Quick answer
Most blood test abbreviations fall into five groups: panel names (CBC, CMP, BMP), blood cell values (RBC, HGB, MCV, WBC, PLT), chemistry (GLU, BUN, CR, ALT, AST, ALP), lipids (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG) and hormones (TSH, FT4, E2, FSH). A basic metabolic panel has 8 tests, a comprehensive metabolic panel 14, and a CBC about 10 core values before the white cell differential. Find any code in the A to Z tables below; linked names go to our full guide for that marker.
102Abbreviations explained
14Tests in a CMP
8Tests in a BMP
10Core CBC values
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Panel abbreviations
| Code | Panel | What is in it |
|---|---|---|
| CBC | Complete blood count | RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, WBC, PLT, MPV |
| CBC w/ diff | CBC with differential | CBC plus neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils |
| BMP | Basic metabolic panel | GLU, Ca, Na, K, Cl, CO2, BUN, CR (8 tests) |
| CMP | Comprehensive metabolic panel | BMP plus ALB, TP, ALP, ALT, AST, TBIL (14 tests) |
| LFT / HFP | Liver function tests, hepatic function panel | ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, albumin, total protein, often GGT |
| RFP | Renal function panel | BUN, creatinine, electrolytes, glucose, albumin, phosphorus |
| Lipid | Lipid panel | TC, HDL-C, TG, calculated LDL-C, often VLDL-C and non-HDL-C |
| TFT | Thyroid function tests | TSH, often with FT4 and FT3 |
| Iron panel | Iron studies | Fe, TIBC, UIBC, TSAT, often ferritin |
| UA | Urinalysis | Urine color, protein, glucose, blood, cells |
MedlinePlus (lipid panel, BMP, CMP), Cleveland Clinic (CBC values) and SiPhox panel lists, checked 30 September 2026. SiPhox counts include calculated ratios.
Flags and lab notes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| H / L | Above / below the reference range |
| HH / LL, C, CRIT | Critical value; the lab usually calls the ordering clinician |
| A, ABN or * | Abnormal, for results without a numeric range |
| WNL | Within normal limits |
| NEG / POS | Negative / positive |
| ND | Not detected |
| TNP | Test not performed |
| QNS | Quantity not sufficient: not enough blood to run the test |
| HEM or hemolyzed | Red cells burst in the tube; potassium, AST and LDH may be falsely high |
| CALC | Calculated from other results rather than measured |
| REF or RR | Reference range (reference interval) |
| PEND | Result pending |
How to use a flag is covered step by step in how to read blood test results.
A to Z of blood test abbreviations
A to C
| Abbreviation | Stands for | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| A1C / HbA1c | Hemoglobin A1c | Average blood sugar over about 2 to 3 months |
| ACR / UACR | Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio | Protein leaking into urine, an early sign of kidney damage |
| A/G ratio | Albumin to globulin ratio | Albumin compared with the other blood proteins |
| ALB | Albumin | Main blood protein, made by the liver |
| ALP / ALK PHOS | Alkaline phosphatase | Enzyme from bile ducts and bone |
| ALT / SGPT | Alanine aminotransferase | Enzyme released when liver cells are injured |
| AMH | Anti-Mullerian hormone | Estimate of ovarian egg reserve |
| ANA | Antinuclear antibodies | Screening test for autoimmune disease |
| ANC | Absolute neutrophil count | Number of infection-fighting neutrophils |
| ApoA1 | Apolipoprotein A1 | Main protein on HDL particles |
| ApoB | Apolipoprotein B | Count of cholesterol particles that can clog arteries |
| aPTT / PTT | Activated partial thromboplastin time | How fast blood clots (one pathway) |
| AST / SGOT | Aspartate aminotransferase | Enzyme from liver, muscle and heart |
| B12 | Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) | Needed for nerves and red cells |
| BASO | Basophils | White cell type involved in allergy |
| BMP | Basic metabolic panel | 8 tests: glucose, calcium, electrolytes, BUN, creatinine |
| BNP / NT-proBNP | B-type natriuretic peptide | Rises when the heart is under strain |
