Laboratory ABC
Laboratory results
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a common disease in which the appendix becomes inflamed. This inflammation can affect anyone, but is particularly common in adolescents and young adults. Without timely treatment, appendicitis can cause serious complications such as a rupture of the...
Blood count, small
The complete blood count: an important check-up in laboratory medicine The CBC is a standard medical test that is frequently used in Germany to get an initial impression of a person's state of health. It is a simple blood test that measures certain components of the...
Blood plasma
Blood plasma is a fascinating component of our blood - and a key player in laboratory medicine. But what exactly is it and why is it so important for diagnoses and treatments? Blood plasma makes up around 55 percent of our blood and is the liquid base in which the...
Blood sugar
Blood sugar is a term that most of us have heard before - whether in connection with diabetes, nutrition or a general health check. What is blood sugar? Blood sugar refers to the amount of sugar - more precisely glucose - that circulates in our blood. Glucose is the...
Cell density
Cell density refers to the number of cells in a certain amount of a sample, such as blood, urine or other body fluids, measured in cells per microliter (μL) or per cubic millimeter (mm³). In blood, these are mainly red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets....
Cholesterol
Cholesterol - a term that almost everyone has heard before, often in connection with health, nutrition or heart problems. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that our body needs in order to function. It is found in every cell and helps, for...
Creatinine
Creatinine is a term that often crops up in medicine, especially when it comes to the kidneys. But what exactly is creatinine, why is it so important and how is it measured in laboratory medicine in Germany? What is creatinine? Creatinine is a molecular waste product...
CRP
The CRP value, short for C-reactive protein, is an important blood value that indicates inflammation in the body. It is one of the acute-phase proteins that are increasingly released into the blood during an inflammatory reaction. A normal CRP value is below 5 mg/l...
DGKL
The German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, DGKL for short, is an organization that remains invisible to many people in everyday life - and yet it has a major influence on how well we receive medical care in Germany. It ensures that laboratory...
Diabetes values
Certain methods are used to determine the values for diabetes. Find out more about three important tests and their significance below. Symbolic image. Credits: Pixabay. How is diabetes detected with laboratory tests? Doctors use various tests to diagnose diabetes:...
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or ESR for short, is a classic test in laboratory medicine that has been used for over 100 years. It measures how quickly the red blood cells in a tube sink. It may sound unspectacular, but this simple value can tell doctors a lot...
Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body. It is a kind of safe depository that stores iron in a harmless form until it is needed for processes such as the formation of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the...
Folic acid (vitamin B9)
Folic acid is a term that many people have heard before, whether in connection with pregnancy or a healthy diet. But what exactly is folic acid, why is it so important and how is it measured in laboratory medicine in Germany? I What is folic acid? Folic acid, also...
Hemoglobin
Haemoglobin is a term that is often used when talking about blood tests or health - for example in the case of fatigue or a diagnosis of anaemia. What is hemoglobin? Haemoglobin is a protein in the blood, more precisely in the red blood cells. It has a crucial task:...
Hormones
For many people, hormones are a familiar term from biology lessons or visits to the doctor, but what exactly are they, why are they so important and how are they measured in laboratory medicine? What are hormones? Hormones are chemical messengers that our body...
Inflammation markers
Inflammatory markers are a term that is often used when doctors want to find out whether something is wrong in the body. But what exactly are these markers, why are they important - and how are they examined in laboratory medicine? What are inflammation markers?...
Jaffé method
The Jaffe method is a test used in laboratories to measure the concentration of creatinine in blood serum and urine. Creatinine is a waste product of muscle metabolism and an important indicator of kidney function. The method was discovered by Max Jaffé in 1886 and...
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Lactate dehydrogenase, LDH for short, is an enzyme that occurs in almost all cells in the body and plays an important role in energy metabolism. In laboratory medicine, the LDH value serves as a non-specific marker that can be elevated in a variety of diseases. It...
Lipid metabolism
Lipid metabolism encompasses all processes in the body that have to do with the formation, transportation, storage and breakdown of lipids, i.e. fats and cholesterol. Lipids are essential as they provide energy, build cell membranes and serve as hormones or signaling...
Liquor
The cerebrospinal fluid: a window into the health of the nervous system CSF, also known as cerebrospinal fluid, plays a central role in laboratory medicine, especially when it comes to diseases of the nervous system. In Germany, the examination of this clear fluid is...
