Reference Ranges
What the colors mean
HealthTab applies the concept of ‘risk ranges’ to help you interpret your results in a clear, visual way. Low risk is generally considered ‘normal’ or within the reference range and is represented by the color green. An orange or red value means a particular result was outside of the reference interval established by the instrument manufacturer or cut points set by clinical guidelines.
However, it’s important to remember that your body is a complex system that is in constant flux. Some biomarkers can occasionally be ‘abnormal’ for reasons unrelated to a specific health concern. Think of the indicators on your dashboard as a ‘check engine’ light – a signal that parts of your health might need further investigation and you should follow up with your doctor to learn more.
HealthTab is a screening tool and is not intended to provide a diagnosis of any kind or to replace the valuable role of your doctor, pharmacist, and other trusted health experts in evaluating your results in the broader context of your history and overall health.
For more information, we recommend reading Reference Ranges and What They Mean.
Our reference ranges
The table below outlines the reference intervals and cut points HealthTab uses in applying a relative health risk category to patient results. All units are in SI, the international system of laboratory measurement. If you would like to convert your results to US units, you can use this calculator.
| Analyte | Range | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol1 (mmol/L) | < 5.2 | Desirable |
| 5.2 - 6.1 | Borderline high | |
| > 6.1 | High | |
| HDL1,2 (mmol/L) | > 1.53 | Less than average risk |
| 1.03 - 1.53 | Average risk (male) | |
| 1.29 - 1.53 | Average risk (female) | |
| < 1.03 | Increased risk (male) | |
| < 1.29 | Increased risk (female) | |
| LDL1 (mmol/L) | < 2.6 | Optimal |
| 2.6 - 3.3 | Near optimal | |
| 3.4 - 4.1 | Borderline high | |
| 4.2 - 4.9 | High | |
| > 4.9 | Very high | |
| CHOL/HDL3,4 (mmol/L) | < 3.5 | Optimal (male) |
| < 3.4 | Optimal (female) | |
| > 5.0 | Above average risk (male) | |
| > 4.4 | Above average risk (female) | |
| Non-HDL1,2 (mmol/L) | < 3.4 | Optimal |
| 3.4 - 4.1 | Near optimal | |
| 4.2 - 4.9 | Borderline high | |
| 5.0 - 5.7 | High | |
| > 5.7 | Very high | |
| Triglycerides1 (mmol/L) | < 1.69 | Desirable |
| 1.69 - 2.25 | Borderline high | |
| 2.26 - 5.63 | High | |
| > 5.63 | Very high | |
| Glucose6,7,8 (mmol/L) | < 5.6 | Normal (fasting) |
| < 7.8 | Normal (non-fasting) | |
| 4.1 - 6.6 | Reference interval (fasting) | |
| < 2, > 30 | Critical | |
| HbA1c11 (%) | < 6.0 | Normal |
| <= 7.0 | Target (diabetic) | |
| ALT9,A (U/L) | 10 - 47 | Reference interval |
| AST9,A (U/L) | 11 - 38 | Reference interval |
| ALP9,A (U/L) | 53 - 128 | Reference interval (male) |
| 42 - 141 | Reference interval (female) | |
| Total Bilirubin9,A (µmol/L) | 4 - 27 | Reference interval |
| Albumin9 (g/L) | 33 - 55 | Reference interval |
| Total Protein9 (g/L) | 64 - 81 | Reference interval |
| AUS9 (mmol urea/L) | 2.5 - 7.9 | Reference interval |
| Creatinine9 (umol/L) | 53 - 106 | Reference interval |
| eGFR10,B (mL/min/1.73 m2) | > 59 | Normal |
| Sodium9 (mmol/L) | 128 - 145 | Reference interval |
| < 120, > 160 | Critical | |
| Potassium9 (mmol/L) | 3.6 - 5.1 | Reference interval |
| < 2.8, > 6.2 | Critical | |
| Calcium9 (mmol/L) | 2.0 - 2.58 | Reference interval |
| < 1.5, > 3.25 | Critical | |
| Chloride9 (mmol/L) | 98 - 108 | Reference interval |
| Total CO29 (mmol/L) | 18 - 33 | Reference interval |
| < 10, > 40 | Critical |
Sources
- National Cholesterol Education Program ATP III
- Lab Tests Online - Lipid Panel
- Harvard Medical Health Guide
- American Heart Association
- Lab Tests Online - VLDL
- Abaxis – Piccolo® Lipid Panel Plus Reagent Disc
- American Diabetes Association
- Mayo Clinic
- Abaxis – Piccolo® Comprehensive Metabolic Reagent Disc
- National Kidney Disease Education Program
- Canadian Diabetes Association
Notes
- Values below the lower limit of these ranges are still interpreted as ‘Low Risk’ by the HealthTab system because they are usually not of concern from a medical standpoint.
- HealthTab calculates eGFR using the 2009 CKD-EPI creatinine equation as recommended by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD Work Group.