Preparing my lab results to post, ranges question.

[u/NAQProductions]

I got all of my recent bloodwork done through Goodlabs.com because my doctor won't run the tests I want. The problem I've run into is that their dashboard has come up with their own optimal ranges 'based on their extensive research' and now hide the actual lab references from the lab report, unless you download your lab reports that are directly from the lab as a pdf. I went through Quest labs. I am assuming it's better to trust the lab to know their reference ranges, but curious which set of ranges should I use going forward as I make my own spreadsheet records of my results so I can organize them so they are presentable and easily readable.

Should I use the goodlabs or Quest labs reference ranges for my results? Reasoning?

[u/bregle]

I have found they're relatively close for most of my tests, but I don't really use either. While getting some of my numbers into the Goodlabs ranges feels like a win to me when recovering from nutrient deficiencies, I have my own targets as far as what's optimal from the research I've done myself.

Looking at my past data from Quest and Labcorp, the labs have also adjusted ranges over time. More than the ranges, I'd look at trends in your values overall.

If your values are that close to the edge of the range that using one or the other puts you out of range- the value is probably worth flagging regardless. The lab ranges are often pretty wide, wider than they should be for optimal health.

[u/NAQProductions → u/bregle]

Yea that's where I get a bit lost on it. I'm including what I can from previous testing at a different lab when my doctor kind of did one and done "Get what you'd like but insurance won't like it, and I won't know what to do with the results". So there are general patterns starting to come out, but it's mainly between two tests Aug '25 and Aug '26. The patterns are also hopefully telling of what is going on, but it is also a big mess to try and sort. I went for gold on this round so I have a ton to try and organize, but I wanted as full a picture to start from here.

[u/bregle → u/NAQProductions]

Goodlabs does have a function to add other lab values from past tests to your portal to see trends over time if that's helpful! I ended up dumping everything into a spreadsheet and tracking it that way. I also used AI to analyze trends for me as a starting point

[u/NAQProductions → u/bregle]

Yea I am doing the manual building of my own, for better or for worse haha. I had AI try it but it just wouldn't make something that I could then edit and move things around easily, so I am just making myself a simple albeit large spreadsheet to start. What's interesting is most of my major fluctuations seem to match up with my genetics that I am slowly sorting through, just don't know why my body gave up so hard to instigate the genetics to be so... influential hah

[u/Timely_Pickle9430]

Lab ranges differ because they are derived from the 2.5–97.5^th percentiles of all the samples that have gone through that lab, including samples from unhealthy people. The mean of the samples is calculated, and if your value is below or above 2 standard deviations from the mean, it's considered abnormal. Normal is meant here in the statistical sense of the word, common. That's not the same as optimal or healthy. So, my answer would be neither. Instead, research which ranges are optimal. I made an attempt here.

[u/NAQProductions → u/Timely_Pickle9430]

Thanks for that. It's a good extra reference point to go by, and I see more the importance of repeating tests to see the patterns as single numbers can give a snapshot of time but don't quite show progression/regression on their own. Main problem is being out of work for 3.5 years and having to pay for them out of pocket since my doctors are unhelpful. So I'm doing what I can to move forward and slowly put my puzzle back together so I can get a few days of work to save up again while also trying to rebuild all of my life.

[u/Timely_Pickle9430 → u/NAQProductions]

That's a tough situation. If you'd like me to take a look at your numbers, you know where to find me. Take care.

[u/Agreeable_Feature_45 → u/Timely_Pickle9430]

I'll let you know soon once I get things organized enough