| BUN | Blood urea nitrogen | Protein waste cleared by the kidneys |
| BUN/Cr | BUN to creatinine ratio | Helps separate dehydration from kidney causes |
| Ca | Calcium | Bones, nerves and muscle; part of BMP and CMP |
| CBC | Complete blood count | Red cells, white cells and platelets |
| CBC w/ diff | CBC with differential | CBC plus the 5 white cell types |
| CEA | Carcinoembryonic antigen | Tumor marker used to monitor some cancers |
| CHOL / TC | Total cholesterol | All cholesterol in the blood |
| CK / CPK | Creatine kinase | Muscle enzyme; rises after muscle damage or hard exercise |
| Cl | Chloride | Electrolyte that tracks sodium and acid-base balance |
| CMP | Comprehensive metabolic panel | 14 tests: BMP plus liver tests and proteins |
| CO2 / HCO3 | Carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) | Acid-base balance |
| CORT | Cortisol | Stress hormone, highest in the morning |
| C-pep | C-peptide | Marker of how much insulin you make |
| CR / CREAT | Creatinine | Muscle waste product used to estimate kidney function |
| CRP | C-reactive protein | General inflammation |
| CysC | Cystatin C | Kidney filter marker less affected by muscle mass |
D to H
| Abbreviation | Stands for | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| DBIL | Direct (conjugated) bilirubin | Bilirubin processed by the liver |
| D-dimer | D-dimer | Clot breakdown product |
| DHEA-S | Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate | Adrenal androgen |
| E2 | Estradiol | Main estrogen |
| eAG | Estimated average glucose | HbA1c converted into mg/dL |
| eGFR | Estimated glomerular filtration rate | How well kidneys filter, in mL/min/1.73 m² |
| EOS | Eosinophils | White cells tied to allergy and parasites |
| ESR / sed rate | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate | Nonspecific inflammation test |
| FAI | Free androgen index | Testosterone relative to SHBG |
| Fe | Serum iron | Iron in transit in the blood |
| FERR | Ferritin | Iron stores |
| FOL | Folate | B vitamin needed for red cells |
| FPG / FBG | Fasting plasma glucose | Blood sugar after 8 hours without food |
| FSH | Follicle-stimulating hormone | Pituitary hormone for ovaries and testes |
| FT3 | Free T3 | Active thyroid hormone, unbound |
| FT4 | Free T4 | Main thyroid hormone, unbound |
| FT / Free T | Free testosterone | Testosterone not bound to proteins |
| GGT | Gamma-glutamyl transferase | Liver and bile duct enzyme; rises with alcohol |
| GLOB | Globulin | Blood proteins other than albumin |
| GLU | Glucose | Blood sugar at the time of the draw |
| HCT | Hematocrit | Share of blood volume made of red cells |
| Hcy | Homocysteine | Amino acid raised by low B12 or folate |
| HDL-C | HDL cholesterol | Cholesterol carried back to the liver |
| HGB / Hb | Hemoglobin | Oxygen-carrying protein in red cells |
| HOMA-IR | Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance | Fasting glucose times fasting insulin |
| hs-CRP | High-sensitivity C-reactive protein | Low-grade inflammation, used for heart risk |
I to P
| Abbreviation | Stands for | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| IGF-1 | Insulin-like growth factor 1 | Reflects growth hormone activity |
| INR / PT | International normalized ratio / prothrombin time | Clotting time; liver function and warfarin |
| K | Potassium | Electrolyte for heart rhythm and muscles |
| LDH | Lactate dehydrogenase | Tissue damage enzyme |
| LDL-C | LDL cholesterol | Cholesterol in LDL particles |
| LH | Luteinizing hormone | Pituitary hormone that drives ovulation and testosterone |
| Lp(a) | Lipoprotein(a) | Inherited cholesterol particle; test once |
| LYMPH | Lymphocytes | White cells for viral infections and immunity |
| MCH | Mean corpuscular hemoglobin | Hemoglobin per red cell |
| MCHC | Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration | Hemoglobin concentration inside red cells |
| MCV | Mean corpuscular volume | Average red cell size |
| Mg | Magnesium | Mineral for muscles, nerves and heart rhythm |
