Read the report that belongs to you.
Begin with the identifying information, collection date and test names. If something appears incorrect or a result you expected is missing, contact the laboratory through the route provided with your report.
Keep the full report rather than only a cropped screenshot of one number. The test name, unit and reference information help the clinician understand what has been measured.
Use the reference information on that report.
Reference ranges describe results seen in a reference population and may differ between laboratories and methods. A result outside a range is not automatically a diagnosis, and a result inside a range does not answer every clinical question.
Your clinician considers the result alongside your symptoms, history and other findings. This is why comparing one isolated number with a range found online can be misleading.
Bring the question back into view.
Think about why the test was requested and what you wanted to understand. If you have earlier reports, bring those to the clinical conversation rather than trying to decide the significance of a change on your own.
Useful questions include what the result means in your circumstances, whether anything further is needed and when the next review should take place. Keep a note of the agreed next step.
Keep laboratory and clinical support connected.
The laboratory can help with questions about the report, sample or reporting process. The clinician responsible for your care can put the findings into your health context and advise on decisions that follow.
If your care involves more than one professional, ask how the report should be shared with the relevant team. A clear connection is more useful than simply having another file in your inbox.
Keep it simple
Your next-step checklist.
A few useful details to bring to the conversation.
The people behind this perspective
Sources & further reading
Ready for the next step?
Talk to our care team
