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   |
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A patient who previously had a hematocrit within the reference interval undergoes rapid diuresis and is found to have a hematocrit above the reference interval.
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|
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Inside the reference interval is not the same as
disease-free
|
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Outside the reference interval is not the same
as disease
|
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Changes within the reference interval may indicate
disease
|
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The reference interval is not the same as desirable
|
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An individual's own reference group may have a different reference interval from the reference interval that accompanies the test report |
Correct.
Approximately 5% of individuals may have test results on
a particular test that are outside the range or normal or the appropriate
reference interval. This does not imply that these individuals have
any disease. This is a consequence of the way that the reference
interval is calculated.
Test results may be influenced by physiological changes that do not reflect disease or at least do not reflect the disease being assessed. Here the process of diuresis will produce hemoconcentration that will elevate the hematocrit. Thus is not surprising to find that individuals will often have levels of a test that are outside the reference interval without having the disease being assessed.
