Reference Tables & Diagnostic Handbook: Downloads

[Michael Scally MD]

I thought it might be useful for readers to have tables of Normal Laboratory Values, Systme International (SI) Conversion Factors for Selected Laboratory Components, and a Diagnostic Handbook - The Interpretation of Laboratory Tests.

 

[HeadDoc]

thanks for the tables. These are better than most. Are there other sources that would quantify optimal ranges for health purposes? For instance, what would the values be for thyroid functioning? Using TSH as a part of this assessment, the tables specify a range up to 4.0.

 

[zkt]

Those are keepers for sure. D/L and burn.

 

[TheOldFart]

This looks like some good information. I just read the parts of the last link about PSA and testosterone and I have an issue with part of the T discussion.

"About 50% of males aged over 60 have free testosterone levels below the young male
reference limit. Level of sexual activity and libido are not usually correlated with
testosterone levels until total testosterone falls below 8."

A total T of 8 nmol/l equals 230 ng/dl. I had some ED, loss of libido, depression and about a 30% loss of strength 2 years ago. I was tested and my level was 304 ng/dl and I was 62 at the time. There have been stories here similar to mine, so I have to disagree with 8 nmol/l being a normal cutoff level.

I had a woman write to me on another board. Her husband is 30 and his highest test level was 230 and doctors are telling him to take Prozak or to wait a few years to see if his level rises. It is information like the above quote that is causing doctors to ignore levels that are too low and that cause problems. There was even an article form a medical school that I posted here several months ago that said that a 10X total T variation was insignificant. Thank goodness I have a doctor who knew better than that and started to treat me at a level of 304.

 

[zkt]

Everyone in the medical community understands that these are statistical measures and not absolutes. For instance, there is no real cutoff point . All that one can really talk about is how closely a given test value applies to any particular individual. That sounds evasive but statistics apply to the whole population. When you apply the measurements to an individual then you are in the realm of probability. Doctors learn this in Stat101 in the pre-med undergraduate program. Maybe some forget>

 

[TheOldFart]

Everyone in the medical community understands that these are statistical measures and not absolutes. For instance, there is no real cutoff point . All that one can really talk about is how closely a given test value applies to any particular individual. That sounds evasive but statistics apply to the whole population. When you apply the measurements to an individual then you are in the realm of probability. Doctors learn this in Stat101 in the pre-med undergraduate program. Maybe some forget>

Even though that should be the case, it is obvious that it is not reality. Look at the stories on this board where men say that their doctor said that there is no problem at a level of say 280, even though they have all the symptoms of low T. I discussed going to an endo with my doctor and mentioned that people on some of the forums didn't think that most endos really knew the subject well. They mainly deal in female fertility and diabetes. He confirmed that and said that he stopped sending any of his patients to an endo because they all just went by the lab normals and said that they couldn't do anything about the patient's symptoms. He said that most all endos just go by lab ranges and will not think of treating unless the guy is below the lab minimum, no matter the age. The woman who I mentioned who wrote to me said that her husband has been to a "few different doctors" and that all of them were not concerned with his test levels of 230 or less and did not suggest anything except Prozak for his depression or to wait a few years to see if it got higher.

 

[TheOldFart]

As an additional thought, I would imagine that most doctors have some idea on how to treat hormone problems in men and we only hear about the horror stories. However, how many times have we heard from someone who has been to 2 or more doctors, only to hear the same story that they are within the lab normals and that their symptoms must be from some other cause. Women hear the same thing when it comes to testosterone and sexual problems. Most doctors tell them that testosterone doesn't matter to women and that any sexual problems must be due to problems in their relationship, even though doctors like Shippen, Gordon and Vliet and clinical trials with the Intrinsa patch have shown otherwise.

 

[Ra Ether]

good reference materials, thnx

 

[m_ob]

Everyone in the medical community understands that these are statistical measures and not absolutes. For instance, there is no real cutoff point . All that one can really talk about is how closely a given test value applies to any particular individual. That sounds evasive but statistics apply to the whole population. When you apply the measurements to an individual then you are in the realm of probability. Doctors learn this in Stat101 in the pre-med undergraduate program. Maybe some forget>

One man may do better on 200 ng/dl than another on 900 ng/dl due to biochemistry and genetics. Meaning how long that would circulate, how their liver breaks the hormones down, and their individual genetics.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

DailyMed

DailyMed provides high quality information about marketed drugs. This information includes FDA approved labels (package inserts). This Web site provides health information providers and the public with a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date, look-up and download resource of medication content and labeling as found in medication package inserts. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) provides this as a public service and does not accept advertisements.

DailyMed: About DailyMed

 

[Ra Ether]

Re: DailyMed

DailyMed provides high quality information about marketed drugs. This information includes FDA approved labels (package inserts). This Web site provides health information providers and the public with a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date, look-up and download resource of medication content and labeling as found in medication package inserts. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) provides this as a public service and does not accept advertisements.

DailyMed: About DailyMed

thanks Doc!