| MONO | Monocytes | White cells that clear debris |
| MPV | Mean platelet volume | Average platelet size |
| Na | Sodium | Main electrolyte for fluid balance |
| NEUT | Neutrophils | Most common white cell, fights bacteria |
| Non-HDL-C | Non-HDL cholesterol | Total cholesterol minus HDL |
| P4 / PROG | Progesterone | Rises after ovulation |
| PLT | Platelets | Cell fragments that stop bleeding |
| P / PHOS | Phosphorus | Mineral for bones and energy |
| PRL | Prolactin | Pituitary hormone for milk production |
| PSA | Prostate-specific antigen | Prostate protein used in screening |
| PTH | Parathyroid hormone | Controls blood calcium |
Q to Z
| Abbreviation | Stands for | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| RBC | Red blood cell count | Number of red cells |
| RDW | Red cell distribution width | How much red cells vary in size |
| RETIC | Reticulocytes | Young red cells; shows marrow output |
| SHBG | Sex hormone-binding globulin | Protein that binds testosterone and estradiol |
| T3 / T4 | Total T3 and total T4 | Thyroid hormones including the bound portion |
| TBIL | Total bilirubin | Yellow pigment from red cell breakdown |
| TG | Triglycerides | Blood fats; rise after meals |
| TgAb | Thyroglobulin antibodies | Second autoimmune thyroid marker |
| TG/HDL | Triglyceride to HDL ratio | Rough marker of insulin resistance |
| TIBC | Total iron-binding capacity | How much iron transferrin can carry |
| TP | Total protein | Albumin plus globulins |
| TPO Ab | Thyroid peroxidase antibodies | Autoimmune thyroid marker (Hashimoto) |
| TSAT | Transferrin saturation | Share of iron-carrying capacity in use |
| TSH | Thyroid-stimulating hormone | First-line thyroid test |
| T / TT | Total testosterone | All testosterone, bound and free |
| UA | Urinalysis (or uric acid, by context) | Urine screen; uric acid is linked to gout |
| UIBC | Unsaturated iron-binding capacity | Spare iron-carrying capacity |
| 25(OH)D | Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy | The standard vitamin D status test |
| VLDL-C | VLDL cholesterol | Cholesterol in triglyceride-rich particles |
| WBC | White blood cell count | Total infection-fighting cells |
Same test, different names
Older reports and some labs still use legacy names. These are the same test:
| You may see | Also called |
|---|---|
| ALT | SGPT, GPT, alanine transaminase |
| AST | SGOT, GOT, aspartate transaminase |
| BUN | Urea nitrogen, urea (UK labs report urea in mmol/L) |
| CR | CREA, creatinine, serum |
| CO2 | Bicarbonate, HCO3, total CO2 |
| HbA1c | A1C, glycated hemoglobin, glycohemoglobin |
| 25(OH)D | Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy; calcidiol |
| TT | Testosterone, total; testosterone, serum |
| TBIL | Bilirubin, total |
| FT4 | Thyroxine, free; free thyroxine |
| PLT | Platelet count, thrombocytes |
Unit abbreviations
| Unit | Means | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| mg/dL | milligrams per deciliter | Glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, BUN, calcium |
| mmol/L | millimoles per liter | Electrolytes in the US; most chemistry outside the US |
| µmol/L | micromoles per liter | Creatinine and bilirubin outside the US |
| mEq/L | milliequivalents per liter | Sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2 |
| U/L or IU/L | units per liter | Enzymes: ALT, AST, ALP, GGT |
| g/dL | grams per deciliter | Hemoglobin, albumin, total protein |
| fL | femtoliters | MCV, MPV (cell size) |
| pg | picograms | MCH |
| x10³/µL or K/µL | thousands per microliter | WBC, platelets |
| x10⁶/µL or M/µL | millions per microliter | RBC |
| µIU/mL or mIU/L | micro-international units per mL (same number) | TSH |
| ng/mL, ng/dL, pg/mL | nanograms or picograms per volume | Vitamin D, ferritin, testosterone, estradiol |
| mL/min/1.73 m² | milliliters per minute per standard body size | eGFR |
Converting between US and SI units is where most confusion starts. Our lab unit converter handles glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, vitamin D and testosterone.
