Lab Literacy Guide by a Clinical Laboratory Scientist
What Is Lab Literacy?
Lab literacy helps you understand the information in laboratory reports and prepare informed questions for your healthcare professional. Results need to be considered alongside your symptoms, medical history, medications and the laboratory's reference ranges.
Why It Matters
Learning about your results can help you discuss trends and next steps with your provider. A flagged result does not, by itself, establish a diagnosis or mean you need a supplement.
Labs You May Discuss With Your Healthcare Professional After 40
The tests appropriate for you depend on your health history and clinical needs. This is not a checklist of tests everyone needs.
- CBC — Complete Blood Count: red cells, white cells, platelets and hemoglobin
- CMP — Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: measurements related to kidney and liver function, blood sugar and electrolytes
- Lipid Panel — cholesterol and triglycerides
- HbA1c — an estimate of average blood glucose over approximately three months
- Vitamin D (25-OH) — vitamin D status
- Ferritin — a measure used to assess iron stores, interpreted in clinical context
- TSH — a test used in evaluating thyroid function
- hsCRP — a marker of inflammation interpreted alongside other clinical information
Prepare for Your Next Appointment
Download the free Doctor-Visit Checklist: 30 Questions to Ask Your Doctor. Bring the questions most relevant to you, along with your current medications and supplements.
About the Author
Sonya M., CLS — Clinical Laboratory Scientist with more than 20 years of US laboratory experience. Sonya writes about lab literacy and wellness and is the founder of AskSonya.ai.
Explore her books and guides or browse the Health & Nutrition Blog.
Educational content only, not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your results, testing and treatment.