Interpreting Your Medical Test Results: What Do They Mean?

Understanding your medical test results empowers you to take control of your health. These tests provide critical insights into how your body functions, helping your health care provider identify concerns or track improvements. From blood work to imaging scans, each result contributes to a clearer picture of your overall wellness, enabling you to make informed care decisions with confidence.

We speak to Nathaniel Yokell, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician with INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Yukon, to learn more. 

“Medical testing including labs and imaging can be an important but confusing part of medical care,” Yokell says. “As a physician, I try my best to be intentional with testing—if a test won’t change the way I treat my patients, I think twice before ordering it. The flip side of that is that it’s essential for patients to have access to their results and be aware of what they mean with transparency so that they can advocate for themselves. Communication is key, and I always encourage my patients to ask questions if they have concerns.”

Common types of medical tests

What to know: Medical tests play a crucial role in diagnosing, monitoring and managing various health conditions. From routine check-ups to addressing specific symptoms, these tests provide health care providers with valuable information to guide your care.

Blood tests analyze components of your blood – cells, chemicals and proteins – and help monitor overall health, detect infections, screen for diseases and track treatment progress.

• Complete blood count (CBC) measures red and white blood cells, hemoglobin levels and platelets to help diagnose anemia, infections and some cancers.
• Cholesterol test (lipid panel) measures levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood to assess heart disease risk.
• Blood glucose test monitors blood sugar levels to diagnose and manage diabetes.
• Liver and kidney function tests examine enzyme levels to assess how well these organs are working.
• Thyroid function test measures the hormones TSH, T3 and T4 to detect thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Imaging tests allow doctors to visualize the inside of your body, painting a picture of structures and abnormalities that can’t be detected during a physical exam. 

• X-rays use radiation to create images of bones and tissues, helping to detect fractures, infections and conditions such as arthritis or lung diseases.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of organs, muscles and other soft tissues to diagnose brain disorders, tumors, joint problems and spinal injuries.
• CT scans (computed tomography) combine X-ray images from many angles to produce cross-sectional views of the body to diagnose internal injuries, tumors or vascular diseases.
• Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of tissues and organs and is commonly used during pregnancy or to identify gallstones, cysts and organ abnormalities.

Urine tests analyze the content and composition of your urine to check for abnormalities related to various bodily functions.

• Urinalysis screens for signs of infection, kidney disease or metabolic conditions based on the presence of proteins, glucose, ketones or blood.
• Urine culture identifies bacteria or other microbes causing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels to confirm conception.

Biopsies, which involve taking a small sample of tissue from your body to examine it under a microscope, can help identify cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases and infections.

• Skin biopsy identifies skin conditions such as cancer, infections or inflammatory diseases.
• Needle biopsy uses a thin needle to extract tissue, commonly from the liver, lungs or breast, to check for tumors or other abnormalities. Surgical biopsy removes a larger tissue sample during surgery for detailed examination.

Tips on reading and interpreting results

At a glance: Interpreting medical test results can feel overwhelming, but knowing how to read them can give you greater control over your health. 

The term “normal range” or “reference range” is typically listed alongside test results.

• These ranges represent the levels expected in a healthy individual.
• For example, a normal fasting blood glucose level generally ranges between 70 to 99 mg/dL.
• Normal ranges help doctors determine whether your results fall within the expected threshold for good health.
• Deviations might indicate a potential issue that warrants attention.

Normal ranges are specific to age, gender and medical history.

• Children have different normal ranges for hemoglobin levels than adults, while seniors might also have adjusted benchmarks for kidney function.
• Hormonal differences mean men and women often have different normal values, especially for tests like hemoglobin or cholesterol.
• If you’re managing a chronic condition, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism, your “normal” values may deviate from standard reference ranges depending on your treatment goals.

A result outside the normal range can understandably cause stress but in many cases, abnormal results don’t automatically mean there’s a severe health problem.

