Reference Ranges and What They Mean Medical

   Published: 10 Sep 2024
Getting this type of testing regularly is the low hanging fruit when it comes to understanding your health, and can be the first step in many other areas of wellness.
In this day and age, with many different health issues and chronic diseases being diagnosed and managed based on blood test results, it is crucial to get annual blood tests. Now that you know more about SMRTX, let's talk about the importance of getting blood test analysis done.

The values in between those limits may depend on such factors as age, sex, and specimen type (blood, urine, spinal fluid, etc.) and can also be influenced by circumstantial situations such as fasting and exercise. A reference range is a set of values that includes upper and lower limits of a lab test based on a group of otherwise healthy people. However, the true meaning of a test result-whether it indicates that you are sick or well or at risk for a health condition-can only be known when all the other information your provider has gathered about your health, including the results of a physical exam, your health and family history, recent changes in your health, any medications you are taking, and other non-laboratory testing.These intervals are thought of as 'normal ranges or limits.'
Though the term 'reference interval' is usually the term preferred by laboratory and other health professionals, the more commonly-known term is 'reference range,' so that is the term used throughout this article.
Reference ranges provide the values to which your health care provider compares your test results to and determines your current health status.