“Ah mahilig ka yata sa baboy!”
“Hindi ka kumakain ng gulay”
“Nag Kdrama marathon ka kagabi!”
Kidding aside, have you ever wondered how doctors learn so much about you by looking at your lab test results?
What to the layman is a dry list of units and numbers, to the trained eye, speaks volumes.
Like Sherlock
Doctors work like the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, the master of deductive reasoning—but instead of divining blood splatters on walls, they ask you to march down the lab and get a blood test.
How many times have you gone for a check-up, divulged all your symptoms and your doctor still requested for several lab tests?
They use these tests to get to the bottom of things and give a proper diagnosis and course of treatment.
So what do they see in lab test results?
A whole lot!
Organ functions: Tests can look into the performance of various organs. We don’t directly see the internal organs doing their thing, but by measuring certain enzymes, proteins, or substances in the blood, we can deduce if they are in good working condition. This is how, for example, doctors check the state of our liver, kidneys, and thyroid.
Nutritional Status: Lab tests show vitamin and mineral levels, and reveal imbalances or deficiencies. Your doctor correlates these deficiencies with your physical exam, medical history, and symptoms. This is how iron-deficiency anemia is diagnosed, for example.
Infections & Inflammation: Lab tests can look into the different cells of the immune system and deduce their activities. For example, since white blood cells (WBC) are one of the body’s defenses against infections, having a high WBC count just might indicate an ongoing infection.
Blood Sugar Levels: Sugar is our body’s main source of energy, so it’s important to look into it. High levels of sugar in the blood can lead to diabetes and lead to a thousand-and-one complications. Doctors check blood sugar levels to help prevent and manage a number of metabolic diseases.
Cholesterol & Lipid Profile: These fats are vital for the health of the cells. But too much of the wrong kind of cholesterol and fats can be harmful. Clogged arteries can be life-threatening. Doctors ask these types of tests when they want to look into the risk of heart disease and stroke. It’s also safe to say that the same doctor will advise the patient for lifestyle changes like avoiding smoking, alcohol, too much stress, and being overweight.
Hormone levels: Hormones have an array of functions in the body, and they figure in a variety of metabolic processes. Too much or too little of these hormones can explain the symptoms a patient reports. Hormone levels need to be looked into so doctors can prescribe appropriate measures and alleviate the patient’s condition.
Specific markers and indicators: Oftentimes, the tests zero in on specific markers that signal the presence of a disease or condition. For example, high levels of Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) can suggest ovarian cancer. By tracking for the presence of specific antibodies, doctors can diagnose particular diseases.
Even Sherlock Can Get It Wrong
In a story called “The Adventure of Yellow Face,” Sherlock Holmes uncharacteristically committed a mistake. He deduced the case going one way but was ultimately proven wrong.
Similarly, doctors and lab tests are not perfect. Although today’s tests have a very high degree of accuracy and reliability, mistakes can still be made:
False Positives: This is when a test indicates the presence of a disease even when there’s none.
False Negatives: This is when a test fails to detect an existing condition.
Misinterpretation of results: Many diseases share common symptoms. This could lead to mistakes in diagnosis and treatment.
Poor sample: There are plenty of reasons why a test can yield the wrong results. For example, a specimen might be contaminated or some medicine taken by the patient might interact with the test and affect the results.
Biological Variability: Not really a mistake per se, but individual differences like age, sex, genetics, race, and diet might not be sufficiently accounted for in the “normal range” established by the medical community. So for example, a result slightly outside the normal range may prove to be no concern for an individual.
“Does this mean my results are unreliable?”
The possibility of mistakes does not invalidate the tests. Again, today’s tests are very accurate. But they remind us of the limitations of our knowledge and tools, spurring the medical community to strive for an even better understanding of the human body.
Here are some of the things done to weed out errors, misdiagnoses, or misinterpretation of results:
#1 Getting the full picture
Just as Sherlock doesn’t let the case rest on a single point of evidence, physicians don’t rely solely on lab results. They get the full clinical context by looking into the patient’s history, reported symptoms, and findings from his physical examination.
This way, there are multiple data points considered, and each adds richer data and greater confidence in the diagnosis.
#2 Standardization of Procedures
Over time, the medical community has developed robust laboratory procedures to ensure mistakes are not made.
Much has been learned over the decades, and it has resulted in “best practices” that increase the integrity of the tests. From taking samples, storing and processing, to interpretation of the data, there are multi-layered safeguards that help ensure that we get it right.
#3 Tool Maintenance and Upgrades
Almost all medical tests require a machine. As machines go, regular servicing and calibration are needed—to ensure the reliability of results.
Accreditation and equipment upgrades also guarantee that the latest regulatory standards and guidelines are being observed.
#4 Continuing Education
The world of physicians and medical technologists is never static. Every day, medical breakthroughs and novel techniques are discovered.
Medical professionals are always honing their skills and updating their knowledge on the latest advancements in the field.
(So if you’re wondering why doctors sometimes abandon their old go-to practices or prescriptions, it’s because new research has found a better way. That’s a good thing.)
#5 Retests & Second opinions
Patients have the right to go to another doctor and ask for a second opinion. They can even do a retest in a different medical laboratory.
Even physicians themselves would refer their patients to other doctors who may have more experience and insights into the case.
Because for things not so elementary, even Sherlock Holmes needs the help of Dr. Watson.
From diagnosis to treatment, no precision and care is spared, so patients can rest assured that they are in good hands.
BloodWorks Lab is your one-stop shop for all your blood tests and medical screening needs.
We offer different check-up packages to help you monitor your health.
We were also the first in the country to offer the Anti Acetylcholine Receptor (lgG) Antibody Test and the Anti N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti NMDA Receptor) Antibody Test.
Book your appointment today.
Our branches are in Alabang, Katipunan, and Cebu.