Evaluating Lab Values

Test results can vary due to the specific lab used to evaluate them, as well, with approximately 30% difference in “normal” values.  An individual’s life style will dictate their normal values; with age, sex, body frame type, exercise levels, nutritional tendencies, race, alcohol consumption, drugs taken (both prescribed and illegal), herbal supplements, vitamins and menstrual cycles all able to determine variances in normal lab values. 

            For individuals who have simply had a standard annual exam, the results of the tests will be examined by their doctor and, if no extreme problematic values exist, the results will be filed in the patient’s medical records.  Over the course of the year, should any incidences arise that would require additional testing to be performed, the patient’s record would be compared with the secondary testing for variances.   Otherwise, the following year would see another annual exam with standard lab work once again performed.  The resulting year’s tests will begin a paper trail of the patient’s health status, which the doctor will examine each year for changes, variations or aberrant results. 

            If consecutive lab results conflict with the patient’s normal lab values, the doctor is alerted to the change immediately.  A repeat lab test may be ordered to determine if the abnormal reading was a fluke.  If the second test agrees with the abnormal reading, the doctor will no doubt want to further investigate the cause for the change.  Depending on which test showed the deviant reading, more tests may be indicated, or treatment for a condition may begin. 

            Although the standard normal lab values are available in charted form online for anyone’s perusal, it is important that people do not attempt to use these values to evaluate their own health status.   Blood tests, for example, are known to have false positives and negatives.  Being able to read blood tests knowledgeably requires years of training and experience with disease processes; a feat for medical professionals only.  The average layman is not able to know the intricacies of the body processes that may throw normal values off track. 

            To help your doctor determine a cause for an abnormal reading on standard lab work, it is helpful for you, the patient, to document any symptoms or unusual occurrences in your body leading up to your visit.  Often, certain symptoms will accompany a variable reading of glucose, for example, and providing your doctor with any information that can help rule out or confirm certain diagnosis can avoid performing any unnecessary and expensive tests that are not needed. 

            Because any number of situations can cause high or low levels of any reading, letting your doctor know of any recent illnesses you may have had, no matter how insignificant they may seem, allows them to understand the difference in levels.  A recent sinus infection, for example, that you treated on your own could have residual effects lingering in your system that show up on the test results; conflicting with your normal lab values as shown from previous tests.  Even dietary changes you have made could affect certain levels; adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, beginning a juicing routine, dramatically cutting back on calories, fat or protein; all of these can change processes in your system.  Have you recently begun a strict and vigorous exercise routine?  Have you fasted recently?  

            With the many variables and differentials that could be demonstrated on lab results, it is important to provide as much information to the doctor as possible.  It can be like working a jigsaw puzzle when attempting to evaluate a person’s condition.  Finding all of the pieces of the puzzle that fit together will result in a complete picture; in the case of medical puzzles, the picture will be of your health status.  The lab values shown through the standard tests provide many pieces to the puzzle, the information you can provide the doctor about symptoms and signs you have experienced are also pieces.  The doctor’s training will allow him / her to put those pieces together to arrive at the diagnosis. 

            Often, patients do not even know what their normal lab values may be.  Because most of the information provided will seem foreign, it is not usually necessary to know many of them.  It is important to know certain criteria, however; blood type, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, HDL and LDL levels, glucose levels and blood pressure. 

            If you have questions or concerns regarding any of the levels on your lab work that may seem confusing to you, feel free to ask your doctor to explain their meanings.  They will be more than happy to work with you to keep you as healthy as possible.