Decision Limits
Decision limits are specific values that indicate:
* Whether an analyte level is consistent with a disease
* Whether medical intervention is warranted
Glucose Example
* For adults, a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher on multiple occasions suggests type 2 diabetes.
* However, these limits are only guidelines, and a healthcare provider should interpret results within the context of a patient's medical history.
Optimal vs. Usual Ranges
* Optimal ranges represent levels associated with optimal health or minimal risk.
* Usual ranges reflect the most common values in a population.
* For some tests, such as vitamins and blood lipids, optimal and usual ranges may differ significantly.
Reference Ranges
Reference ranges:
* Describe the normal values for a particular test in healthy individuals.
* Usually include the values within which 95% of the population falls.
* Provide a basis for healthcare professionals to interpret test results.
DDxHub is a concentrator that holds a lot of disease descriptions. It relies on the System knowledgebase to diagnose a health condition.
Differential diagnosis Hub is the System distinguishing of a particular disease or health condition from others.