title: Interpretation of clinical chemical test.
abstract: The proper interpretation of clinical chemical test results requires more knowledge than the relationship of a test to a particular disease. This short review addresses the need for proper selection of normal ranges against which data from ill individuals are compared and a discussion of the major physiological factors that can cause changes in laboratory data that are sufficiently large that misinterpretations could arise if they were ignored. Additional in vitro factors related to handling of specimens and analytical methodology can also greatly affect the concentration of test constituents but must be addressed in greater detail elswhere.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D006728:Hormones; D008055:Lipids