Eschew Prolixity
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 22,162
Location: Colorado
Dogs Name: Ori AKA Harold DogDog (Hairy Dog), RIP Caesar, Katana, Kip, Capri
Titles: DogDog Mouthe Extraordinaire; Kip Mr. Behavior; Capri Mis-Behavior
Dogs Age: DogDog 2 yrs?; RIP Kip 11 yrs; Capri 7 yrs; Katana 9 yrs; Caesar 13 yrs
Gallery Pics: 6
Visit melbrod's Gallery Thanks: 67,670
Thanked 56,855 Times in 17,969 Posts
Yes, test results can be different depending on what test method a lab is using, who the manufacturer of the test is, even things like different handling of specimens, different individual instruments...there can be all kinds of variables. Some labs or instruments or measuring methods may be able to duplicate the results of a test more consistently, meaning the range of error for that particular lab/instrument/method is smaller.
But generally labs try to match the established normals by tweaking their measuring instruments and managing other variables so their test results are statistically in line with other labs. They run controls with known values to make sure they are still producing accurate results from day to day.
But in addition to the differences which occur just in the process of testing for something, the normal range in one area may be different from that of other areas. Hemoglobin, for example, a test which helps to diagnose whether a person is anemic, can have different normal ranges depending on the altitude a patient lives at. A healthy person at a high altitude needs more hemoglobin to help their blood grab enough oxygen from the thinner air of high altitudes, so the normal range is higher too.
Back to the original question though, yes, different testing methods may have different established normals, individual labs may report a different normal range, and different labs (really more like different countries) may be reporting their results using different units.
In general, though, aside from normal values being reported in different units (labs report results in the units typically used in their area), test results from one lab to another are fairly consistent and the normal ranges are similar--the numbers being reported will match. But just in case, a lab reports their own normal range with their test results for a particular dog so there shouldn't be any confusion.
Last edited by melbrod; 12-04-2018 at 07:01 PM.