[spayne73]

Serum IgD level listed with asterisk, no reference range

by spayne73 on Sat May 03, 2014 9:35 pm

I was just looking over my labs again and noticed the IgD, serum is the only one listed without a normal range beside it. It shows my level with an asterisk. Not sure what that means.

Does anyone know what this means and if my level is indeed normal? Thanks for any information!

IgD, Serum *<0.13

[Multibilly]

Re: Serum IgD level listed with asterisk, no reference range

by Multibilly on Sun May 04, 2014 8:32 am

This is a very abbreviated description of IgD. If you had IgD-type myeloma, you would expect this to be elevated, which I'm guessing it is not from this value. But it's hard to interpret what a specific lab value means without the lab's reference range (as the link below states, reference ranges vary from lab to lab).

http://www.diagnose-me.com/symptoms-of/low-igd-level.html

In general, if you have a low immunogloblin level, you tend to be more prone to infections. But this apparently isn't the case with IgD.

I'm going to guess (and this is only a guess), that the asterisk means that the lab doesn't have an established reference range for IgD. But, I'm not a doc, so your doc or the lab really needs to explain this.

[spayne73]

Re: Serum IgD level listed with asterisk, no reference range

by spayne73 on Sun May 04, 2014 9:54 am

Thank you so much Multibilly for your help. I had searched and searched for a normal range and had not been able to find one anywhere! I really appreciate your help!

I will be calling my doctor's office in the morning to ask several questions. I hope my m-spike and m quantitative results are also finally in. Hope you are having a great weekend!

[Scott M]

Re: Serum IgD level listed with asterisk, no reference range

by Scott M on Mon May 05, 2014 8:23 am

SInce the value is preceeded by a < (less than), that would indicate the concentration is below what the lab instrumentation is set up to measure for that day for Ig(D). The reporting limit can change a bit through time in the lab. Don't know abou the *.

[spayne73]

Re: Serum IgD level listed with asterisk, no reference range

by spayne73 on Mon May 05, 2014 1:56 pm

Thank you so much Scott M, that makes total sense! I have had other tests with < and always wondered what it meant.

The asterisks I am still not understanding because they are showing on some tests that are within normal ranges, and the nurse and the lab techs just explain it as possible further testing is needed or there is no established normal range, which is strange, especially on the ones that have normal reference ranges listed.

I will be so glad when my doctor gets back so maybe I can understand it all.

Have a great day!!

[NStewart]

Re: Serum IgD level listed with asterisk, no reference range

by NStewart on Mon May 05, 2014 9:49 pm

I used to work for the healthcare system where I am being treated. I had access to my medical records online and results of all of my labwork. When an asterisk was included with a result, you could hover over it and and an explanation would appear.

It's good that you were calling your doctor for an explanation.

Nancy in Phila