What does provisional mean on a blood test?

A provisional result is returned by a lab when the lab cannot verify the results of a lab test. It does not indicate an infection, so it does not confirm or refute the presence of a disease.

What does provisional mean on a urine drug test?

A drug test result on a urine sample is “provisionally” reported when lab staff cannot verify the identity of any of the drugs that were detected in the sample. This does not mean that the drug was present; only that the lab was unable to verify the identity of the drug. However, the drug itself may still be present.

What does provisional mean on blood work?

A provisional lab report is one which is given when the lab receives your test results but before they have had a chance to complete all of their analysis. Sometimes, all that is required is a basic evaluation of your results, and provisional lab reports are provided for that purpose. But other times, a doctor will need to look at your full report to determine the best course of action.

What does provisional mean on a blood alcohol test?

A provisional result is given to a DUI suspect until the lab can confirm the test results. This means an initial judgment of whether or not a suspect was under the legal limit of intoxication. Labs use sophisticated equipment in order to get accurate test results. If the lab cannot confirm the results, they will issue a report with a “no test” result.

What does provisional mean on a blood test results?

The term provisional usually refers to test results that are likely to change. For example, a report could say that your A1C is 5.8, but it’s provisional because the lab has sent your sample in twice and gotten different results each time. Or your doctor could write a report saying that your thyroid function is normal, but it’s provisional because the lab says their machine is broken.