Can lab results be wrong?
However, depending on the test, the manufacturer, and how common a disease is, some tests can be incorrect as often as 50% of the time (like in the case of mammograms for breast cancer diagnosis) or accurate nearly 100% of the time (like in the case of a urine test for chlamydia).
What does a normal blood test check for?
A typical routine blood test is the complete blood count, also called CBC, to count your red and white blood cells as well as measure your hemoglobin levels and other blood components. This test can uncover anemia, infection, and even cancer of the blood.
How often are blood results wrong?
It is estimated that seven to ten million patients receive an inaccurate blood test result annually. Approximately 35,000 labs run high complexity tests. Many more run routine tests and are not subject to inspection every two years by federal regulators.
What does a blood chemistry panel test for?
Chemistry panels are groups of tests that are routinely ordered to determine a person’s general health status. They help evaluate, for example, the body’s electrolyte balance and/or the status of several major body organs. The tests are performed on a blood sample, usually drawn from a vein.
What happens when a cat’s platelet count is too low?
When a cat’s platelet count becomes too low, however, there are not enough circulating cell fragments to form a proper clot and there is nothing to prevent the blood from leaving the body. Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.
What does it mean when your blood test results are outside the normal range?
A test result outside the normal range of expected lab values does not necessarily mean you have a disease or disorder. Test results can be abnormal for other reasons.
What should I do if my blood test comes back normal?
Or they may send you a copy with little or no explanation. But even if things appear normal, be sure to follow up and discuss your blood test with your doctor, nurse practitioner, or nurse, recommends the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
What does it mean when your blood test comes back negative?
A ‘Negative’ Test Result Is Usually Good News. When you’ve had a blood test to check for an infectious disease — an interferon gamma release assay for tuberculosis, for example — getting back a negative result is good news — it means the test found no evidence of an infection.