Normalization of Reference Ranges for Laboratory Tests Using a Novel Rescaling Approach for Optimal Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Pathology
• Medical Informatics
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Laboratory test interpretation faces challenges due to inconsistent reference ranges across institutions.
• This variability can lead to delayed clinical decisions and increased cognitive load for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a normalization method for laboratory values to improve interpretability and comparison.
• To transform laboratory results into dimensionless scores using simple rescaling based on reference ranges.

Main Methods:

• A normalization technique was developed using simple rescaling formulas.
• Laboratory values are converted to a standardized scale (0 to 1 or -1 to 1).
• The method was applied to common laboratory tests to assess its effectiveness.

Main Results:

• The normalization method allows for intuitive assessment and direct comparison of different laboratory tests.
• It simplifies the identification of abnormal values, regardless of original units.
• Application to common tests showed improved interpretability and clarity.

Conclusions:

• Normalizing laboratory values offers a practical and scalable solution for clinical decision-making.
• This method enhances clinical efficiency and supports the integration into electronic health records and algorithmic tools.
• The approach facilitates faster and more accurate clinical decisions by standardizing lab result interpretation.