Normal range

Normal Range

The normal range or reference range is a set of values used by health professionals to interpret a set of medical test results. These ranges are established by testing a large population to identify what is considered "normal." The range helps to identify levels that may be considered abnormal or indicative of potential health issues.

Definition

The normal range is defined as the range of values that 95% of the population falls within when they are healthy. This means that 5% of healthy people will have results outside of the normal range. The range is determined by collecting data from large numbers of healthy individuals and calculating the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles.

Variations

Normal ranges can vary depending on the lab that analyzes the test. This is due to differences in equipment, techniques, and populations used to establish the ranges. Therefore, it is important to interpret the results using the range provided by the lab that performed the test.

Clinical Significance

The normal range is used to interpret the results of many different types of medical tests, including blood tests, urine tests, and imaging studies. Results that fall outside of the normal range may indicate a potential health problem and warrant further investigation. However, a result outside of the normal range does not necessarily mean that a person is unhealthy. Many factors can influence test results, including age, sex, diet, and lifestyle.

See Also

• Blood test
• Medical test
• Reference range
• Clinical pathology

References

Normal range Resources
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