Category:Test results and = what they=20 mean
From DoctorMyhill
Only too often people come to me with tests results which have not = been=20 properly interpreted. The reasons why this happens are as follows:
- Test results are flagged up and considered to be abnormal if they = are=20 outside the reference range, but one's individual normal range is not = the same=20 as the population reference range. This is a particular problem in the = interpretion of thyroid tests.=20
- Reference ranges for tests change. Reference ranges are based on = random=20 bloods from the population. The trouble is anyone following a Western=20 lifestyle is not evolutionarily correct and many not normal! So labs = change=20 their reference ranges to adjust for this. So, for example, the normal = range=20 of a gamma GT used to be up to 36, it is now up to 70. This enzyme is = induced=20 by alcohol and prescription drugs and because so many people drink = alcohol it=20 is considered normal to run a high gamma GT! The lab I use has a = normal=20 reference range for thyroid hormone T4 of 12-22pmol/l but some labs = give=20 ranges of 5.6-17pmol/l!=20
- Tests are often incomplete. So someone with a thyroid stimulating = hormone=20 (TSH) within reference range will be told they have no thyroid = problem, when=20 in fact one also needs a free T4 and a free T3 together with a = clinical=20 history to assess if there is a thyroid problem.=20
- Drug companies influence normal ranges. The normal range for = cholesterol=20 has come down steadily since statins have been such big money earners = for Big=20 Pharma.=20
- Incorrect breakdown of test results. Many people are prescribed =
statins on=20
the basis of a single cholesterol level. This is faulty for many =
reaons -=20
firstly one needs a breakdown of good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol =
to get=20
the ratio. If the ratio is not favourable then this is likely to be a =
symptom=20
of arterial disease. Cholesterol lowering drugs are often irrelevant. =
See
- Results close to the limits of normal may be abnormal for that = person. For=20 example, a high normal bilirubin may mean Gilbert's syndrome - this = means=20 someone is a poor detoxifier. A high mean corpuscular volume (MCV) = could point=20 to hypothyroidism, B12 or folic acid deficiency.=20
- Normal tests do not mean no pathology. A normal ECG at rest does = not mean=20 there is no heart disease, yet many people are told this is the case.=20
- Tests may ask the wrong question. So many people come to me with = severe=20 fatigue syndromes having been told nothing is wrong because all the = tests are=20 normal! But ask the right question and do
- Tests for poisonings are particularly misleading. For years = doctors have=20 promoted levels of cholinesterase as a good test for organophosphate=20 poisoning. It is a rotten test and misses the majority of cases! Much = better=20 would be Fat=20 biopsy for pesticides or Volatile Organic Compounds
Pages in category "Test results and what they mean"
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- This page was last modified on 31 January 2010, at = 10:54.=20
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