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Lab Test: Capillary BG, Metabolic Panel
Good morning,Attached is the CAPILLARY BG,METABOLIC PANEL of my 1year & 7 months old at the time of the test. I’ve noticed that some markings are either too high or too low. May you assist me in understanding what it means, and if/what protocol needs to be administrated or other tests that need to be conducted?
Thank you,
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6 Replies
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can you please share why these tests were run in the first place and a bit more context? Is the doctor suspecting diabetes?
A capillary blood glucose panel is usually used to monitor blood glucose levels, particularly in the context of managing diabetes. But it’s not typically done in < 2-year olds unless they are exhibiting symptoms that could point to diabetes.
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he has a fever of 40Degrees, I rushed him to the hospital. They did this test along with nose swap and stool test which I requested at the time. The results were positive for Salmonella, Enteropathogenic E.Coli and Enterovirus/Rhinovirus PCR.
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does he still have the 40-degree fever or has the illness passed? I’m assuming he’s already recovered…
If these tests were done while he was ill, I would not try to draw any conclusions from it as he was not in his normal state.
Is he still exhibiting symptoms after this illness?
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he has recovered since, but has been having loose stool and burning leaving rashes.
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I’m aware he still has some issues in the gut according to Unilabs, which we’re following protocol for. The protocol doesn’t seem to be effective , since his stool is loose and acidic (it creates rashes in his skin), but that’s a story for separate post.
The Capillary Panel is a curious one as I haven’t come across it before and would like to understand in simple terms:
what it was?
what the abbreviations and the readings mean?
the situations do they usually test (we’ve been to the emergency room before but it was the first time this test was done!)? and what are the doctors trying to find out by having the test done? -
to answer your first question, here’s an explanation of each of the values and what they mean:
1. pH (Potential of Hydrogen): pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of the blood. It indicates the balance between acids and bases. Normal blood pH is around 7.4.
2. pCO2 (Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide): pCO2 measures the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood. It reflects how well the lungs are eliminating carbon dioxide. Normal pCO2 levels are around 35-45 mm Hg.
3. pO2 (Partial Pressure of Oxygen): pO2 measures the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood. It reflects how well the lungs are oxygenating the blood. Normal pO2 levels are around 75-100 mm Hg.
4. HCO3 (Bicarbonate, P): HCO3 is a measure of the bicarbonate ion in the blood and is used to assess the body’s acid-base balance. Normal HCO3 levels are around 22-28 mEq/L.
5. cTHb (Carboxyhemoglobin): cTHb measures the amount of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, which is formed when carbon monoxide (CO) binds to hemoglobin. Elevated levels can indicate CO poisoning.
6. sO2 (Oxygen Saturation): sO2 represents the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen in the blood. Normal sO2 levels are typically 95% or higher.
7. fO2Hb (Fetal Hemoglobin): fO2Hb measures the amount of fetal hemoglobin in the blood. It is typically present in small amounts in adults.
8. fMetHb (Methemoglobin): fMetHb measures the amount of methemoglobin in the blood, which is an altered form of hemoglobin. Elevated levels can be a sign of certain medical conditions.
9. cTBil (Total Bilirubin): cTBil measures the total bilirubin level in the blood, which is a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells. Elevated levels can indicate liver or blood disorders.
10. fHHb (Fetal Hemoglobin): fHHb measures the amount of fetal hemoglobin in the blood. Like fO2Hb, it is typically present in small amounts in adults.
11. K (Potassium): K measures the level of potassium in the blood. Potassium is an essential electrolyte that plays a crucial role in various physiological functions.
12. Na (Sodium): Sodium is another essential electrolyte, and its level is important for maintaining proper fluid balance and nerve function.
13. Ionized Calcium: Ionized calcium measures the concentration of free, biologically active calcium in the blood. It is crucial for various physiological processes.
14. Cl (Chloride): Chloride is an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and is often measured alongside sodium.
15. Glucose: Glucose is a measure of blood sugar levels. Elevated glucose can indicate diabetes or stress.
16. Lactate: Lactate is a product of metabolism. Elevated levels can indicate tissue hypoxia or other metabolic issues.
17. Base (ECF) (-): This value represents the base excess or deficit in the extracellular fluid. It reflects the body’s overall acid-base balance.Since your son had a high fever, I’m assuming the panel was requested to assess his overall condition and whether there were any metabolic imbalances or acid-base imbalances due to the infections or other factors.
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