How to Read Pakistani Lab Results — A Plain-English Guide

Why Pakistani Lab Reports Can Be Confusing

If you have received blood test results from a Pakistani lab and are trying to make sense of them from the UK, US, or Canada, you are not alone.

Pakistani lab reports differ from Western ones in a few important ways:

• Reference ranges vary between labs — a result flagged as high at one lab may be normal at another
• Units are sometimes different (some labs use SI units, others use conventional units)
• Report layout is not standardised — different labs present the same tests in different formats
• Abbreviations are often unexplained

This guide walks you through the most common tests ordered in Pakistan and what the results actually mean.

Complete Blood Count (CBC / FBC)

The most commonly ordered blood test. It measures the cellular components of blood.

Haemoglobin (Hb / Hgb)

Normal range: Men 13.5–17.5 g/dL, Women 12–15.5 g/dL

Low haemoglobin = anaemia. Common causes in Pakistan include iron deficiency (poor diet, heavy periods), thalassaemia trait, or chronic disease. A level below 8 g/dL usually requires investigation of the cause and sometimes treatment.

White Blood Cells (WBC / TLC — Total Leucocyte Count)

Normal range: 4,000–11,000 cells/µL

• High WBC — suggests infection, inflammation, or in rare cases leukaemia
• Low WBC — can be viral infections, some medications, or bone marrow problems
• Pakistani labs often report the "differential" separately — neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils

Platelets (PLT)

Normal range: 150,000–400,000 /µL

• Low platelets (thrombocytopenia) — dengue fever is a major cause in Pakistan; also seen in liver disease, some medications, and autoimmune conditions. Below 50,000 is concerning; below 20,000 may require transfusion.
• High platelets — usually reactive (infection, iron deficiency)

Liver Function Tests (LFTs)

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) / SGPT

Normal: Up to 40–56 U/L

The most sensitive marker of liver cell damage. Elevated in:

• Hepatitis B and C (very common in Pakistan)
• Fatty liver (increasingly common)
• Medications (including many common antibiotics)
• Alcohol (less commonly reported but relevant)

Greater than 3x normal = significant liver inflammation, needs investigation.

AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) / SGOT

Similar to ALT but less specific to the liver. Also elevated in muscle damage.

Bilirubin

Normal: Total bilirubin up to 1.2 mg/dL

Elevated bilirubin causes jaundice (yellow skin/eyes). Causes include hepatitis, gallstones, haemolysis.

Albumin

Normal: 3.5–5 g/dL

Low albumin indicates chronic liver disease, malnutrition, or kidney disease (protein loss).

Kidney Function Tests (RFTs / KFTs)

Creatinine

Normal: Men 0.7–1.3 mg/dL, Women 0.5–1.1 mg/dL

The key marker of kidney function. Elevated creatinine means the kidneys are not filtering properly. A creatinine above 2 mg/dL requires urgent assessment. Context matters — someone with known chronic kidney disease may have a chronically elevated level.

Urea / BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

Normal: 7–20 mg/dL (BUN) or 2.5–7.1 mmol/L (urea)

Elevated with kidney problems or dehydration. Should be interpreted alongside creatinine.

eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)

Not always reported by Pakistani labs. If it is, below 60 for more than 3 months = chronic kidney disease. Below 15 = kidney failure.

Thyroid Function (TFTs)

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)

Normal: 0.4–4.0 mIU/L

• High TSH = underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) — fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance — treated with thyroxine (Synthroid / Euthyrox)
• Low TSH = overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) — weight loss, palpitations, sweating

T3 and T4

Measured alongside TSH in Pakistan. T4 (free T4 / FT4) is the most clinically useful.

Blood Sugar

Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)

Normal: Below 100 mg/dL

Pre-diabetes: 100–125 mg/dL

Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or above (confirmed on two occasions)

HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)

Normal: Below 5.7%

Pre-diabetes: 5.7–6.4%

Diabetes: 6.5% or above

HbA1c reflects average blood sugar over the past 3 months. More useful than a single fasting reading for monitoring diabetes.

Lipid Profile (Cholesterol)

High LDL and triglycerides are very common in Pakistan and significantly increase heart disease risk.

When to Worry — Red Flag Results

These results require urgent action regardless of context:

• Haemoglobin below 6 g/dL
• Platelets below 20,000
• Creatinine above 5 mg/dL
• Potassium above 6.0 mmol/L or below 2.5 mmol/L
• Sodium below 120 mmol/L
• Bilirubin above 15 mg/dL with worsening jaundice
• Blood sugar above 400 mg/dL

Get Your Results Explained

If you have lab results from Pakistan and are unsure what they mean, our team will review them and send you a plain-English summary on WhatsApp — including what is concerning, what to ask the doctor, and what to do next.

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