Whether you've ordered a private blood test to check your energy levels, monitor hormones, or simply get a clearer picture of your health — receiving your results can feel overwhelming. Nuvivo Health is here to make sure it doesn't have to be.
How Are Blood Test Results Reported?
Blood tests typically produce one of two types of output: a measurement showing where a value sits within a normal range (common for vitamins, minerals, hormones, and organ markers), or a simple detected/not detected result (used for infections, antibodies, and similar tests).
When Nuvivo Health processes your sample at our accredited laboratory, your results are uploaded securely to your personal health dashboard. Your report will typically include:
- The name and description of each biomarker tested
- Your individual result and the measurement unit
- The laboratory reference range
- A visual indicator of where you sit within that range
- A plain-English explanation from our clinical team
Unlike a standard GP appointment where you may only be told "normal" or "abnormal", Nuvivo Health provides your exact values alongside clinical commentary — so you always leave informed.
How Are Reference Ranges Set?
A reference range is the span of values considered typical for a healthy population. Most laboratories set their ranges by measuring a large group of healthy individuals and capturing the middle 95% of results. This means that by design, approximately 5% of completely healthy people will fall outside the range on any given test.
Each accredited laboratory establishes its own ranges, often calibrated to the specific analysers they use. At Nuvivo Health, we use UKAS-accredited laboratories held to the highest national standards, and our clinical team interprets your results in full context rather than flagging numbers in isolation.
Being slightly outside a reference range doesn't automatically mean something is wrong. Context is everything — your symptoms, lifestyle, medication, and other results all contribute to a complete clinical picture.
Can I Compare Results From Different Labs?
This is one of the most common questions we receive. The short answer is: with caution. Different laboratories use different analysers, reagents, and calibration processes — which means the same biomarker may produce slightly different numerical results depending on where it is tested.
Rather than comparing raw numbers, the most useful approach is to look at where your result falls within each laboratory's own reference range. If your result was in the lower quarter of the normal range at one lab and is now at the midpoint at another, that change is meaningful — regardless of whether the numbers themselves look different.
If you're tracking a condition or monitoring treatment, it's always best to use the same laboratory over time for the most reliable comparison. Nuvivo Health makes this easy by storing all of your results in one place, with trend views so you can see how your health changes over time.
Should I Worry If a Result Is Out of Range?
Not automatically — but it's always worth understanding why. An out-of-range result can have many explanations: something you ate, a supplement you're taking, the time of day you tested, or a genuine health finding that warrants follow-up.
Some out-of-range results are minor and easily resolved (such as low vitamin D). Others — such as significantly elevated potassium, abnormal calcium, or unexpected markers of kidney or liver function — require prompt medical attention. Our clinical team will always flag results that need urgent follow-up and guide you clearly on next steps.
Every Nuvivo Health result is reviewed by a qualified clinician. If something needs attention, we will tell you clearly — and direct you to your GP or an appropriate specialist where needed. You will never be left to interpret a worrying result alone.
10 Factors That Can Influence Your Blood Test Results
Many perfectly healthy people receive borderline or mildly abnormal results simply because of something they did (or didn't do) in the lead-up to the test. Here are the most common factors to be aware of.
1. Fasting Tests for glucose, insulin, and cholesterol are all influenced by recent eating. If your test requires fasting, you'll be instructed to avoid food and drink (other than water) for eight hours beforehand.
2. Hydration Being dehydrated at the time of your test can affect kidney markers, red blood cell counts, and liver values. Drink plenty of water before your sample is collected unless instructed otherwise.
3. Exercise Intense physical activity can temporarily elevate muscle enzymes (such as creatine kinase) and shift hormone levels including testosterone and cortisol. Wait 48–72 hours after strenuous exercise before testing.
4. Supplements Vitamins and minerals you're supplementing will typically raise your blood levels of those nutrients. Notably, high-dose biotin (vitamin B7) can interfere with several common laboratory tests and should be paused before testing.
5. Medications Many prescribed and over-the-counter drugs can affect blood test results. Always disclose what you're taking to our clinical team so results can be interpreted accurately.
6. Age Reference ranges for several hormones and markers shift across different age groups. Menopausal status, menstrual cycle phase, and age-related physiological changes are all factored into your result interpretation.
7. Time of Day Hormones such as cortisol and testosterone follow a daily rhythm, peaking in the morning and declining through the day. For accurate results, these tests should be collected between 7am and 9am.
8. Diet Certain tests are only valid if you've been eating specific foods. Coeliac antibody tests, for example, require you to have been consuming gluten regularly for at least six weeks prior to testing.
9. Recent Illness An infection or inflammatory condition can temporarily alter white blood cell counts, thyroid hormones, and inflammatory markers. It's best to wait four to six weeks after any acute illness before testing.
10. Hormone Topicals If you apply hormone creams or gels, contamination of the finger used to apply them can falsely elevate a finger-prick sample. Always collect from a clean, unaffected finger.
What Should I Do If I Get an Unexpected Result?
First — don't panic. An unexpected result is the start of a conversation, not a diagnosis. Our clinical team reviews every result and will contact you if something requires attention.
Depending on what your result shows, we may:
- Explain why the result may have occurred given your individual context
- Recommend a repeat test after adjusting for any influencing factors
- Advise you to speak with your GP and include a summary letter for them
- Suggest a more targeted follow-up test from our panel
Nuvivo Health is not a replacement for your GP — but we're a powerful complement to primary care. Our role is to help you arrive at those appointments better informed, with data in hand and questions prepared.
You are entitled to understand your own health data. If you have questions about any result, our clinical support team is available to help you make sense of it — no appointment needed.
References
- Lab Tests Online UK. Reference Ranges and What They Mean. labtestsonline.org.uk
- NHS. Can I eat and drink before having a blood test? nhs.uk
- Pettersson J et al. Muscular exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy men. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2008.
- Sathyanarayana Rao TS et al. Biotin supplements and laboratory test results. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2017.
- Coeliac UK. Getting diagnosed. coeliac.org.uk
Disclaimer: Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute a clinical diagnosis. If you have health concerns, please consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional.