It will probably depend on the lab - but, as Nancy says, figures in bold are a common way of indicating that values are outside of the accepted normal range.
The harder bit is to figure out if this actually means anything.
As “normal” is defined statistically - ± 2 standard deviations from the mean, 5% of the population (2.5% at the low end and again at the high end) will be outside the range but perfectly healthy and, depending on circumstances, a result which is “abnormal” might not be a problem. Eg some treatments for arthritis might have a tendency to make you a bit anaemic and make your red cells a bit larger than normal - as long as the parameters are not too far off it might be considered acceptable.
The best thing with any abnormal result is to discuss its interpretation with your doctor.
Yes, it is important for folk to know what/how their Lab is reporting.
Just looked at my latest:
It gives the current test listed down the left hand side with the current figure towards the middle in bold… next column is headed: Valeurs de Référence and next column is headed Antériorités.
Thus we get
Hématies… 4 680 000/mm3 : 3 900 000 à 5 100 000 : 4,87(22/07/18)
I can see that my result is within the valeurs de référence and not changed much since the last test in July 2018
Thankfully, the Doc always phones if there is anything untoward…
I would like to mention that the comment regarding UK Blood not using the donation is incorrect, I have given over 80 units which have been used all over the UK. The theoretical numbers are 1 in 400 white northern european males, my local clinic told me the see way way less than that.
I have a problem now because I have missed my latest quartely venasection as I have not been able to return to the UK due to lock down and no ryanair flights. It is likely I wont be able to get back before the next one is due. My consultant says missing one is ok but not two. I have researched the situation here and it seems that it is even more “unknown” than in the UK. It seems that the French National Blood Donation service is closed to a lot of UK peoeple, they didnt have mad cow disease here (oh really) and if you were resident in the UK during a particularly long period there is risk of CJD! So a real problem now, I am trying to get a response from my look health centre if they will help. Interested to hear from any others with this conditionand how they achieve the venasection.
I stand corrected It appears that I am a little out of date.
Though it seems fairly recent that the UK service has been keen - this is from 2017, and it is clear that it was a “work in progress” at the time to let clinicians know that some patients could act as blood donors.
However, donors have to be completely healthy with no end organ damage (cirrhosis is common) and on no medication so I suspect it is still the case that a lot of haemochromatosis patients would not be suitabe donors.
I have attended a Blood uk donation site since about 2001, prior to that it was an outpatient process carried out by the heamatology dept. In France in 2011 they took over 70,000 units from GH customers.
Last year a friends father died previously his doctors had insisted he had been a secret drinker which was incorrect, post mortem revealed extensive ccirhossis and blood tests confirmed GH, all three sons were tested and two (maybe the third was down to the mikman) were confirmed and now donate, Sadly both were over 55 and have some organ damage and joint deposition issues. I was lucky that i was diagnosed at age 32 and all i have is mild pain in the big toe joints occaisionaly due to iron deposition at the extremeties.
The first few months were quite tiring giving a unit a week, but overall its no big deal if caught early, apparently its unusual for it to show symptoms (or with the current test regime to give a positive result) before the mid 20’'s
What about A&E? If this is going to cause you a serious problem then might it fall into the urgent category? Yes, the French won’t take blood of anyone who lived in the UK for a year between ‘80 and ‘96, even if a vegetarian like my OH. But surely they would have a way of disposing of the blood?
We have a chap here… needed some serious medical assistance and couldn’t get anywhere at the local Maison Medicale…
Off to the Mairie, where our wonderful Adjointe phoned the Medical Receptionist , explained the situation and … yippee… appointment for the following day… and it’s been ongoing ever since… excellent service all round and the chap is very happy.
thus, you might be able to solicit the help of your Mairie in finding a doctor to help you while you are stuck here in France… it’s only a suggestion…
Thanks for all the suggestions. I had a chat with a friend who is the nurse practioner at a nearby maison de retrait, amazing, my commune Mayor has the same condition, he attends the day surgery unit at our local hospital, so next week off I shall trot and see if I can get them to take an armful.
Sorry if this has been covered already, I did try initially to read all the contributions but wading through 91 seemed a bit extreme, but I have need of a simple interpretation of a comment on my blood test results.
All the results over 2 pages seemed ok to me, but right at the end, in very tiny print it says ‘forte probabilite de necrose myocardique’, which sounds a bit alarming.
Anybody got any idea what that means?
I rang the surgery to ask if the doctor has a copy and was simply told they would ring back tomorrow with an answer and also if a further rdv was necessary.
I think this is one of those occasions David where a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and no-one here is equipped to offer you an answer. It depends on what else is being reported in your results and what your medical history is. However, it has worried you and I think it’s important that you INSIST you get a RDV with your doctor - this is not a moment to be fobbed off by the surgery staff.
Not least, there may be need for further tests and much further discussion with your GP.
Sorry I can’t give you an easy answer, but I think an easy answer won’t serve you well.
It may well merely be alerting your GP to your risk level being raised of having a heart problem in the future rather than a problem that exists now. And one test alone taken out of context is far less informative than knowing any trends, as can always be a blip that resolves.
So, like everyone else, I agree you need to see your GP toot sweet.
Thank you all, much as I expected that you have confirmed. I only got the result when I called in the day before yesterday, 5 days after the test, and it was given to me straight away, even though I had been promised an email.
I’ll ring again tomorrow afternoon if they haven’t rung by then
I’m wondering if there has been a misunderstanding. I am alerted by email or sms… that my results are ready. I then have to go onto the website to find the actual document itself and print it if I choose.
Or they can send them in the post…
Whatever, my doctor has assured me that he will make contact if there is anything urgent…
this is because I have rung the surgery in the past, if I was concerned by some remarks on the document (much as in David’s case.)
the most important thing is to get stuff clarified… be it good or bad… often worrying about the “maybe this maybe that” can make one suffer all sorts (stomach cramps for me).
(and he’s firmly stated that I am not to ask Google… )
Me too, in this case. When I revisited the lab 2 days ago they first gave me a piece of paper with the address and password for me to check myself, then, gave me the report itself. Anyway, one way or another I may know more tomorrow pm.
You obviously have a good doctor. Many are not as punctilious and don’t scrutinise test results straight away, so sometimes have to be gently reminded to look at them. Or they glance at them and think “nothing to worry about”, forgetting that the patient is not telepathic and may well interpret things rather differently.
It appears that I am a little out of date.