How to interpret medical test results?

From the Guidelines

To interpret medical test results, it is essential to consider the pretest probability of the disease, the sensitivity and specificity of the test, and the predictive accuracy, as emphasized in the 2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease 1. When interpreting medical test results, several key factors must be considered to ensure accurate and meaningful conclusions.

• The pretest probability of the disease is crucial, as it influences the predictive accuracy of the test results.
• The sensitivity and specificity of the test are also vital, as they determine the test's ability to correctly identify those with and without the disease.
• Additionally, the predictive accuracy, including positive and negative predictive values, provides insight into the likelihood of the disease given a positive or negative test result. As noted in the 2014 Pediatrics study on testing for drugs of abuse in children and adolescents, knowledge of the individual's complete medical history, including prescribed medications, is necessary to accurately interpret test results and avoid false positives or negatives 1. Furthermore, the 2017 Clinical Infectious Diseases guidelines for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in adults and children highlight the importance of interpreting test results within the clinical context to minimize the impact of false results 1. The 2007 Circulation guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non ST-elevation myocardial infarction also emphasize the need for patient counseling and discussion of test results in a language understood by the patient and their family 1. Most recently, the 2024 British Journal of Cancer recommendations for reporting tissue and circulating tumour DNA next-generation sequencing results in non-small cell lung cancer stress the importance of clear and concise reporting to enable clinical decision-making 1. Overall, interpreting medical test results requires a comprehensive approach that considers the test's characteristics, the individual's medical history, and the clinical context.

From the FDA Drug Label

The FDA drug label does not answer the question.

From the Research

Interpreting Medical Test Results

To interpret medical test results, patients need to understand the information provided to them. According to 2, patients often have difficulties understanding and acting upon clinical data, such as laboratory test results, and may turn to online resources to fill their knowledge gaps.

• Understanding the results of lab tests is crucial for patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
• Interpreting doctor's diagnosis and learning about lab tests are also important aspects of understanding medical test results 2.
• Context plays a significant role in interpreting clinical and laboratory tests, as reference intervals and cutoff values may vary depending on the population and physiological condition 3.

Importance of Context

Context is essential in knowledge translation, and understanding the context in which clinical care is delivered can facilitate or militate against the uptake of research evidence by healthcare professionals 4.

• The context where clinical care is delivered influences the care provided, and conceptual clarity on what constitutes context is necessary for effective knowledge translation.
• Contextual factors, such as cultural, biological, physiological, and behavioral diversity, can affect the interpretation of medical test results 3.
• Assessing and using context to tailor knowledge translation activities can increase research use by nurses and other healthcare professionals, ultimately leading to better patient care 4.

Patient Understanding

Patient understanding is critical in medical decision-making, and patients must grasp a body of information that reasonably reflects a responsible body of medical professionals' best estimate of the truth 5.

• Patients must understand the information disclosed to them to make autonomous decisions in a healthcare setting.
• Theoretical approaches to the concept of understanding in a medical context and practically useful frameworks for assessing it are lacking 5.
• Patients' information needs concerning laboratory test results can be characterized and used to inform the design of patient portals for supporting patients' understanding of clinical data 2.