Eating, drinking, or exercising before the test, certain medications or supplements, diet, dehydration, and other factors can affect the results of these panels. Fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water) for 8-12 hours is recommended. If you are concerned about any of your supplements or medications impacting your results, talk to your healthcare provider before your sample is collected to see if you should stop taking them and for how long.

A Complete Blood Count (CBC) includes measurements for red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Red blood cells (RBCs), also known as erythrocytes, carry oxygen from your lungs to the tissues and organs in your body. Your red blood cell count measures the concentration of RBCs in your blood sample, while hemoglobin indicates the amount of this oxygen-carrying protein inside those RBCs. A hematocrit test measures how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells. A platelet count indicates the concentration of platelets, vital to blood clotting, your blood contains.
A CBC also offers information regarding the physical characteristics of red blood cells. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement used to describe the average size of red blood cells. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) value represents the average amount of hemoglobin contained in each red blood cell, whereas the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) value represents the hemoglobin concentration within red blood cells. The red cell distribution width (RDW) indicates your red blood cells' size variation and similarity.

White blood cells (WBCs), also known as leukocytes, are a component of the immune system which are classified into the following types: lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. They each perform a unique function and work together in response to injury or illness by attacking unknown substances or organisms that enter the body.

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

A urinalysis also called a urine test, identifies abnormalities in the urine's appearance, content, and concentration. This analysis examines the color, clarity, pH, and density of your urine and the presence of glucose, bilirubin, ketones, blood, protein, nitrate, infection, white and red blood cells, skin cells, bacteria, and hyaline casts (microscopic clusters of urinary particles). A urinalysis can determine potential health problems before symptoms develop, including serious diseases like kidney disease, diabetes, or liver disease in their earliest stages.

The A1c test measure your average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months from the time of testing, whereas glucose measurements indicate your current blood glucose level at the time of testing.

The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) includes measurements for blood sugar (glucose), electrolytes and fluid balance (sodium, calcium, potassium, carbon dioxide, chloride), proteins (albumin, total protein), kidney health (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine), and liver health (alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin). The CMP can provide insight into your overall health or to check for medication side effects and medical conditions, including diabetes, liver, and kidney disease.