Most of us get a standard panel of blood tests – cholesterol, glucose – every year at a physical. Many have been told by the healthcare provider that “all your labs came back normal.” As long as your labs fall with the “normal” reference range, it is assumed that you’re healthy, or at least not sick enough for a medical intervention. Today we will discuss “normal” vs optimal lab reference ranges. Before we can talk about optimal lab ranges, we need to discuss standard lab reference ranges and how they are determined.
Laboratory reference ranges are determined by the individual laboratory performing the test considering factors such as age, gender, race, etc. The laboratory can use their own current ranges, the manufacturers ranges, published reference ranges, or locally establish ranges as the baseline. When a laboratory is establishing their own reference range, a population of 120 +/- samples is required. Once tested, the results are compared, and the highest and lowest values (outliers) are eliminated. The range is then established from the remaining sample values. But, if more than 50% of US adults have at least one chronic disease, and more that 50% are either overweight or obese, are these numbers derived from a population that reflects heath, or the absence of disease? The optimal reference range is much narrower than what is used in conventional medicine so any signs of dysfunction can be detected early on, before disease has a chance to develop.
In the next section, I will give you a summary of the importance of several metabolic lab tests, their optimal reference ranges, and the limitations that come with some of them.
!!!!!!!!!This information does not constitute medical advice. This is compiled expert opinion for educational purposes. Talk to your provider for specific questions about your personal lab results.!!!!!!!!!
Routine lab work can help provide a bigger picture of what is going on with your metabolic health, but it does have its limitations. These optimal reference ranges can help you better understand whether you are headed down a path of dysfunction and disease. Having “normal” labs is not an end all determinant of one’s health status. You must be in touch with your body and how it is feeling physically and mentally. Metabolic lab tests are an important part in personalizing your healthcare and determining if your lifestyle is supporting your health.
Stay well!
great information.