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Report Resource Repository

Helpful resources for reading reports.

Explore practical guides covering report structure, common laboratory language, units, reference intervals, testing preparation, and record organization.

Medical reference resources and documents
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QMR-RB-01

Report Basics

A clear introduction to the general anatomy and layout of medical and laboratory reports.

Open resource
QMR-LT-02

Laboratory Terminology

Common vocabulary and words frequently used throughout laboratory reports.

Open resource
QMR-UN-03

Understanding Units

See why units matter and review several measurement formats commonly printed on reports.

Open resource
QMR-RI-04

Reference Intervals

A closer look at comparison ranges and why printed intervals may differ between laboratories.

Open resource
QMR-PT-05

Preparing for Testing

General preparation points that may be relevant before a laboratory visit.

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QMR-QR-06

Questions After Results

A simple framework for organizing questions after receiving a new report.

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QMR-OM-07

Organizing Medical Reports

Practical habits for keeping personal reports and downloaded records easier to find.

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QMR-DC-08

Discussing Results

Ways to prepare more focused questions for a results conversation or follow-up visit.

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QMR-CA-09

Common Abbreviations

A quick reference for abbreviations frequently seen on U.S. laboratory reports.

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QMR-RB-01

Report Basics

Every medical or laboratory report is built from the same basic components: who the report belongs to, what was tested, what was found, and how that finding compares to a reference range. Reports may look different from one lab or hospital system to another, but this underlying structure rarely changes.

Most reports are grouped by panel, with each panel listing several related parameters underneath it. A parameter row typically includes its name or abbreviation, the measured result, the unit of measurement, and the reference interval.

QMR-LT-02

Laboratory Terminology

Laboratory reports use a consistent set of terms across most panels. A panel or profile refers to a group of related tests ordered together. An analyte or parameter is an individual substance being measured.

Terms like quantitative and qualitative describe how a result is expressed. Quantitative results are numeric, while qualitative results are descriptive, such as detected or not detected.

QMR-UN-03

Understanding Units

Units identify the scale used for a reported measurement. Common units on U.S. reports include milligrams per deciliter, grams per deciliter, milliequivalents per liter, and units per liter.

mg/dL

Milligrams per deciliter

g/dL

Grams per deciliter

mEq/L

Milliequivalents per liter

U/L

Units per liter

Always review the unit printed beside the individual result because measurement formats differ between parameters.

QMR-RI-04

Reference Intervals

A reference interval is a comparison range established by a laboratory using a defined population and testing method. Different instruments, methods, and reference populations can lead laboratories to print different intervals.

Reference intervals may also vary by age, sex, or specimen type. A reported value is one part of a broader clinical picture and may be reviewed alongside history, symptoms, and other results.

QMR-PT-05

Preparing for Testing

Some tests may include preparation instructions involving food, medications, supplements, or strenuous activity. These instructions can differ depending on the specific test ordered.

If preparation instructions are unclear, contact the laboratory or clinician's office before the visit and confirm what is expected for the specific test.

QMR-QR-06

Questions After Receiving Results

Receiving a report through a patient portal can raise several questions. It may help to identify the specific rows or parameters you want to discuss rather than trying to review the entire document at once.

Is this test part of routine monitoring or was it ordered for a specific concern?

Are there any values here you would like to discuss further?

QMR-OM-07

Organizing Medical Reports

Keeping reports organized by date and provider makes documents easier to reference later. Many patient portals allow reports to be downloaded as PDF files and stored in a dedicated folder.

For a new specialist visit, recent relevant reports and a small number of earlier results for comparison may be easier to review than an unorganized collection of records.

QMR-DC-08

Discussing Results With a Clinician

A results conversation can be easier to follow when questions identify the specific parameter, panel, or report date being discussed.

You may also ask how a result fits with previous reports, whether repeat testing is expected, and what information should be noted before a follow-up visit.

QMR-CA-09

Common Medical Abbreviations

Abbreviation Meaning
CBC Complete Blood Count
BMP Basic Metabolic Panel
CMP Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
TSH Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
UA Urinalysis
A1C Hemoglobin A1C

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