Standard Heart Health Panel
This panel is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of heart health and related risk factors. It includes blood and urine tests that evaluate inflammation, cholesterol levels, organ function, and more.
What does this panel includes?
- Urinalysis, Complete: Dipstick urinalysis is important in accessing the chemical constituents in the urine and the relationship to various disease states. Microscopic examination helps to detect the presence of cells and other formed elements.
- CBC (INCLUDES DIFF/PLT): A complete blood count is used as a screening test for various disease states to include anemia, leukemia and inflammatory processes.
What does the CBC Test Measure?
- WBC: Detects the amount of white blood cells in the body. White blood cells fight off infections and foreign agents that may infect the body.
- RBC: Measures the amount of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the blood. With the help of hemoglobin, red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Hemoglobin (Hgb, Hb): Measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs and transports it to the various tissues and organs throughout the body. It also transports carbon dioxide back to the lungs to convert it into oxygen.
- Hematocrit: Determines the amount of space red blood cells take up in the blood. This is affected by the size and number of red blood cells.
- MCV: Finds the average size of red blood cells in the body. Coupled with the RDW, this will help the doctor determine how bad the condition is.
- MCH: Provides the average amount of hemoglobin in each red blood cell.
- MCHC: Identifies the amount of hemoglobin concentrated in a given volume of red blood cells.
- RDW: Provides the range of sizes of red blood cells. Normal red blood cells maintain a standard size of 6 to 8 micrometers (µm) in diameter. If cells are larger, your RDW blood test values will have higher numbers. This means you may have a nutrient deficiency, anemia, or another underlying condition.
- Platelet Count: Identifies the amount of platelets in the blood. Platelets are used to help form blood clots and regenerate new tissue.
- MPV and Differential (Absolute and Percent - Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, and Basophils): If abnormal cells are noted in a manual review of the peripheral blood smear or if the automated differential information meets specific criteria, a full manual differential will be performed.
- hs-CRP: Useful in predicting risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Homocysteine: An elevated concentration of homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. When used in conjunction with methylmalonic acid (MMA), these tests are useful to diagnose and monitor vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folic acid deficiency and are often useful in evaluating macrocytosis (an elevated MCV, an erythrocytic index).
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: This panel comprises a group of tests that provide information on an individual's blood levels of electrolytes, calcium, and glucose as well as renal function, hepatic function, and acid-base balance. The panel is usually ordered as part of a health examination to detect a range of disorders, especially those that may affect the liver or kidneys.
What is Included in a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel?
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel blood test measures levels of:
- Sodium: An electrolyte that plays a central role in maintaining the normal distribution of water and appropriate pressure to assure that substances do not leak from cells and organs. Sodium measurements are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving electrolyte imbalance.
- Potassium: An electrolyte that is essential for proper muscle and nerve function and helps keep the balance of fluids. Potassium measurements are useful in assessing electrolyte balance in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions characterized by low or high blood potassium levels.
- Chloride: An electrolyte that helps maintains volume, acidity, and electrical neutrality of the body fluids. Chloride measurements are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of electrolyte and metabolic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and diabetic acidosis.
- Carbon dioxide (bicarbonate): A type of blood gas used to evaluate the total carbonate buffering system and acid-base balance. Carbon dioxide is generally evaluated with other common electrolytes; the measurements are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous potentially serious disorders associated with changes in body acid-base balance.
- Glucose: A type of sugar that serves as the body's main source of energy. Glucose measurements are useful in the diagnosis of diabetes and low blood sugar levels.
- Calcium: A mineral in the body that is essential for nerve, muscle and heart functions and bone formation. Calcium measurements are useful in the diagnosis of parathyroid disease, some bone disorders, and chronic kidney disease.
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): The principal waste product of protein catabolism. BUN measurements are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of certain kidney and metabolic diseases.
- Creatinine: A waste product of the muscles. Creatinine measurements are useful in the evaluation of kidney function and in monitoring renal dialysis.
- Creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): A value calculated using serum creatinine measurements and the patient's age and sex to reflect kidney function . eGFR is useful in detecting and monitoring chronic kidney disease in adults.
- Albumin: A protein that keeps fluid from leaking out of the blood and carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes in the body. Albumin measurements are useful in the monitoring and treatment of numerous diseases involving primarily the liver and kidneys.
- Total bilirubin: A waste product generated when old red blood cells break down. Bilirubin measurements are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of liver, hemolytic, hematologic, and metabolic disorders, including hepatitis and gallbladder obstructive disease.
- Total protein: A sum of albumin and globulins. Protein measurements are useful in the diagnosis of disorders involving the liver, kidneys, or bone marrow.
- Alkaline phosphatase: An enzyme found mainly in the liver, bones, kidneys, and digestive system. Alkaline phosphatase measurements are useful in the diagnosis of hepatobiliary disorders and bone diseases associated with increased bone formation.
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): An enzyme widely distributed throughout the tissues, with significant amounts present in the heart and liver. AST measurements are useful in the evaluation of liver and heart damage.
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): An enzyme found in highest concentrations in the liver and often measured in conjunction with AST. ALT measurements are useful in the diagnosis and management of certain liver diseases (eg, viral hepatitis and cirrhosis). Very high values may be associated with hepatitis, though some people with hepatitis have ALT values within the reference interval.
- Lipid Panel, Standard
What does this panel test for?
The Standard Lipid Panel measures various blood lipids, including:
- Total cholesterol
- Triglycerides (TG)
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, calculated)
- Non-HDL-C (calculated)
- Cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (calculated)
This comprehensive lipid assessment helps evaluate cardiovascular risk, predict the likelihood of ischemic events, and assist in the prevention and management of atherosclerotic disease. It also plays a role in identifying metabolic syndrome.
Why is this important?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Individuals with elevated LDL-C and triglycerides are at significantly higher risk of developing CVD and experiencing ischemic events.
Screening Recommendations According to the American Heart Association (AHA):
- Adults (20+ years): Test every 4 to 6 years
- Children: Test between ages 9–11 and again between 17–21
- Early Testing: Recommended if there’s a family history of high cholesterol
Monitoring During Treatment
- Repeat LDL-C testing 4 to 12 weeks after initiating or adjusting lipid-lowering therapy
- Continue testing every 3 to 12 months as needed to assess treatment response and adherence
Interference and False Results
- N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) used for acetaminophen overdose may cause falsely low cholesterol levels
- Metamizole (dipyrone) administered before or during blood draw may also affect cholesterol test accuracy
