Diagnosis Based on Population Data versus Personalized Data: The Evolving Paradigm in Laboratory Medicine

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Laboratory Medicine
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Accurate disease diagnosis integrates diverse data, with laboratory findings being crucial.
• Interpreting laboratory data requires comparative references like reference intervals and decision limits.
• Current population-based references raise concerns regarding the accuracy of individual data interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing references used in laboratory data interpretation.
• To examine the characteristics and limitations of current reference types.
• To discuss the shift towards personalized laboratory medicine.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current reference sources in laboratory medicine.
• Analysis of different reference types: reference intervals, decision limits, action limits, and reference change values.
• Conceptual discussion on transitioning from population-based to individual-based data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Laboratory data interpretation relies on various population-derived references.
• Population-based references may limit the accuracy of individual diagnostic assessments.
• Individualized references hold potential for more precise laboratory data interpretation.

Conclusions:

• Reliable references are paramount for accurate disease diagnosis.
• Personalized laboratory medicine, utilizing individual data, offers a path to enhanced diagnostic precision.
• The transition to personalized laboratory medicine is essential for improving patient care.