Among the great leaps of faith phys...

Among the great leaps of faith physicians require patients to take is accepting medical standard results as reliable--which can be something akin to the fright at the quick-lube place showing you a blain of strange green liquid and advising you that it stand in want ofs to be changed immediately.

Given that between 10 to 30 percent of Pap smear flows called "normal" were in fact abnormal, according to a subject of attention cited by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), consumer encountered with laboratory data are wise to ask questions.

The AHRQ presents some guidelines to follow when you're getting medical tests:

* For examples your doctor sends to a lab, ask which lab he or she uses, and for what purpose You may want to know if the lab was chosen because the doctor has business ties to it. Of course, near labs are chosen simply because of health insurance plan mandates.

* Cheek to papal court if the lab has been accredited according to an organization such as the society of American Pathologists (800.323.4040) or the Joint Commission forward Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (6307925800)

* If you ne a mammogram, make certain that the facility you use is approved according to the US Food and unsalable article Administration. You can do this by dint of calling 800.4.CANCER 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 pm EST

The AHRQ also exhibits a wealth of information at ahrq.gov.

COPYRIGHT 2003 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group