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Result
- A result is the numeric or qualitative finding of an investigation, where that finding is not a condition.
- Results include:
- the numeric values of tests (including units, if given)
- references to normality and abnormality
- qualities such as colours
- For example,
- "potassium 3.8 mmol/l": "3.8 mmol/l" is a result of the potassium investigation
- "INR of 1.9": "1.9" is a result of the "INR" investigation
- "FBC was normal": "normal" is a result
- "Chest x-ray showed abnormalities": "abnormalities" is a result
- Results and conditions are both findings of investigations. It is important to distinguish between them. A rule to apply is:
- A condition can stand alone in its own right. It can be touched, excised, or discussed as a whole.
- "Hb showed anaemia": we can talk about the patients anameia.
- A result has no meaning away from the context of the investigation.
- "Hb was 7.5": it makes no sense to talk about the 7.5 in isolation from Hb. The patient does not have a 7.5
- Some investigations are really banks of tests or give multiple parameters, such as an FBC.
- Sometimes the entire investigation is reported with a single result.
- For example, "FBC normal"
- In this case, the "FBC" investigation should be linked to its "normal" result
- On other occasions, however, the results of the individual parameters making up the test are reported
- For example, "FBC. Hb 12.5, WBC 5.2, Plt 150"
- In this case, each individual investigation (such as Hb, WBC, Plt) should be linked to their individual results
- An investigation may find the absence of any condition. This will be marked as a result.
- For example,
- "Plain X-rays of these areas were all normal"
- "normal" is a result
Staging codes
Sometimes, cancer staging codes, such as TNM codes, are given. If you think these are the result of some investigation (such as "staging"), then please mark the code as a Result.
- For example,
- "he had an oesophageal primary, staged locally as T4"
- "T4" can be marked as a Result, being the finding of a "staging" Investigation