How to Read Your Quest Diagnostics Results
The report layout, the flag column, reference intervals and what those small comments actually mean, in plain English.
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The Quick Answer
A Quest Diagnostics report groups your tests into panels, such as a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) or a Complete Blood Count (CBC). Each row in the results table shows the test name, your result, a flag if the result falls outside the printed range, the unit of measurement, and the reference interval for that test.
You will usually see the report in the MyQuest by Care360 patient portal (app or website), or as a PDF from your provider's office. Look for H or L next to a value for a high or low flag, and for the words See Note pointing to a comment printed elsewhere on the report. Reference ranges are set by the lab itself and can differ from what you find searching online.
Getting Your Report: MyQuest and PDF Copies
Quest Diagnostics is one of the largest clinical laboratory companies in the United States. If your provider used Quest for your blood draw, here is where the report usually shows up.
Check MyQuest by Care360 first
If your provider ordered your labs through Quest Diagnostics, results are typically posted to the MyQuest patient app and website once the report is released.
Ask your provider's office for a copy
Many doctors' offices also receive a copy of the report directly and can print it or email it to you as a PDF.
Look for a released date and status
Some results are held from patient view until a provider reviews them first, which is common for certain sensitive or complex tests.
Save the PDF, not just a screenshot
A saved PDF keeps the full results table, the reference intervals and any comments intact, which matters if you want to track results or upload the report later.
Anatomy of a Quest Diagnostics Report
Reports from most US laboratories, including Quest, follow a broadly similar layout. Once you know what each part is for, scanning a new report takes a minute instead of twenty.
Patient and specimen information
Name, date of birth, patient ID, the date and time your specimen was collected, and the date the report was released.
Tip: Check the collection date matches the visit you think it does, especially if you have had more than one blood draw close together.
Ordering provider and performing lab
Which clinician ordered the tests, and which Quest Diagnostics laboratory location processed the specimen.
Tip: If you were referred to a specialist, the ordered tests may appear under the specialist's name instead of your regular doctor.
Panel headings
Bold section headers group related tests together, for example Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, CBC With Differential, or Lipid Panel.
Tip: A single report often bundles several panels that were all ordered and drawn at the same visit.
Results table columns
Each row lists the test name, your result, a flag if the result is outside range, the unit of measurement, and the reference interval.
Tip: The flag column is usually the narrowest column on the page and is easy to miss when you scan quickly.
Comments and footnotes
Printed below a panel or near the end of the report, referenced by an asterisk or the words See Note next to a result.
Tip: Read every footnote. They often explain why a particular result looks unusual before you need to ask your doctor.
The Flag Column Explained
The flag column is often the narrowest one on the page, but it is the fastest way to see which results need a closer look.
H
The result is above the printed reference interval. Not automatically urgent; how far above the range and whether it repeats on a later test both matter.
L
The result is below the printed reference interval. As with a high flag, the size of the difference and any repeat testing matter more than the flag alone.
HH or Critical High
Flagged for immediate provider notification. Laboratories generally have a protocol to call the ordering provider directly in addition to printing this flag on the report.
LL or Critical Low
The low-value counterpart to a critical high. Expect your provider's office to have already been contacted about a result flagged this way.
A or Abn
Used on qualitative tests that do not report a number, such as some antibody or urine tests. Read the accompanying comment to see what abnormal means for that specific test.
No flag
No flag is printed when a result falls inside the range. Still worth noting where in the range the number sits if you are tracking a trend over time.
See Note
A footnote applies to this result. Locate and read the referenced comment before drawing any conclusion from the flag or the number.
Common Panels on a Quest Report
A single visit often produces one report covering several panels at once. These are the ones most people see.
CMP · Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Common markers: Glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2, BUN, creatinine, eGFR, calcium, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, ALP, AST, ALT
Screens kidney function, liver function, blood sugar and electrolyte balance in one panel.
BMP · Basic Metabolic Panel
Common markers: Glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2, BUN, creatinine, calcium
A smaller version of the CMP without the liver markers, often used for routine monitoring.
CBC (or CBC w/Diff) · Complete Blood Count (with Differential)
Common markers: WBC, RBC, hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), MCV, platelets, plus neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils when a differential is included
Checks red cells, white cells and platelets, screening for anemia, infection and clotting risk.
Lipid Panel · Lipid Panel
Common markers: Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol
Screens cardiovascular risk. Some Lipid Panels are reported as fasting-optional; your requisition will note if fasting was required.
HbA1c · Hemoglobin A1c
Common markers: A single percentage result reflecting average blood sugar over roughly the prior three months
Used to screen for and monitor diabetes alongside fasting glucose.
TSH · Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Common markers: TSH alone, or TSH with Free T4
Screens thyroid function and is usually the first test ordered before a more detailed thyroid panel.
What See Note and Report Comments Mean
Comments are easy to skip past, but they often explain exactly why a result looks the way it does.
Reference interval note
"Reference interval has been updated. See method change note."
Labs periodically change instruments or testing methods, which can shift the printed reference range even though nothing about your health has changed.
Reflex or add-on note
"Reflex to [additional test] performed based on result."
Some screening results automatically trigger an extra confirming test at the same lab visit, which is then reported separately, sometimes on the same page.
