Positive or abnormal, which means the disease or substance was found. Inconclusive or uncertain, which means there wasn't enough information in the results to diagnose or rule out a disease. If you get an inconclusive result, you will probably get more tests.
Abnormal Results May Not Be Due to a Disease
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.
If your white blood cell count is higher than normal, you may have an infection or inflammation. Or, it could indicate that you have an immune system disorder or a bone marrow disease. A high white blood cell count can also be a reaction to medication.
In addition to detecting diseases early, blood tests help: Make a diagnosis and/or determine stages of a disease (i.e., cancer) Identify the risk of developing a disease in the future, including inherited conditions like breast cancer. Monitor organ function.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet have been shown to help alleviate stress and worry. If you find yourself feeling particularly worried about medical results, try taking a 30 minute walk. Or do another form of exercise that you enjoy. You don't have to run a marathon to feel the calming benefits of exercise!
Bacteria, viruses and fungi can show up in body fluids, such as blood, urine (wee), faeces (poo), sputum (spit), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bone marrow and skin cells.
Sometimes you need to know more than just "positive" or "negative." At an appointment, your healthcare provider can explain options and tell you whether more testing is needed. Plus, if a disease is contagious, your provider will want to talk in person about how to help you avoid future risk and protect other people.
Some tests can detect genetic abnormalities before birth. By learning about these problems before birth, you can help plan your child's health care in advance, and in some cases even treat the disorder while the baby is still in the womb.
Reading Your Test Results and Next Steps:
If POSITIVE, your LabCorp results will display as 'Detected Abnormal' and it is imperative that you isolate for a period of 15 days from your tested date to avoid spreading the virus to others.
Physiological studies have shown that stress can affect the blood cell parameters1. These changes include increase in red blood cells, platelets and neutrophil count whereas eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes are said to decrease in number.
Abnormal but expected: This means that one or more of your results has come back higher or lower than what we would consider 'normal', but that these results are what the GP expected to see based on your medical history.
fever and/or chills. confusion or disorientation. difficulty breathing. fast heart rate or low blood pressure (hypotension)
In some cases, and often very quickly, severe sepsis or septic shock can develop. Symptoms include: feeling dizzy or faint. confusion or disorientation.
Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract.
If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away. A reading this high is considered “hypertensive crisis.” Readings between 120/80 and 129/89 are considered pre-hypertension.
Blood test results
The results are sent back to the hospital or to your GP. Some test results will be ready the same day or a few days later, although others may not be available for a few weeks. You'll be told when your results will be ready and how you'll be given them.
Vitamins, pain killers or herbal treatments will not normally affect your test unless they contain sugars or fats. If they do, stop taking them 8-10 hrs before your blood test. If you are taking vitamin C, you should stop doing so 24 hrs before the test.
Most blood tests aren't used on their own to diagnose cancer. But they can provide clues that may lead your health care team to make the diagnosis. For most types of cancer, a procedure to remove a sample of cells for testing is often needed to be sure.