If your doctor has asked you to take a blood test, you probably had a test called a complete blood count, or CBC. This is one of the most common tests in the world. Millions of these tests are done every year to check health and find diseases.
But reading these tests can be tricky. Doctors often use the same normal ranges for everyone. This doesn’t work for everyone because each person is different.
I study this problem at the University of Washington. I work with a team that uses computers to help improve blood tests.
In our research, we looked at blood tests from tens of thousands of patients. We used computer programs to find better ways to understand what is normal for each patient.
We found that each person’s normal range is often much smaller than the general range. This means we can give better advice and help doctors find problems early.
Our work can help doctors understand blood tests in a way that is right for you.
Vocabulary List:
- Test /tɛst/ (noun): A procedure intended to establish the quality performance or reliability of something often used for diagnosis.
- Count /kaʊnt/ (noun): The total number of items or individuals in a particular group or sample.
- Normal /ˈnɔːr.məl/ (adjective): Conforming to the standard or the typical; usual.
- Patients /ˈpeɪ.ʃənts/ (noun): Individuals receiving medical treatment or care.
- Research /ˈriːsɜːrtʃ/ (noun): A systematic investigation into a subject or problem to establish facts or principles.
- Improve /ɪmˈpruːv/ (verb): To make or become better to enhance the quality of something.
