[Clinical recommendations in clinical biology protocols : application to clinical chemistry]

The interpretation of laboratory results traditionally relies on comparison with reference values or clinical recommendations. Reference values are established from a population considered «healthy», while clinical recommendations come from epidemiological studies or expert consensus. Recommendations represent a more personalized approach compared to reference values, as they take into account various criteria such as the patient's pathophysiological condition, risk factors, etc. It is important to understand the process of developing recommendations and reference values and to be aware of their potential limitations to ensure appropriate clinical application. The aim of this work is to illustrate, through concrete examples, the use of clinical recommendations or reference values and their limitations.