There is a lot of human variation, and the context is essential to interpret any result correctly. It’s also important to understand that none of these tests exists in isolation and we need to begin looking at labs in a more nuanced way and understanding the labs in context with each other. Even so-called normal levels may be an indication of a problem that’s already taken root and need to be addressed. We explain what is our patient’s optimal range, which is more nuanced. As your physician, we individualize the results on what they mean to you at this point. And sometimes, bodies can acclimate to unusual internal circumstances. But some people will always be on the margins. The ranges are generally set to correspond with 95 percent of healthy people in a large study group. The way normal is defined inevitably leaves some people out. Different labs, meanwhile, can set their normal range at different levels. And even though reference ranges for some tests now vary by gender and other categories, those scales are rarely specific enough to correlate to a person’s exact age, race, and other circumstances. For most blood routine tests, the standard ranges were determined decades ago based on soldiers’ studies. This is a common source of concern for many. You may notice that there may be a few values that are often outside the “normal” range. We don’t want to bore you with a comprehensive glossary of technical terms but attempt to provide basic definitions and a better sense of how the information on a typical blood test report is presented and organized so that you can interpret your blood work with more confidence.īefore we go any further, we have to debunk the overrated “normal’ and “abnormal” labels. You can make sense of your blood test results. One is stuck deciphering highly technical and administrative-looking documents that make tax forms look like greeting cards.
What the heck is TSH? Apart from the puzzling jargon, the design of bloodwork lab reports is dismal. Google,” you end up deep down a rabbit hole. What doesn’t always make sense is the baffling list of medical terms on the blood test results that are often part of routine exams. Even if you’re a CrossFit champ or a marathon maven, getting a regular checkup makes sense.
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