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.”
