Understanding Blood Test Results
Blood test results are compared to established "normal ranges" that vary based on specific population groups and individual factors.
Interpretation and Importance
Blood test results should be interpreted by a healthcare professional who is familiar with your medical history and can assess results over time. Blood tests are generally painless and affordable.
Even if your results fall within the "normal range," they may still have important implications. Blood test results can detect and diagnose blood disorders, rare blood types, and other health conditions.
Normal Ranges
Each component of a blood test has a defined normal range, representing the typical values found in a healthy population. For example:
- Normal range for uric acid: 3.5-7.2 mg/dL
Reference Ranges
Reference ranges indicate the expected values of a measurement or parameter in healthy individuals. They are used to compare patient results and identify potential abnormalities.
Optimal (Health) Ranges
Optimal ranges represent values associated with optimal health outcomes and minimal disease risk. They may differ from reference ranges, especially for vitamins and blood lipids.
Additional Information
- Reference ranges are typically derived from the majority of values observed in a healthy population.
- Optimal ranges are based on levels linked to optimal health.
- Blood test results play a crucial role in health evaluations and diagnoses, and should be discussed with a healthcare professional for accurate interpretation.
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.