Your phone buzzes. New test result available. You open your patient portal before your doctor has had a chance to call. Suddenly you’re staring at abbreviations, numbers, reference ranges, and a bright red H or L next to something you don’t recognize. So, naturally, you Google it. Five minutes later, you’re worried about diabetes, kidney disease, liver problems, anemia, and three other conditions you didn’t know existed.
Pause before assuming the worst. Lab results can give your healthcare team important information about what’s happening inside your body, but one number rarely tells the entire story. According to MedlinePlus, reference ranges can differ between laboratories. A result outside the range doesn’t automatically mean you have a health problem, and a result inside the range doesn’t always mean everything is fine. Your doctor considers your results along with your symptoms, health history, medications, physical exam, previous results, and sometimes other tests.
For Black patients, understanding these basics can also make it easier to take an active role in medical conversations. Instead of asking only, “Is this number bad?” you can ask, “What does this mean for me, and how has it changed over time?” Here are 10 common results you may see on your lab report.
1. A1C
What it broadly measures: Your average blood sugar over roughly the past two to three months.
A1C is commonly used to screen for and diagnose prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. It can also help monitor how well diabetes is being managed. According to the CDC, an A1C below 5.7 percent is generally considered normal, 5.7 to 6.4 percent falls in the prediabetes range, and 6.5 percent or higher falls in the diabetes range. Depending on your situation, diagnosis may require confirmation.
But A1C has limitations. Certain types of anemia, kidney or liver disease, blood loss or transfusions, pregnancy, and some hemoglobin differences can affect the result.
Look at: The current result and the trend, especially if you’re being monitored for diabetes.
Ask: “How has my A1C changed since my last test, and is there anything that could be affecting the accuracy of my result?”
RELATED: This A1C Test Gives You Answers in 5 Minutes
2. Glucose
What it broadly measures: How much glucose, or sugar, is in your blood at the time of testing.
Unlike A1C, which gives a longer-term picture, a glucose test shows your blood sugar at a particular time. The meaning can depend on whether you were fasting, when you last ate, your medications, illness, stress, and other factors.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that several blood tests can diagnose diabetes, including fasting plasma glucose, A1C, random plasma glucose, and oral glucose tolerance testing. That’s why seeing a single high glucose result doesn’t automatically mean you have diabetes.
Look at: Whether you were fasting and whether you’ve had high or low results before.
Ask: “Was I supposed to be fasting for this test, and does this result need to be repeated?”
3. Total Cholesterol
What it broadly measures: The total amount of cholesterol in your blood.
Cholesterol itself isn’t automatically bad. Your body needs it for important functions. But certain cholesterol patterns can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Total cholesterol gives you one piece of the picture. You usually shouldn’t interpret it alone. A standard cholesterol test, sometimes called a lipid panel, generally includes total cholesterol along with LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. The CDC explains how these cholesterol measurements help assess cardiovascular risk.
Look at: The entire cholesterol panel rather than focusing only on total cholesterol.
Ask: “How does my overall cholesterol pattern affect my personal risk for heart disease and stroke?”
4. LDL Cholesterol
What it broadly measures: A type of cholesterol often called “bad” cholesterol.
LDL can build up in your artery walls and contribute to plaque. Over time, that can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. But your LDL goal isn’t necessarily the same as someone else’s. Your healthcare professional may consider your age, blood pressure, smoking history, diabetes, family history, previous heart problems, and other factors when deciding what level is appropriate for you. This is particularly worth discussing in Black communities because heart disease remains an important health concern. The American Heart Association explains that LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and other health factors are considered together when looking at cardiovascular risk.
Look at: Your LDL trend and your overall heart risk.
Ask: “What LDL level should I be aiming for based on my personal risk factors?”
5. HDL Cholesterol
What it broadly measures: A type of cholesterol often called “good” cholesterol.
HDL helps carry cholesterol back to the liver, where it can be removed from the body. Higher HDL levels have traditionally been associated with lower heart disease risk, but heart health is more complicated than raising one number. Your doctor should look at HDL along with LDL, triglycerides, blood pressure, diabetes status, smoking, family history, and other factors.
Look at your complete heart-health picture rather than judging HDL by itself.
Ask: “How does my HDL fit with my LDL, triglycerides, and overall heart risk?”
6. Triglycerides
What they broadly measure: A type of fat in your blood.
Your body converts calories it doesn’t need right away into triglycerides and stores them for later. High triglycerides can be connected to several factors, including diabetes, diet, alcohol use, certain medications, and some health conditions. Very high levels can also increase the risk of pancreatitis. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, doctors often check triglyceride levels as part of a lipid panel to help assess cardiovascular health.
Look at: The trend and whether the test was fasting, if your clinician instructed you to fast.
Ask: “What might be contributing to my triglyceride level, and does it need treatment?”
7. Hemoglobin
What it broadly measures: A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body.
Hemoglobin is usually included in a complete blood count, or CBC. A low hemoglobin level can signal anemia, but anemia has many possible causes. These can include iron deficiency, blood loss, vitamin deficiencies, kidney disease, chronic health conditions, and inherited blood disorders. This number may be especially worth discussing rather than self-diagnosing for Black patients. Conditions such as sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait involve hemoglobin, and some inherited blood conditions occur more often in certain populations. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute explains that anemia means the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to adequately carry oxygen to tissues.
