Is a blood test on number before normal a concern

[Kissandjust]

Just looked and I have a result that’s normal range between 23-36 and my result is 22.

Depends entirely on what it is. Some things will be marked satisfactory if they are just out of range, others will be requested for a recheck to be done in a certain amount of time to see if they go back into normal range of their own accord, other things would be concerning.

What was it for? Have they talked it through with you?

As Howmany said, it depends what it is. If it's something where high levels are a problem they probably won't be too bothered, but it might be where low levels are a problem.

You just have to be careful of 'normal'. It's often used to mean statistically normal ie between the 5% and 95% levels of a random sample of apparently healthy people. It only rarely means pathologically normal ie above/below the level at which people start having problems. There are only a limited number of conditions for which pathological normal has been properly established. In my experience quite a lot of doctors don't appreciate the difference.

Also retests. Sometimes if a result comes back out of range they will retest and if the restest is in range they'll write it off as a blip. The scientist in me always wonders how they're sure that it's the first that's the blip, not the second . . .