How can the you get two different results for the same test from the same blood draw?

By cath June 22, 2009 - 6:55pm

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I recently had some blood work done -- orders from two different docs. I did both orders at once to cut down on the sticks. Both docs ordered a specific test (A1C), but the results delivered to the offices were different. Not by a lot, but they were different. How is that possible? It wasn't just the same lab on the same day, it was off a single blood draw. Is that something I need to be concerned about reliability-wise?

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cath

Hi Diane,
I did mention it to both docs and they didn't seem too worried. The result (both numbers) were fine. One of the docs is not too big on answering questions so I take what she says (and doesn't say) with a grain of salt. I'll try the lab and see if they have any answers. Thanks for checking in!

July 1, 2009 - 11:33am

Diane Porter

Cath,

This is a really interesting question.

I think if I were you, I would tell both doctors what happened and ask their interpretation. If it is possible for a test to be + or - a little and not be a problem, and if each of them is not concerned that their results differed from other results in the same blood draw, that's one thing. But if either of them is concerned, they might want to redo the tests. I'd probably also be really interested to talk to someone at the lab to see what they had to say.

Did you get a chance to talk to anyone about this? What were their responses?

June 30, 2009 - 5:21pm