Lab tests explained

[mausmish]

I discovered a very helpful site for explaining lab tests and thought I'd share it here:

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/index.html

[Neil Cuadra]

Thanks!

One of the points they make is that "normal ranges" in lab test results should really be called "reference ranges". Test results aren't black and white -- either "normal" (within a normal range) or "abnormal" (outside a normal range). Instead, the ranges on lab reports are averages across many people. Since none of us are exactly average, they don't necessarily indicate whether a result is normal or abnormal for us as individuals. They have to be taken in context.

The lab test given most often to AA/MDS/PNH patients is the complete blood count test (CBC). There is straightforward information about CBCs from the Mayo Clinic (you have to click to go through the pages). There are also short descriptions of the various CBC blood counts at Lymphomation.org and longer descriptions at MedicineNet.