We all remember our doctors starting off our checkup with some basic tests like CBC, LFT, and KFT. In the moment, we just diligently nod and go on with the tests, but do we really know what all these tests mean and are for?
Well, if you’re also looking for the answer to that same question, then you’re not alone because half of the population is also wondering the same thing. These three acronyms—CBC, LFT, and KFT—are the foundation of contemporary preventive healthcare. They act as a blueprint of our body’s vital systems, providing signals and cues for symptoms to even appear as a symptom. It is a startling sign to see that about a third of the people are only going for regular checkups. It is all the while understandable that waiting lines while visiting labs or clinics, and the anxiety of waiting for reports, are the main culprits for it.
Let’s take a deeper look on what these CBC, LFT and KFT are all about.
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
Consider your blood as your body's intricate immune system and delivery mechanism. CBC is a thorough dashboard analysis. It measures the weight of your blood's different cells:
RBCs (Red Blood Cells):
Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, deliver oxygen to the tissues in your body. Oxygen turns into energy, and your tissues release carbon dioxide. Your red blood cells also transport carbon dioxide to your lungs for you to exhale.
WBCs (White Blood Cells):
White blood cells are a part of your immune system that protects your body from infection. An active infection may be indicated by large numbers.
Platelets:
The little labor force that helps your blood coagulate is called a platelet. Aboriginal levels have the power to affect coagulation or bleeding.
Hemoglobin & Hematocrit:
A straightforward blood test called a hematocrit test determines the proportion of red blood cells in your blood. Because they transport oxygen throughout your body, red blood cells are crucial. Erythrocytosis is indicated by elevated hematocrit levels. Anemia is indicated by low hematocrit levels.
Reasons why it is done:
Doctors can order it in addition to regular check-ups to examine the effectiveness of drugs or because of unexplained lethargy, fever, bruising, etc. It is a very crucial and initial step in the diagnosis of a wide range of diseases, from a simple nutritional deficiency up to a complex disease.
LFT (Liver Function Test)
The largest internal organ in your body and one of the few organs capable of self-regeneration is your liver. The liver is essential for energy storage, blood filtration, and the production of bile for digesting. An LFT tests the performance of this important factory. It mainly determines enzymes and proteins:
ALT and AST Enzymes:
These are typically found within liver cells. When they appear in high levels of your blood, it means that there can be liver cell damage or stress.
Bilirubin:
A yellow colour that is formed in the liver. The high levels will lead to a yellowing of the skin/eyes (jaundice), which may indicate problems with the liver or with the ducts of the bile.
Proteins (Albumin):
Refers to the amount of protein required to repair and help the body to grow, showing how well your liver is doing its job.
Reasons why it is done:
In case of continuous fatigue, pain on the right side of the abdomen, anorexia, or the observed appearance of a yellowish hue, an LFT will also aid in the diagnosis of such conditions as hepatitis or fatty liver disease or track the effectiveness of medications on the liver.
KFT (Kidney Function Test)
An audit of this fine filtration system is done by a KFT (also referred to as RFT—Renal Function Test) by the use of blood and, in some cases, urine samples.
Creatinine & Urea:
Metabolism by-products of muscle cells and protein breakage. Their concentration in the blood is a direct measure of the efficiency of kidney filtering—high concentration indicates that the kidneys are not doing well.
Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium):
Test the balance, which is significant in nerve and muscle activity.
eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate):
The most notable calculation that indicates the amount of blood that the kidneys can filter per minute, which provides a clear representation of the functioning of the kidneys as a whole.
Reason why it is done:
It is important to everyone with high blood pressure or diabetes as well as when the symptoms include swelling, alteration of urine flow, and constant fatigue. Early diagnosis of kidney complications is essential to treat and avoid chronic harm.
These three fundamental tests are an excellent self-care measure. They provide you with a platform on which you can be counted upon, they detect the sound of an imbalance at the earliest possible stage, and they provide you and your physician with the parameters of an informed decision being made.