• Several factors could cause temporary changes, such as dehydration, stress, medications or even the timing of the test.
• For example, elevated white blood cell counts could point to an infection, but they might also result from something as simple as exercise or stress.

What the results mean

The overview: Exploring common findings in different types of tests – blood tests, imaging scans and urine tests – can help give you an idea of what these results could mean for your overall health.

Blood test results

White blood cell (WBC) count

• A high WBC count could be a sign of an infection, inflammation, stress or immune disorders – in rare cases, persistently high WBC levels can suggest leukemia or other blood disorders.
• A low WBC count may indicate a weakened immune system, as seen in viral infections, autoimmune diseases or the side effects of certain medications such as chemotherapy.

Elevated liver enzymes

High levels of ALT, AST, ALP enzymes might suggest liver inflammation or damage. 

• Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) could point to hepatitis or fatty liver disease.
• Elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) may be associated with liver injury or even muscle damage.
• Chronic elevations of these enzymes might signal conditions like cirrhosis or alcohol-related liver disease.

Cholesterol levels

• High LDL (high is anything above 160 mg/dL) elevates the risk for heart disease and stroke due to potential plaque buildup in arteries.
• Low HDL (less than 40 mg/dL for men; less than 50 mg/dL for women) reduces the body’s ability to clear bad cholesterol, which can also increase cardiovascular risk.
• Elevated triglycerides (normal is less than 150 mg/dL) are often associated with obesity, poorly managed diabetes or high alcohol intake and can contribute to heart disease risk.

Blood sugar (glucose) levels

• High fasting blood sugar readings above the normal range (70–99 mg/dL) might suggest diabetes or prediabetes.
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may indicate insulin overproduction, missed meals or certain hormone imbalances.

Hemoglobin levels 

• Low hemoglobin (less than 13.8 g/dL for men; 12.1 g/dL for women) signifies anemia caused by nutritional deficiencies (low iron, folate or vitamin B12), chronic diseases or blood loss.

Platelet levels

• High platelets (above 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood) may indicate inflammation, infection or more serious concerns like blood disorders.
• Low platelets (below 150,000 platelets per microliter of blood) can result from viral infections, autoimmune disorders or bone marrow diseases.

Imaging test results

Chest X-ray findings

• Spot or shadow may indicate a lung infection such as pneumonia, a benign lump or, in rare cases, lung cancer.
• Fluid accumulation around the lungs (pleural effusion) is often linked to infections, congestive heart failure or certain cancers.

MRI results

• Herniated discs in the spine may be evident if discs in the backbone press on surrounding nerves, potentially causing pain or numbness in the back or extremities.
• Brain findings can indicate signs of stroke, multiple sclerosis or brain tumors.

CT scan results

• CT scans are particularly useful for detecting tumors, injuries or internal bleeding.
• For instance, a scan of the abdomen may reveal kidney stones, appendicitis or liver abnormalities.

Urine test results

Protein in urine (proteinuria)

• This could be an early sign of kidney disease, especially in people with diabetes or high blood pressure, although it can also occur after intense exercise or dehydration.

Blood in urine (hematuria)

• Visible or microscopic blood in urine could signal a variety of conditions, from simple UTIs to more severe issues like kidney stones, bladder infections or even urinary tract cancers.

High levels of ketones

• This is more commonly seen in diabetes when blood sugar levels are extremely high (diabetic ketoacidosis), and it can also occur from prolonged fasting or certain low-carb diets.

Leukocytes and nitrates

• If white blood cells (leukocytes) are found in the urine, it’s often a sign of infection or inflammation in the urinary tract.
• Nitrites are byproducts of bacteria and often indicate a bacterial UTI.

Next steps: It’s important to follow through with the recommended actions or follow-up tests as directed by your doctors. You can use the results as a guide for making lifestyle changes where applicable. Remember to maintain regular check-ups to monitor your progress or detect new concerns early.

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