Specimen note
"Specimen slightly hemolyzed; may affect potassium and LDH results."
A note about the condition of the blood sample when it arrived can mean a result should be treated cautiously, and sometimes repeated.
Interpretive comment
"Result reviewed by laboratory director."
Certain complex tests, such as some hormone or antibody panels, carry a written interpretation directly on the report from the lab's medical staff.
Method note
"Assay changed from [prior method] to [current method], effective [date]."
Explains why a value on a trend graph can shift even without a real change in your health, which matters when comparing results over several years.
When to Contact Your Doctor Promptly
Most flagged results can wait for your next routine appointment. A few situations are worth a phone call sooner:
HH or LL printed next to a result
These mark critical values. The lab typically has a protocol to notify your ordering provider directly, often by phone, in addition to the printed flag. If you see one and have not heard from your provider within a day, call the office.
Several related markers flagged together
For example, high glucose together with a high HbA1c and a low eGFR. A pattern across a panel is generally more meaningful than one isolated flag, and providers respond to patterns.
A comment mentioning clinical significance
If a footnote uses language like clinically significant or recommend follow-up, do not wait for a routine appointment. Call your provider's office and reference the specific result.
New symptoms alongside a flagged result
Fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, unusual bleeding or bruising, or fainting alongside any abnormal report. Seek emergency care for severe symptoms rather than waiting for a callback.
A result you cannot get explained quickly
Uploading the report to a tool such as SmarterBlood for a plain-English explanation is a reasonable next step while you wait to reach your provider, but it does not replace that conversation.
Comparing Quest Results With Other Labs Over Time
The MyQuest portal generally shows your history with Quest Diagnostics. If you have ever switched providers, moved, or had a test run at a different laboratory, that history lives in a separate portal, or only on paper. Comparing a Quest PDF against an older report from another lab side by side is slow, and the reference intervals may not line up column for column.
SmarterBlood is free to use. Upload a PDF or a photo of any pathology report, from Quest Diagnostics or any other lab, or email it to mail@smarterblood.org. The AI extracts every marker, plots your results on the same timeline regardless of which lab produced them, flags values outside range, and explains each one in plain English. You can also print a summary report to bring to your next doctor's visit. SmarterBlood is not a clinic or a laboratory and does not order tests.
Sources and reference ranges
Adult reference ranges on this page follow the AACB and RCPA harmonised reference intervals unless stated otherwise; the range printed on your own report always takes precedence because laboratories differ.
Quest Diagnostics Results — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my Quest Diagnostics results?
Most patients see their Quest Diagnostics results in the MyQuest by Care360 patient portal, available as a website and a mobile app, once the report is released. Some results are held until your ordering provider reviews them first. Your doctor's office can also give you a printed copy or a PDF.
What does the H or L flag mean on my Quest Diagnostics report?
H means the result is above the laboratory's printed reference interval, and L means it is below that interval. A flag on its own does not mean something is seriously wrong. It means the number fell outside the range calculated from a healthy comparison population for that specific test. Your doctor interprets the flag alongside your symptoms, history and other results.
What does See Note mean on a lab report?
See Note, or a small asterisk next to a result, points you to a comment printed elsewhere on the report, usually underneath the panel or near the end of the document. These comments explain things like a change in testing method, a specimen quality issue, or an automatic follow-up test that was added. Always read the comment before drawing any conclusion from a flagged result.
Why are the reference ranges on my Quest report different from ranges I find online?
Reference intervals depend on the specific laboratory, the instrument and method used, and sometimes your age and sex. Two different labs testing the same blood sample can print slightly different ranges. The range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result, not a number found on a general website.
What is a CMP or CBC on a Quest Diagnostics report?
CMP stands for Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, a group of around 14 tests covering blood sugar, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function. CBC stands for Complete Blood Count, which measures red cells, white cells and platelets, sometimes with a differential that breaks the white cells into subtypes. Both are common panels bundled into a single visit's report.
Can I compare my Quest Diagnostics results with results from a different lab?
Yes, though you need to compare them carefully because reference intervals and testing methods can differ between laboratories. Tools that graph your results over time, including SmarterBlood, can combine reports from multiple labs onto the same timeline so you can see the trend rather than comparing two PDFs side by side.
When should I contact my doctor about a Quest Diagnostics result?
Contact your doctor's office promptly if a result is marked as a critical value, sometimes shown as HH or LL, if several related markers are flagged together, if a comment mentions clinical significance, or if you have new symptoms alongside an abnormal result. For severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or fainting, seek emergency care rather than waiting for a callback.
Is SmarterBlood affiliated with Quest Diagnostics?
No. SmarterBlood is an independent tool that helps you read and track pathology reports, including ones from Quest Diagnostics, but it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Quest Diagnostics.
Related Reading
Got a Quest Diagnostics Report to Understand?
Upload your PDF or a photo and SmarterBlood's AI will pull out every marker, flag anything outside range, and explain each result in plain English, alongside older results from any other lab.
This page provides general educational information about the typical layout of a Quest Diagnostics report. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and SmarterBlood is not affiliated with Quest Diagnostics. Always consult your doctor about your own results. They have access to your full medical history and can interpret your results in context. SmarterBlood does not provide medical care.