ModernDoc Journal
Tests
Plain-language guides to medical tests, results, preparation, and limitations.
Released guides
- diagnostic_guideNovember 2, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
High Bilirubin: Causes and What Results Mean
High bilirubin on a lab report can raise many questions. The number alone cannot identify one cause [1,3].
- diagnostic_guideOctober 23, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
MPV Blood Test: What It Means and Your Results
This guide explains the MPV blood test, what it means, and how to understand your results. MPV stands for mean platelet volume[3].
- diagnostic_guideOctober 1, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
VLDL Cholesterol: Meaning and Ways to Improve It
VLDL cholesterol is one part of a blood lipid panel. VLDL means very-low-density lipoprotein, a particle made by the liver [3]. VLDL mainly moves triglycerides from the liver to body tissues [1,3].
- diagnostic_guideOctober 1, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Non-HDL Cholesterol: Meaning and Ways to Improve It
A lipid panel measures total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides [2]. Many reports also show non-HDL cholesterol as a useful measure of heart risk [2,3].
- diagnostic_guideOctober 1, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Absolute Eosinophil Count: Understand Your Results
An absolute eosinophil count, or AEC, measures eosinophils in the blood[1]. Eosinophils are one type of white blood cell[1].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 30, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Corrected Calcium: Meaning and Understanding Results
Corrected calcium is an albumin-based estimate. This article explains what it means and how to understand your results. This article calls it the adjusted result. Corrected calcium uses total calcium and albumin.
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 30, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
High Platelet Count Thrombocytosis Causes and What It Means
This guide explains the causes and health significance of a high platelet count, or thrombocytosis. Thrombocytosis means the blood has more platelets than normal [3].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 30, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Mucus in Urine: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Care
This guide explains what mucus in urine means, its possible causes and related symptoms, and when to seek care. A small amount may be normal, while a large amount can have several causes[4].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 30, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Basophils Blood Test: What Your Results Mean
A basophils blood test measures one of five types of white blood cells [2]. Basophils form in bone marrow and help defend the body from allergens and germs [6].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 29, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
RDW-CV Blood Test: What Your Results Mean
If you’re looking for information about the RDW-CV blood test, start here. This guide explains what the test measures and how to understand your results.
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 29, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
What Is MCH? What It Means and Understanding Your Results
MCH is one value found on a complete blood count, often called a CBC[6]. It measures the average amount of hemoglobin in each red blood cell[1].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 29, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
High Globulin: What It Means and Understanding Results
A high globulin result is a lab finding, not a diagnosis. Infection, inflammation, immune disorders, and some cancers can raise globulin levels [6].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 29, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Transferrin Saturation and Iron Test Results
Iron tests show how the body carries and stores iron [1,8]. An iron panel may include serum iron, transferrin, TIBC, transferrin saturation, and ferritin [1,8].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 29, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Creatine Kinase (CK) Blood Test Results Explained
A creatine kinase test measures the amount of creatine kinase in a blood sample [3]. Creatine kinase is also called CK or creatine phosphokinase, often shortened to CPK [2,3].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 28, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Hyaline Casts in Urine: Understanding Your Results
Seeing “hyaline casts” on a urine test report may feel worrying. Yet a few hyaline casts can appear under normal body conditions [3].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 28, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Lipase Levels: What Your Test Results Mean
A lipase test measures the amount of lipase in a blood sample[4]. Lipase is an enzyme that helps the body digest fat[4]. The pancreas makes most of the body’s lipase[4,6].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 28, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
TPO Antibodies: What Your Thyroid Results Mean
Thyroid test results can be hard to understand. This is common when TPO antibodies appear beside TSH and free T4.
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 27, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Absolute Neutrophil Count: Understand Your Results
An absolute neutrophil count, or ANC, measures neutrophils in the blood[1]. Neutrophils are white blood cells that help the body fight infection[1].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 27, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Squamous Epithelial Cells in Urine: Your Results
A urinalysis checks the look, strength, and contents of urine[9]. It can help assess urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, bleeding, and other concerns[4,9].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 27, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Urobilinogen in Urine: What Your Results Mean
Urobilinogen is a substance linked to the normal handling of bilirubin. Bilirubin forms when the body breaks down old red blood cells[1]. The liver uses bilirubin to make bile[1].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 27, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
High Monocytes: What They Mean and Your Results
A high monocyte count is a lab finding, not a diagnosis. The medical term for a high absolute monocyte count is monocytosis [4]. Understanding high monocytes means looking beyond one flagged number.
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 26, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Immature Granulocytes: Understanding Your Results
A complete blood count may include an immature granulocyte count. This test is often called a CBC blood test. The report may show a percentage, an absolute count, or both.
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 26, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Leukocyte Esterase in Urine: Understanding Results
Leukocyte esterase is a urine marker linked to white blood cells. These cells help defend the body from infection[10]. A positive result may point to infection or swelling in the urinary tract[5,8].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 26, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
BUN/Creatatinine Ratio: Understand Your Results
The BUN/creatinine ratio compares two waste products found in a blood sample. Doctors often review these values when checking kidney health [2,5].
- diagnostic_guideSeptember 26, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
eGFR Blood Test: Understanding Kidney Results
The eGFR blood test helps show how well your kidneys filter blood [1,6]. The letters stand for estimated glomerular filtration rate [1].
- diagnostic_guideAugust 18, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Thyroglobulin Antibody: What Your Results Mean
A thyroglobulin antibody test is a blood test. It looks for antibodies against a protein called thyroglobulin[1,3]. These antibodies are often called TgAb.
- diagnostic_guideAugust 16, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
D-Dimer Test: What It Means and Your Results
A D-dimer blood test measures a fragment released when the body breaks down a blood clot [5]. It helps assess possible deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism [1,5].
- diagnostic_guideAugust 16, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
High Vitamin B12: Symptoms, Causes, and Care
A high B12 blood level can cause worry. However, the result does not always mean harmful vitamin exposure. Vitamin B12 is water-soluble. The body usually removes excess amounts through urine [1].
- diagnostic_guideAugust 16, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Macrocytosis: Causes and Understanding Your Results
Macrocytosis means red blood cells are larger than expected on a complete blood count, or CBC [2,3]. It is a lab finding, not a disease by itself [4,10].
- diagnostic_guideAugust 16, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Occult Blood in Urine: Meaning, Causes and Care
Occult blood in urine means a urine test found blood that was not visible [1,5]. Clinicians call this finding microscopic hematuria, or microhematuria [5,6].
- diagnostic_guideAugust 14, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
CBC Blood Test: Measures and Results Explained
A complete blood count, or CBC, is one of the most common blood tests [2,3]. It measures the number and features of several blood cells [1,4].
- diagnostic_guideAugust 13, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
A/G Ratio: What It Means and How to Read Results
The albumin/globulin ratio compares two main groups of blood proteins: albumin and globulins [3]. It is often called the A/G ratio.
- diagnostic_guideAugust 13, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Anisocytosis: What It Means for Your Blood Test
Seeing the word “anisocytosis” on a blood test can be confusing. It means red blood cells differ in size more than expected[7,9]. It is a lab finding, not a disease by itself[7,10].
- diagnostic_guideAugust 13, 2026Automated gates passed · clinician review pending
Urine Specific Gravity: Understanding Your Results
Urine specific gravity is one part of a urine test called a urinalysis. A urinalysis checks the look, strength, and contents of urine [2,8].