Look at: Hemoglobin alongside the rest of your CBC and your symptoms.
Ask: “My hemoglobin is low. What do you think is causing it, and do I need more testing?”
Don’t automatically start taking iron because your hemoglobin is low. Not every type of anemia is caused by iron deficiency.
8. Creatinine
What it broadly measures: A waste product that comes from normal muscle activity.
Your kidneys normally remove creatinine from your blood. That’s why a creatinine blood test is commonly used as one indicator of kidney function. But creatinine can be affected by more than kidney health. Muscle mass, age, diet, medications, hydration, and other factors may influence the result. The National Kidney Foundation explains that healthcare professionals usually don’t rely on creatinine alone. They often use it to calculate another important number called eGFR.
Look at: Changes over time rather than panicking over a small change in one result.
Ask: “Is this creatinine level different from my usual result, and what does it tell you about my kidney function?”
9. eGFR
What it broadly measures: An estimate of how well your kidneys are filtering your blood.
eGFR stands for estimated glomerular filtration rate. That’s a mouthful, but the basic idea is simple: it helps your healthcare team estimate how well your kidneys are working. eGFR is calculated using information such as your creatinine level and age.
This number has a particularly important history for Black patients. Older eGFR calculations sometimes included a race-based adjustment that produced different results for Black patients. In 2021, the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology recommended a newer equation that does not include race.
The National Kidney Foundation explains the move toward race-free eGFR calculations. One lower eGFR result doesn’t automatically mean you have chronic kidney disease. Your doctor may need to repeat testing or look for other signs of kidney damage.
Look at: The trend over time, not simply one number.
Ask: “Has my eGFR been changing, and do you see any other signs that my kidneys aren’t working normally?”
10. Liver Enzymes
You may see several liver-related results on your lab report, but ALT and AST are two common ones.
What they broadly measure: Enzymes that can help doctors look for possible liver injury or other health problems.
ALT is found mainly in the liver, while AST is also found in other parts of the body, including muscles. If these numbers are high, it doesn’t automatically mean you have liver disease. According to MedlinePlus, doctors often interpret liver tests together because one abnormal result usually can’t diagnose a specific condition. Medications, alcohol, infections, metabolic conditions, exercise, and other factors may affect certain liver results.
Look at: Which liver tests are abnormal, how high they are, and whether the pattern has changed.
Ask: “Which of my liver results are abnormal, what could be causing that, and do we need to repeat the test?”
That Red “H” or “L” Is Not a Diagnosis
This may be the most important thing to remember when checking your patient portal. H usually means the result is above the laboratory’s reference range. L usually means it’s below the range. It doesn’t automatically mean it’s dangerous.
As MedlinePlus explains, reference ranges can vary between laboratories because different labs may use different testing methods. A healthy person can sometimes have a result outside a reference range, while someone with a health problem can sometimes have results within the expected range.
That’s why your result needs context. If something is flagged, try asking: “How far outside the range is this?” “Is this a significant change from my previous results?” “Could my medications or another condition affect this result?” “Do we need to repeat the test?” “Does this result explain any of my symptoms?” Those questions usually tell you much more than the red flag itself.
Trends Can Tell You More Than One Test
Your patient portal can actually be useful here. Instead of looking only at today’s result, open your previous results if they’re available. Has your A1C slowly increased over three years? Has your hemoglobin always been slightly below the laboratory’s reference range? Did your creatinine suddenly change? Has your LDL improved since starting treatment? A trend can give your healthcare team information that one isolated test can’t. That doesn’t mean you should interpret the trend yourself. Use it to start the conversation.
Ask: “How has this number changed over time?” Then follow it with: “Does that change concern you?”
Don’t Diagnose Yourself From the Portal
Patient portals give you faster access to your medical information, which can be empowering. But faster access also means you may see a result before anyone has explained it. Try not to let one bold red number send you into hours of searching online. Write down the result and your questions. Compare it with previous results if they’re available. Then ask your healthcare professional what it means for your health.
If the result is seriously abnormal and requires immediate action, your healthcare team may contact you. However, if you’re experiencing severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, don’t wait for someone to explain a portal result before seeking appropriate medical care.
Move From “Is This Bad?” to Better Questions
You don’t need to become an expert in laboratory medicine. And these aren’t 10 tests everyone automatically needs. Which tests are appropriate depends on your age, symptoms, medical history, medications, family history, and other health factors. Instead, think of these as 10 common results you may see. The next time your phone says, “New test result available,” look beyond the red H or L.
Ask:
- “What does this test measure?”
- “How does it compare with my previous results?”
- “What could be affecting this number?”
- “Does it fit with my symptoms and medical history?”
- “Do we need to repeat it or do anything next?”
Understanding your lab results doesn’t mean diagnosing yourself. It means knowing enough to ask better questions—and leaving the conversation with a clearer understanding of what’s happening with your health.
RELATED: What “Normal” Lab Results Really Mean for Black Patients