In laboratory medicine, reference intervals play a central role when it comes to evaluating laboratory results and assessing a person's health. What are reference intervals? A reference interval is a range of values that indicates what is considered "normal" for a...

Serum is the liquid part of the blood that remains when the solid components such as red and white blood cells and clotting factors are removed. Think of blood like a soup: The cells are the deposits, and the serum is the clear broth around them. It makes up about...

Sodium is a chemical element (symbol Na, atomic number 11) that occurs in the body as a sodium ion (Na+), especially in the fluid outside cells, such as blood plasma. It is crucial for regulating water balance, helps to transmit nerve impulses and supports muscle...

The thromboplastin time, often referred to as the "quick value" or "prothrombin time" (PT), is an important test in medicine that shows how well the blood clots. It measures how quickly the blood turns into a solid clot after the addition of certain substances. This...

Triglycerides are a type of fat that play a central role in the body's metabolism. They serve as energy stores and are transported in fat cells or in the blood. A balanced triglyceride level is important for health, as excessive levels can increase the risk of...

Troponin is a protein that is found in the muscle cells of the heart and is responsible for the contraction of the heart muscle. When the heart muscle tissue is damaged, for example during a heart attack, troponin enters the bloodstream. This makes the troponin test...

Urine status, also known as a urine test or urinalysis, is an important part of medical diagnostics. The urine is tested for various properties in order to find indications of diseases such as kidney problems, urinary tract infections or metabolic disorders. Why is it...