Reference Range Status Metric
Overview
The Reference Range Status (also called result flag or abnormal flag) indicates whether a laboratory test result falls within the expected normal range for healthy individuals.
Status Categories
Normal
- Symbol: Sometimes blank, "N", or no flag
- Meaning: Result is within the expected reference range
- Action: Generally no concern; result is typical for healthy individuals
High (H)
- Symbol: "H", "High", or up arrow
- Meaning: Result is above the upper limit of the reference range
- Example: WBC of 15,000 cells/uL when normal is 4,500-11,000
Low (L)
- Symbol: "L", "Low", or down arrow
- Meaning: Result is below the lower limit of the reference range
- Example: HGB of 10 g/dL when normal for women is 12.0-15.5 g/dL
Critical High (HH or CH)
- Symbol: "HH", "Critical High", or double up arrow
- Meaning: Result is significantly above normal and may require immediate attention
- Usage: Indicates potentially life-threatening values
Critical Low (LL or CL)
- Symbol: "LL", "Critical Low", or double down arrow
- Meaning: Result is significantly below normal and may require immediate attention
- Usage: Indicates potentially life-threatening values
Interpreting Status Flags
| Status | Color Code | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Green | Within expected range |
| High | Yellow/Orange | Above normal, may need follow-up |
| Low | Yellow/Orange | Below normal, may need follow-up |
| Critical High | Red | Urgent, potentially dangerous |
| Critical Low | Red | Urgent, potentially dangerous |
Important Considerations
- Context Matters: A single abnormal result may not indicate disease
- Trends: Changes over time are often more meaningful than single values
- Individual Variation: Some healthy individuals naturally have values outside typical ranges
- Clinical Correlation: Results should be interpreted with other clinical information
Related Terms
- Reference Range: The expected range of values for healthy individuals
- CBC: Complete Blood Count test