Viitevälejä

Viitevälejä is a Finnish term that translates to "reference intervals" or "reference ranges" in English. It refers to the range of values that a particular laboratory test result is considered normal for a healthy population. These intervals are typically established by analyzing a large number of samples from individuals who are not known to have any specific medical conditions. The range usually represents the central 95% of results, meaning that 2.5% of healthy individuals may have results below the lower limit and 2.5% may have results above the upper limit.

Reference intervals are crucial for interpreting the results of medical tests. When a patient's test result falls within the reference interval, it is generally considered normal. Conversely, a result outside this range may indicate a potential health issue that warrants further investigation by a healthcare professional. It is important to note that reference intervals can vary slightly between different laboratories due to differences in methodologies, equipment, and the specific populations studied. Therefore, results should always be interpreted in conjunction with a patient's individual clinical presentation and medical history. Doctors use these intervals as a guideline, not as an absolute determinant of health or disease.