Published: 14 Jan 2024

Factors Affecting Lab Test Results:

* Certain Foods and Drinks: Consuming specific foods or beverages before the test can influence results.
* Medications: Certain medications can interact with test procedures, leading to altered results.
* Stress: Stress hormones can affect some test values.
* Vigorous Exercise: Strenuous physical activity can temporarily impact certain test results.
* Variations in Lab Procedures: Different equipment or techniques used in different labs can result in variations in results.
* Underlying Illness: An existing illness can affect the accuracy of test results.

Understanding False Positive and False Negative Results:

* False Positive Result: A result indicating the presence of a condition or disease that does not actually exist.
* False Negative Result: A result indicating the absence of a condition or disease that is actually present.

Factors Affecting the Reliability of Reference Ranges:

* Population Differences: What is considered normal may vary between different population groups, making reference ranges less useful for some tests.
* Target Values: For tests such as cholesterol, target values have replaced reference ranges, as lifestyle changes or treatment can influence results.
* Individual Circumstances: Test results should be interpreted within the context of a patient's medical history, current medications, and other relevant factors.

Determining Reference Ranges:

* A representative group of healthy individuals is tested to establish a reference range.
* The average value is calculated and a range is determined based on natural variation.
* This range represents the values found in 95% of the reference group, meaning that 5% of normal individuals may have results outside the range.