How reliable are medical lab results?

Answer:
Depends on the results... they are usually pretty certain... especially blood tests and pathology reports... need a little more info... what did you have tested?

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Generally they are very reliable, when in doubt, unusual result, get it retested.

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Generally reliable. Now and then, the people who work in the labs screw up. Wrong person's chart gets results added,
or numbers incorrectly copied.
If you are uncomfortable with a result, you can get the test done again.

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It really depends on the quality of the lab and the adequacy of the sample. Labs must meet certain standards and they are evaluated every so often. Usually you can find out about the lab you are going to by making a request. As long as you are going to a well-established lab, I think you can count on reliable information. The specimen you submit must be obtained according to certain specifications, ie length of time to testing, and as long as these are met, you have the most reliable result. Hope this helps.

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About as reliable as anything else. There can be false positives and false negatives. There are also cases of switched or lost tests. If you are concerned, consult your doctor or another doctor.

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