Reference ranges

What reference ranges do

Reference ranges drive automatic interpretation during result entry and review. They help Kashef decide whether a numeric result is normal, high, low, or critical for the patient's age and gender.

Ranges are clinical setup. Treat them as lab policy, not as simple display text. A wrong range can make a correct value look abnormal or a dangerous value look normal.

Open the reference-range editor

Go to Catalog > Tests, open the test, and choose Reference Range Settings. Select the result unit first; that unit is used by every reference block on the test.

Each block represents one patient group. Its header summarizes the gender and age rule. Use the up and down controls to change the matching order, Duplicate when a nearby group needs similar values, or Delete to remove a block. Dragging remains available on desktop.

Build a patient group

Choose the gender, then enter the minimum and maximum age in days, months, or years. Enable No Min Age or No Max Age for an open-ended group. The block header changes to a plain summary such as “All ages,” “Up to 12 years,” or “18 years and older.”

Choose a result format for each block:

• Numeric Range sets the normal condition, normal boundaries, and optional panic boundaries.
• List of Ranges creates named numeric bands, such as Low, Normal, and High.
• List of Values creates the exact text choices staff can select during result entry.
• Free Text accepts a written result and does not require thresholds.

For List of Values, enter one result per row, for example Positive and Negative. The row number shows the saved order. Add or remove rows as needed, and review spelling before saving because staff see these exact choices during result entry.

Gender and age rules

Use All gender when the same range applies to everyone. Use male or female only when the lab's validated reference material differs. Use age limits when pediatric, adult, or elderly ranges differ.

Do not create two blocks with the same gender and overlapping ages. If a value depends on a different patient group, create a separate block and make its age boundary explicit.

Units

The unit should match the unit used in test setup and result entry. If a test is reported in mg/dL, do not create a reference range in mmol/L unless the result entry and report clearly convert values.

When changing a unit, review existing ranges and report templates. Unit changes can affect calculations and clinical interpretation.

How ranges appear during result entry

During result entry, Kashef resolves a reference range for the test or parameter and can apply status flags. The row can then display the interval, flag, and interpretation guidance. Reviewers see these values when deciding whether to approve, reject, or release results.

If the reference range is missing, result entry may still be possible, but the reviewer loses automated context. Add ranges for commonly interpreted numeric tests before using them in production.

Maintenance workflow

When updating ranges, document the lab-approved source: analyzer insert, method validation, medical director decision, or partner reference. Review old values before changing them. If the change is significant, inform reviewers so they understand why future results may flag differently.