What information should be included in a laboratory report?

Including patient identification, test results, and reference ranges in a laboratory report is essential for several reasons. First, patient identification ensures that the results are correctly attributed to the right individual, which is critical for accurate diagnosis and treatment. This typically includes the patient's name, identification number, and other relevant demographic information.

The test results themselves are the core of the report, providing the quantitative or qualitative data that healthcare providers need to make informed decisions regarding the patient’s health.

Incorporating reference ranges is also crucial as it allows healthcare providers to interpret the test results in the context of normal values for the population. Reference ranges help establish whether the results fall within a normal range or if they indicate potential health issues. This context aids in the decision-making process, guiding further investigations or treatments.

Overall, for a laboratory report to be comprehensive and useful for clinical practice, it must contain all three components: patient identification, test results, and reference ranges.