This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your personal health situation.
An abnormal test result can be stressful, but abnormal does not always mean urgent or dangerous. The next step is understanding what the result means in context.
Questions to ask
- What does this result measure?
- How far outside the expected range is it?
- Could anything temporary affect it?
- Does it match my symptoms or medical history?
- Should the test be repeated?
- What follow-up tests or appointments are needed?
- Is there anything urgent about this result?
Ask the office when and how you should expect follow-up, especially if the result was posted to a portal before a clinician explained it.