From the Guidelines
Laboratory results should only be interpreted by a licensed healthcare professional who understands the patient's specific medical context, history, and can properly analyze the values in relation to reference ranges. This is crucial because laboratory interpretation requires a deep understanding of the assay method, including its known interferences, as highlighted in the 2023 guidelines for laboratory analysis in the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus 1.
Key Considerations
- Laboratory professionals should work closely with clinicians who order tests, such as HbA1c testing, to ensure proper interpretation of test results.
- The clinician should be made aware of any interferences with the assay method, such as hemoglobin variants, to accurately interpret the results.
- Misreading labs could lead to incorrect conclusions about a patient's health status, emphasizing the need for expert interpretation.
Recommendations
- If you have laboratory results that need interpretation, contact your doctor, nurse practitioner, or the healthcare provider who ordered the tests.
- They can explain what your results mean and discuss any necessary follow-up actions.
- Many healthcare systems also offer patient portals where basic explanations of lab values are provided, though these should not replace professional consultation.
Importance of Expert Interpretation
Laboratory results contain critical health information that needs expert interpretation, as emphasized by the guidelines for laboratory analysis 1. Therefore, it is essential to consult a licensed healthcare professional for accurate interpretation and guidance on any necessary follow-up actions.
From the Research
Interpreting Laboratory Results
- Laboratory diagnostic tests are central in the practice of modern medicine, and their interpretation depends on both the ability of the test to distinguish diseased from nondiseased subjects and the particular characteristics of the patient and setting in which the test is being used 2
- The interpretation of laboratory results can be supported by clinical decision support systems, which can assist in solving problems related to the interpretation of multiple data in health examinations 3
- Nurses can play a crucial role in interpreting laboratory results, particularly in the case of abnormal basic metabolic panel findings, and can develop a thorough, focused plan of care for electrolyte abnormalities and kidney disorders 4
- The complete blood count is one of the most frequently ordered laboratory tests in medicine, and understanding its components and characteristics can be helpful in difficult diagnoses and in monitoring treatments for hematologic disorders and other medical problems 5
- Laboratory specialists have a responsibility to provide clinical interpretation of laboratory results, including comparison with reference intervals values and decision thresholds, evaluation of effects of various types of non-pathogenic variations, and urgent informing of clinicians about detected critical alterations of laboratory indicators in patients with high risk of unfavorable outcome 6
Key Considerations
- The interpretation of laboratory results requires an individual approach, taking into account the specific characteristics of the patient and the clinical context 2, 6
- Clinical decision support systems can be useful in supporting the interpretation of laboratory results, but should be used in conjunction with clinical judgment and expertise 3
- Nurses and other healthcare professionals should be aware of the importance of laboratory results in informing clinical decision-making, and should be able to interpret and apply laboratory information in a way that is tailored to the individual patient's needs 4, 5