Why Do Blood Test Results Vary With Different Labs?
Are you waiting for the result of your blood test and wondering if it will be reliable? Or are you considering getting your blood tested at some other lab? There are many clients who send us questions related to blood test results and without a doubt, the question is important enough.
Would the different blood test results make any difference? Or cause more doubts?
First things first. Yes, the result of blood tests done in the same method and conditions from different labs can be very similar but not the same.
Generally, the results are quite similar in the laboratories that use the same blood test method and the sample type but this isn’t the case always. Because the reference range differs from lab to lab.
Reference values
Reference values are a set of values that are made into consideration to a healthy person and the results are compared to the reference points to draw out the conclusion.
The reference range also depends on the people who took the test to set up the reference values. Do not forget reference values are not normal values.
Types of equipment
Every lab has different types of equipment with which they collect samples and test blood. It is bound to have a different result because the equipment affects the results. Be it from the storage container in which blood is stored or the equipment under which it is tested.
- Analytics
2. Diet and hydration of the patient
3. Test methods
4. Sample handling
5. Systematic errors
6. Interference
Other factors that can cause variation of results can be
- Use of valid reagents.
2. Daily calibration error.
3. Inexperienced hands or human error.
4. Interval of sample taking and actual testing.
