Site helps you understand your lab tests

Ever feel too rushed in the doctor’s office to really understand the lab test you’ve just undergone? There’s help at Lab Tests Online, where you can find explanations of a variety of tests in real language.

I had a glucose test today while reporting on the high rate of diabetes among Native Americans. A nurse pricked my finger, collected a drop of blood on a test strip and fed it into a glucometer. Within seconds, the handheld device gave a digital reading: 87 mg/dL. "Perfect," the nurse said.

By reading Lab Tests Online, I learned that I’m within the normal range. If my number had been high, I would be well advised to have another test, this time after fasting. Two tests at different times would be needed to confirm a diabetes diagnosis.

The site is a collaborative effort among several professional organizations, representing microbiologists, pathologists and others. It's among my favorite links.