Interpreting Values in Clinical Context
Without additional context about what specific value you are asking about, I cannot determine if it is elevated. To properly assess whether a clinical value is elevated, I need to know the specific measurement, the reference range, and relevant patient information 1, 2.
General Approach to Interpreting Clinical Values
- Clinical values must be interpreted in the context of established reference ranges, which may be specific to the laboratory, assay type, and patient population 1
- Many laboratory values have sex-specific reference ranges, such as high-sensitivity troponin, which typically has lower threshold values for women than for men 1
- Age, presence of kidney disease, heart failure, and other clinical factors can significantly influence the interpretation of laboratory values 1
Common Reference Ranges for Important Clinical Values
Cardiovascular Markers
- For high-sensitivity troponin, values below 0.1 mU/L are generally considered low, while values above 6.5 mU/L are considered elevated 1
- Blood pressure values ≥130/80 mmHg are defined as hypertension according to current guidelines 1
Liver Function Tests
- Elevated liver enzymes may indicate immune-mediated liver injury, with ALT ≥3x ULN (in patients with normal baseline) warranting close observation 1
- In patients with elevated baseline ALT (≥1.5x ULN), an increase of >2x baseline may indicate significant liver injury 1
Endocrine Parameters
- For thyroid function, TSH values below 0.1 mU/L are considered low and values above 6.5 mU/L are considered elevated 1
- For glucose tolerance testing in pregnancy, fasting glucose ≥92 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L), 1-hour glucose ≥180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L), or 2-hour glucose ≥153 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L) are diagnostic thresholds for gestational diabetes 1
Important Considerations When Interpreting Values
- Always consider the clinical context, including patient symptoms, medical history, and other laboratory findings 1
- Laboratory values should be confirmed with repeat testing when abnormal, especially if they will lead to significant changes in management 1
- Some values require specific collection conditions (fasting vs. non-fasting) for proper interpretation 1
- Values may need to be interpreted differently in special populations (pregnancy, elderly, pediatric patients) 1
When to Act on Elevated Values
- Immediate action is required for critically high values that indicate life-threatening conditions 1
- For borderline elevations, consider the trend over time rather than a single value 1
- Always correlate laboratory findings with clinical presentation before making treatment decisions 1
To properly assess whether your specific value is elevated, please provide additional information about the test, the value obtained, the reference range, and relevant patient context.