At last, your lab results have come back but you can’t help but notice your results are above or below the ‘ideal range’. Let’s take a further look into what this range means and some factors to consider when reviewing your unique lab results. 

When your healthcare provider receives your lab results there will be a constant in which they can compare your results to called the “ideal range” or sometimes referred to as “normal results.” These values of upper and lower limits are identified through extensive studies and research that provide a high-level generic range of what is considered ideal in regard to the specific lab test being performed. 

Your results can help your healthcare provider put on their detective hat and begin to identify the cause of symptoms you might be experiencing, support any diagnosis, rule out or monitor progression of disease, or help devise a plan for treatment to ensure you feel your very best. 

The “ideal range” is a high level picture of your general health. As you’re viewing these graphs keep in mind that they do not necessarily define if you are healthy or unhealthy. A number of factors should be considered when interpreting these results from your age and medical history to the types of medication you intake and what types of food you consume on a regular basis.
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If you have any questions or concerns about your results, it’s important that you discuss these with your healthcare provider to help get further insight on your results.