What Does An Abnormal Blood Test Reading Really Mean?

Whilst there is no single type of test that can diagnose every disease, specialist blood tests can get very close.

Because blood flows throughout the body, carrying oxygen, nutrients, hormones, carbon dioxide and other waste wherever it needs to go, blood tests can reveal a lot about our overall health and whether some of the symptoms we feel are related to a particular condition.

However, as with any test, interpretation is essential, particularly whilst waiting for the result of other tests or without a determining signifier of a condition.

This is particularly true when a pharmacy or doctor reports an “abnormal” result. Whilst the word is often used interchangeably with “positive”, the two concepts are not synonymous, and there are several cases where an abnormal test is not something to worry about.

Here is what an abnormal test means, what it does not automatically mean and what happens next.

What Is An Abnormal Test Result?

At its most reductive, an abnormal test result is simply one that produces a result that is out of the typical reference range for a particular biomarker, nutrient level or overall blood count.

Because the composition of blood is very complex and the body is exceptionally good at self-regulating, a blood test will first look for and automatically flag abnormal test results that do not fit within the narrow range of normal results.

An abnormal result typically means that there is a finding that is worthy of focus or investigation, such as a higher level of a nutrient than would be expected, but the presence of an abnormality is not sufficient by itself to confirm a positive test.

What Is The Difference Between Abnormal And Positive? 

There are instances where the terms are used interchangeably, much like how “normal” and “negative” are similarly interconnected. However, whilst all positive tests are abnormal, not all abnormal tests are positive.

A positive test is a test that confirms a diagnosis, often in connection with an examination, medical scans and the use of other tests such as biopsies.

An abnormal test, on the other hand, highlights when a result is out of the typical range for that particular marker, but it is possible for a test to be abnormal but not positive.

In either case, depending on how far outside of the normal range the test is, there may be a recommendation to do further tests, particularly if the result aligns with other symptoms.

What Can Cause An Abnormal Test Besides A Condition?

The more unusual a blood test result, the more that can be gleaned from it, but blood tests require context to interpret, particularly given that several tests can provide wildly varying results depending on hydration, when you last ate, exercise or taking certain supplements.

A single abnormal test may not be illustrative of any medical condition without further context, and some people will naturally have certain nutrient or hormone levels that are higher or lower than the general population.

Even the time of day or level of stress can affect the levels of certain biomarkers, and all of these elements will need to be factored into the interpretation of test results.

Ultimately, an abnormal test is worth examining further, but if the result is not too far out of the typical range for the test, you have no other connecting symptoms, and your clinical history does not suggest a potential issue, it may not necessarily signify a condition.