Worked example: decoding a CBC line
A report line reads: MCV 76 L fL 79 to 97. Decoded: mean corpuscular volume (average red cell size) is 76 femtoliters, flagged low against the lab's range of 79 to 97. Small red cells are the classic pattern of iron deficiency, so the next line to check is HGB, then whether ferritin was run. If the same report shows HGB 11.2 L g/dL and RDW 16.8 H %, the three together make iron deficiency the first thing to ask your doctor about. Our CBC guide explains each value and its range.
A second line: eGFR 58 L mL/min/1.73 m². That is estimated kidney filtering calculated from creatinine, age and sex. Under 60 for more than 3 months meets the KDIGO definition of chronic kidney disease, but a single low value after a heavy workout or a big steak dinner often normalizes on repeat.
Which panel covers which codes
| If you want these codes | Where they appear | Option |
|---|---|---|
| GLU, Na, K, Cl, CO2, Ca | BMP or CMP from a venous draw | Labcorp OnDemand CMP, $49 |
| RBC, WBC, PLT and the differential | CBC with differential | Labcorp OnDemand, $29 |
| ALT, AST, ALP, TBIL, BUN, CR, eGFR plus lipids | Heart and metabolic panels | SiPhox Heart & Metabolic, 28 markers |
| TSH, FT4, FT3, TPO Ab, TgAb | Thyroid panels | SiPhox Thyroid Focus, 21 markers |
| ApoB, Lp(a), HbA1c, hs-CRP, FERR, 25(OH)D, TT or E2 | Longevity-style panels, rarely on a routine physical | SiPhox Longevity Essentials, 31 markers |
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Frequently asked questions
What does CBC stand for on a blood test?
Complete blood count: red cells (RBC, HGB, HCT and the indices MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW), white cells (WBC) and platelets (PLT).
What do MCV, MCH and MCHC mean?
They describe red cells: MCV is average size, MCH is hemoglobin per cell and MCHC is hemoglobin concentration inside the cell. Low values often point to iron deficiency; a high MCV can point to low B12 or folate.
What does RDW mean on a blood test?
Red cell distribution width: how much your red cells vary in size. A high RDW with a low MCV is common in iron deficiency.
What does PLT stand for?
Platelets, the cell fragments that help blood clot. Cleveland Clinic lists 150,000 to 400,000 per microliter as a typical adult range.
What is the difference between SGPT and ALT?
None. SGPT is the older name for ALT (alanine aminotransferase), and SGOT is the older name for AST.
Sources
- MedlinePlus: Complete blood count (CBC)
- Cleveland Clinic: Complete blood count (CBC), normal ranges
- MedlinePlus: Basic metabolic panel (BMP)
- MedlinePlus: Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
- MedlinePlus: Liver function tests
- MedlinePlus: Cholesterol levels
- MedlinePlus: Red blood cell (RBC) indices
- MedlinePlus: Blood differential test
- MedlinePlus: Iron tests
- MedlinePlus: How to understand your lab results
- KDIGO 2024 clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease
- Labcorp OnDemand: Comprehensive metabolic panel (price and fasting)
- Labcorp OnDemand: Complete blood count with differential
- SiPhox Health panel comparison