Should You Read Your Lab Results Before Your Doctor Does?

The study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, also revealed a big difference in how much people understood their test results: Fewer than 35 percent of participants said they understood the results very well.

But the latest research suggests that viewing test results without a healthcare provider to explain the meaning may create confusion for the majority of patients.

“I love this practice, and I live in fear of it,” says Diana Wilkins, MD, clinical assistant professor of family medicine at the University at Buffalo in New York, and physician with UBMD Primary Care. “It’s great when patients are informed. However, labs may look like they’re outside of the normal range and still can be considered acceptable, leading to unnecessary concern.”

Doctors say there is a way for patients to navigate the process of looking at test results that will be helpful, not potentially harmful — and the right approach may vary from person to person.

Why You May Want to Look at Test Results ASAP

“We live in an era where people can get anything and everything immediately with their phone. They expect the same of their healthcare,” says S. Trent Rosenbloom, MD, MPH, professor in the department of biomedical informatics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee..

There are reasons why reading test results right away can be a positive for patients.

It may alleviate anxiety if you find waiting to be stressful. Doctors are often busy, which makes it unlikely that your healthcare provider will immediately contact you when your test results are ready, Dr. Rosenbloom says. Reading your results can help to ease anxiety when you may be waiting to get answers about a medical concern, he says.

It can give you time to think about what you want to ask your doctor. Reading your test results immediately and taking time to absorb the findings can allow you to have more informed conversations when you talk to your provider.

“I welcome my patients to do their research in regards to results,” says Eric Ascher, DO, family medicine physician at Northwell’s Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “It certainly helps the conversation when there are lifestyle recommendations my teams encourage.”

It can help you prepare emotionally for a difficult medical discussion. If you wait to learn your test results until you’re at a medical appointment — and the findings are upsetting — you may be too emotional to have a productive discussion with your provider.

“It might be days before you know what you want to ask,” Rosenbloom says. “In that moment, you also may be liable to forget what your doctor says because you’re in shock.”

Reasons to Not Look at Your Test Results as Soon as They Post in the Portal

While doctors agree that looking at your test results immediately can be helpful, there are a few downsides. “There is a lot to be said in how labs are reported,” Dr. Wilkins says. “It always depends on the clinical picture.”

You may not understand what you are looking at. Reports on imaging studies, for instance, are written from doctors to fellow healthcare providers.

“They’re not written in a language that is meant for the patient to understand,” Wilkins says. “If you put it into an internet search, it will give you back a lot of information that may or may not be relevant to you.”

You may become unnecessarily alarmed. If you decide to go online to understand test findings, know that search results often emphasize worst-case scenarios, which can fuel anxiety and fear around test results even more, Rosenbloom says.

A patient’s decision about whether or not to look at test results right away, without a healthcare provider’s explanation, may hinge on what the test is looking for. “A new biopsy looking for possible cancer might be one you want to wait on, whereas a test looking at your cholesterol might be totally fine,” Rosenbloom says.

Things to Consider if You Do Look at Your Lab Results

If you decide to look at your lab test results on your own, there is a lot you may not understand. But keep in mind:

“Abnormal” results may not be a worry. A lab test with results falling slightly outside a “normal” range is usually not cause for concern, according to Ascher.

“The results are usually sitting next to a range, and if you fall out of the range, that doesn’t mean there is a need to panic,” he says. “The ranges represent 95 percent of the population and depend on so many factors — your overall health, medications or supplements, hormonal changes, age, hydration status, and your other lab results.”

Only look for explanations from reliable sources. If you decide to search online to try to decipher your results, Rosenbloom suggests looking just at trusted sources such as major hospitals (Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and others) or .edu websites typically associated with colleges and universities.

Your doctor will reach out if something’s serious. “No matter what the result is, understand that you’re likely to hear from your doctor shortly,” Rosenbloom says. “If you end up not hearing from your doctor, you have a reason to reach out.”

Bottom Line: Should You Look at Your Results or Wait?

If you’re struggling with the decision about whether or not to look at your test results, doctors recommend a few things to consider:

Be honest with yourself. “If you know you can look at your results ahead of time and not panic, this could be the right approach for you,” Wilkins says. “But if you’re concerned about how to interpret findings, it may be better to wait.”

Changing your patient portal settings can be helpful. If you prefer not to review medical info on your own, you can adjust the settings in your patient portal to disable notifications until your provider has had a chance to view the results.

Practice calming exercises. Taking a deep breath can help you calm down and may lower your feelings of stress around viewing lab results online, Rosenbloom says.

Contact your healthcare team. If you feel overwhelmed by test results you’ve viewed on your own, contact your provider. “Message your doctor on the online portal or give the office a call,” Ascher says. “A team member will gladly look into your results and review them with you.”