EPO test

EPO test A test of the amount of hormone erythropoietin (EPO) in blood. The EPO level can indicate bone marrow disorders, kidney disease, or EPO abuse. Testing EPO blood levels is of value because too little EPO might be responsible for too few red blood cells (such as in evaluating anemia); too much EPO can cause too many red blood cells (polycythemia), might be evidence of a kidney tumor, and in an athlete might suggest EPO abuse. Normal levels of EPO are 0 to 19 (some say up to 24) milliunits per milliliter (mU/ml). See also erythropoietin.