Understanding Your Pathology Test Results

If your GP has ordered blood tests, the results will usually arrive a few days later — in a myGov inbox, by SMS, or during a follow-up phone call. The report can look intimidating: dozens of rows of numbers, reference ranges, and “high” or “low” flags. This guide helps you understand what’s on a typical report, what the ranges mean, and when an abnormal result should worry you.

How Pathology Results Are Reported

A typical blood test report lists each individual test alongside three things:

• Your result — the number the lab measured
• The reference range — the range considered normal for the general population
• A flag — usually “H” for high, “L” for low, or nothing if within range

Reference ranges vary by lab, by sex, and by age. They’re based on what most healthy people test at — typically covering the middle 95% of the population. This means an “out of range” result doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong — about 1 in 20 healthy people will test outside the reference range for any given test.

Common Blood Tests Explained

Full Blood Count (FBC)

Measures your red cells, white cells, and platelets. Key components:

• Haemoglobin (Hb) — the oxygen-carrying protein in red cells. Low = anaemia. High can indicate dehydration or other issues.
• White cell count (WCC) — your immune cells. High suggests infection or inflammation. Low can indicate viral infection or immune suppression.
• Platelets — for blood clotting. Very low or very high can be significant.

Liver function tests (LFTs)

Enzymes and proteins that reflect liver health. Often ordered when monitoring medications, screening for fatty liver, or investigating abdominal symptoms.

• ALT and AST — liver cell enzymes; elevated when liver cells are damaged
• ALP and GGT — elevated in bile duct or alcohol-related issues
• Bilirubin — elevated causes yellowing of skin/eyes (jaundice)
• Albumin — a key liver protein; low in chronic liver disease

Kidney function tests

• Creatinine — a waste product filtered by the kidneys. Higher means kidneys are working less efficiently.
• eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) — a calculated measure of kidney function. Lower = reduced kidney function.
• Urea — another waste product; can rise with dehydration or kidney issues.

Lipid profile (cholesterol)

• Total cholesterol — overall measurement
• LDL (“bad”) cholesterol — target depends on your cardiovascular risk profile
• HDL (“good”) cholesterol — higher is better
• Triglycerides — often reflect recent diet and metabolic health

Blood glucose and HbA1c

• Fasting glucose — your blood sugar after at least 8 hours without food
• HbA1c — reflects your average blood sugar over the past 3 months; the main test for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes

Thyroid function

• TSH — the control hormone from the pituitary gland. Abnormal TSH is usually the first sign of thyroid imbalance.
• Free T4 and Free T3 — the actual thyroid hormones. Tested when TSH is abnormal.

Iron studies

• Ferritin — the body’s iron stores. Low ferritin is the most reliable sign of iron deficiency.
• Serum iron — the iron circulating at the moment of the test (fluctuates significantly)
• Transferrin saturation — how saturated your iron-transport protein is

Vitamin D and B12

Both are common deficiencies in Australia, particularly in older adults, vegetarians/vegans (B12), and people with limited sun exposure (vitamin D). Low results may prompt supplementation.

Why Your GP Might Not Be Worried About a “High” or “Low” Flag

An abnormal flag doesn’t mean something is wrong. Common reasons your GP won’t be alarmed:

• Slightly outside the range — a result 1-2% outside the range, with no symptoms, usually isn’t clinically significant
• Expected for your situation — pregnancy, specific medications, or a recent illness can legitimately shift results
• Known baseline — your GP knows your typical numbers, which may differ from the population range
• Laboratory variation — results vary naturally day to day; a single abnormal result often normalises on repeat testing
• Measurement artefact — haemolysis (red cells breaking in the tube), sample timing, or recent meal can skew numbers

When to Worry

Ask your GP to interpret results rather than comparing to “normal” online. That said, some patterns warrant prompt follow-up:

• Significantly high or low haemoglobin (more than 20 g/L outside range)
• Markedly elevated liver enzymes (2-3x the upper limit)
• eGFR below 60 (may indicate chronic kidney disease)
• HbA1c above 6.5% (diagnostic for diabetes)
• Very low ferritin (clearly suggests iron deficiency)
• Abnormal thyroid results with symptoms (fatigue, weight changes, heart palpitations)

Even then, these findings often need repeat testing, further investigation, or are part of a bigger clinical picture. Your GP will explain what the numbers mean in your specific context.

How to Get and Understand Your Results

• My Health Record — results are usually uploaded automatically within a few days (unless you’ve opted out)
• Clinic communication — many clinics SMS or email results when reviewed
• Follow-up appointment — for anything unusual, your GP will recommend a review (in person or by telehealth)
• Ask for a copy — you’re entitled to a copy of your own results

Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn’t my GP call me about abnormal results?

Because the abnormal flag wasn’t clinically significant. Clinics use “no news is good news” or a systematic follow-up policy — your GP reviews all results and contacts you if action is needed.

Can I just order my own blood tests?

Some private providers offer direct-to-consumer tests, but Medicare-rebatable tests require a GP’s request. And without context, results are hard to interpret — what looks abnormal may be expected for your age, sex, or situation.

Why did my GP order so many tests?

Diagnostic panels are cheaper and faster to run together than individually. An annual health check commonly includes FBC, LFTs, kidney function, lipids, glucose/HbA1c, iron studies, vitamin D, and thyroid — giving a comprehensive picture.

Does Medicare cover pathology?

Most pathology ordered by a GP is bulk billed through Medicare — meaning no cost to you. Some private tests (vitamin D in asymptomatic patients, some specialised hormone panels) may incur an out-of-pocket cost. The pathology provider will explain costs before you give the sample.

How long should I fast before a blood test?

If fasting is required (usually for lipids and fasting glucose), the standard is 10-12 hours of no food or drink other than water. Your clinic or pathology provider will tell you if fasting is needed.

Book a Results Review

If you’ve had blood tests and want to discuss the results — whether something is abnormal or you just want a better understanding — book a follow-up appointment with your GP. A telehealth consultation often works well for results review. Find your nearest Family Doctor clinic to book.