What does rare mean in lab results?

rare is a relative term. A result is rarely normal if it falls outside the normal range for a laboratory result based on the laboratory’s reference range for that test. If a lab test report says “rare” with no further information, it usually means that the result is outside the reference range for the test.

What does rare mean in numbers?

rare is often used when lab results are less than 1 in 100. This means that of the total number of results seen, 99 percent of them are normal. For example, if you have a test that checks for a urinary stone, then approximately nine out of 10 people will have normal results. In this case, the results for the remaining 1 out of 10 people would be considered rare.

What does rare mean in lab report?

A medical laboratory test result is considered rare when the lab test shows a low value and is unlikely to be a normal result for people of the same age and gender. Lab results are rarely expressed as a number that is below a normal range. Rare lab results could indicate an underlying disease, and the lab report must carefully describe the findings, which could lead to a quicker diagnosis and better treatment.

What does rare mean in a lab test?

In the context of laboratory results, “rare” means that the lab test result is found in less than 1% of the population. For example, a lab result that indicates that your cholesterol levels are above the normal range is considered rare. An example of a common lab test result is a normal complete blood count (CBC), for which the normal range is between 4,000 and 10,500 white blood cells per microliter of blood.

What does rare mean in health?

A result is “rare” if it is not commonly seen in a given population. A negative result is rarely seen in that population as well, so an uncommon result is not necessarily a positive result. On the other hand, some results are quite common.