Why can reference ranges differ from laboratory to laboratory?

Laboratories may use different analysers which will have different testing methods and different reference ranges. This is why you should always look at where your result lies within a reference range rather than try to compare absolute results.

Even when laboratories use the same analysers, some may use the manufacturer’s reference ranges and others, if they have tested a large enough number of people, can set their own reference ranges. Normally the reference ranges established by every laboratory will be very similar, but differences can arise if their population is skewed for any reason. Medichecks, in the main, uses 2 different laboratories which generally use the same analysers for similar types of tests. This means that there can be some variation in reference range depending on which laboratory your sample goes to.