Website explains lab tests

Ever wonder what a test your doctor ordered means? There’s a website that can help you find the answers. The site, called Lab Tests Online, is produced by an international partnership of medical laboratory societies.

The effort, organized by the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, is non-profit and the material on the site is peer-reviewed by experts in the field.

You can search the site by the name of the test, “glucose”, for example, or by the name of the condition being tested, “diabetes”, for example. You can also find information about screening tests that are recommended for different age groups, such a newborns, children, adults and seniors.

A search with the key word “glucose” takes you to a page that provides a brief “at a glance” summary of the test and its purposes. Then by clicking on a series of tabs, you can learn about what kind of sample is needed for the test, how it is taken, why the test is ordered, what the results mean and other information, including answers to frequently asked questions and links to online resources.

To learn more:

• Visit the Lab Tests Online website: www.labtestsonline.org

Category: Lab Tests & Diagnostics