You just had some blood work done, and the friggin doctor or his nurses are guarding the results as if they’re state secrets. However, after much cajoling and explaining that you’d like to at least be an informed partner in your own gosh darn health care, they begrudgingly give you a copy of your lab tests. Trouble is, as much as you’ve been posturing about how you’ve had more than a smattering of medical education, you still can’t figure out what half the tests are for and whether or not those abnormal values are anything to worry about. Let's go over each of the most common tests, why they are performed, what they tell you, and what the typical ranges are
