The normal range: it is not normal and it is not a range.

Abstract:

:The NHS 'Choose Wisely' campaign places greater emphasis on the clinician-patient dialogue. Patients are often in receipt of their laboratory data and want to know whether they are normal. But what is meant by normal? Comparator data, to a measured value, are colloquially known as the 'normal range'. It is often assumed that a result outside this limit signals disease and a result within health. However, this range is correctly termed the 'reference interval'. The clinical risk from a measured value is continuous, not binary. The reference interval provides a point of reference against which to interpret an individual's results-rather than defining normality itself. This article discusses the theory of normality-and describes that it is relative and situational. The concept of normality being not an absolute state influenced the development of the reference interval. We conclude with suggestions to optimise the use and interpretation of the reference interval, thereby facilitating greater patient understanding.

journal_name

Postgrad Med J

authors

Whyte MB,Kelly P

doi

10.1136/postgradmedj-2018-135983

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2018-11-01 00:00:00

pages

613-616

issue

1117

eissn

0032-5473

issn

1469-0756

pii

postgradmedj-2018-135983

journal_volume

94

pub_type

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