What procedure should be taken if lab results indicate a potential health risk for a patient?

When lab results indicate a potential health risk for a patient, the most appropriate procedure is to notify the healthcare provider responsible for the patient's care. This step is critical because healthcare providers are trained to interpret lab results within the broader context of the patient's health history and current condition. They can make informed decisions about the necessary follow-up actions, which may include further testing, initiating treatment, or referring the patient to a specialist.

Timely communication of these results is essential to ensure that any potential health issues are addressed as quickly as possible, minimizing risks to the patient's health. Waiting for patient feedback or only discussing findings after a thorough assessment could delay necessary care. Additionally, re-testing samples before taking action is unnecessary at this stage, as the current results already indicate a potential health risk that requires immediate attention. Thus, notifying the appropriate healthcare provider is the best course of action for patient safety and wellbeing.