mild infection can influence the acute phase proteins that cause the viscosity change!. It is impossible to say what your doctor may be looking for without a full medical history!.
If you are having more blood taken your doctor may ask for some more specific investigations the second time!.
When you go back to the surgery, ask your doctor to explain the results of the tests to you, he/she will be happy to do this!. Don't be fobbed off by the receptionist, only the doctor is able to interpret these results!.
Edit: In view of the extra information:
Yes, having a cold may have caused an abnormal test result!. The same proteins that can be elevated in internal inflammation, such as gut problems, are also increased by infections, even mild infections!.
There are many reasons for abnormal electrolytes, without knowing which electrolytes were abnormal and whether the results were high or low it is not possible to comment!. I will say, however, that in my laboratory experience one of the major causes of abnormal results is a problem with the sample!. This could be contamination, poor phlebotomy resulting in trauma affecting the sample, filling of sample tubes in the wrong order, poor storage of the sample, insufficient mixing of the sample, overenthusiastic shaking of the sample, excessive transportation delay resulting in degradation of the sample, the list is almost endless!.
An experienced biomedical scientist can usually spot a falsely abnormal result but unfortunately, nowadays, not all results are looked at in detail in every laboratory and automatic screening of test results by computerised systems may only catch gross abnormalities!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
without knowing what tests were run, several measure plasma viscosity, and what the numbers were, I simply can't tell you much!. A simple answer would be dehydration but that diagnosis would go along with some other test results!. If you want medical information you have to provide more information yourself!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Think of it this way, plasma has a specific viscosity (or texture/thickness - think milk as opposed to heavy cream) in the absence of illness!. It becomes abnormal, thicker, when illness is present!. When you are sick a whole range of physical alterations occur and that is probably why they need to retest!. Electrolytes are salts in the body, chloride, calcium, magnesium and potassium!. When they are out of balance it can affect your muscles, heart function, water retention and absorption, nerves and your ability to concentrate!. Drinking sports drinks is what athletes do the replace those that are lost through perspiration and exertion (think Gatorade and others)!. The retesting is important as they may indicate health problems!. If you can call the office and ask if it would be okay to take sports drinks during this week, or whether it would cause a problem with the tests - don't try to cover this yourself, doing so may alter the test results and give the physician an inaccurate picture of what is happening with you!. Just make sure to eat well and drink plenty of fluids this week!.Www@Answer-Health@Com