How Do I Read a Chinese Oncology Laboratory Report?
A Chinese oncology laboratory report contains blood counts, tumor markers, and molecular results. Each term has a specific meaning, a specific unit, and a specific reference range. Reading a value without the unit and the reference range can change its meaning entirely. This page explains the structure of these reports and the terms most often misread — without interpreting any individual result.
Quick Answer
A Chinese oncology laboratory report typically includes three groups of results: blood counts (血常规, xuè cháng guī), tumor markers (肿瘤标志物, zhǒng liú biāo zhì wù), and molecular results (分子检测, fēn zǐ jiǎn cè). Each result has three parts: the test name (项目), the value (结果), and the reference range (参考范围). A value without its unit and reference range cannot be interpreted — the same number can mean different things depending on the unit (for example, g/L versus mg/dL). The most frequently misread items are tumor marker values (which can rise for reasons unrelated to cancer) and molecular results (where "positive" or "negative" depends on the specific test).
"A lab value is either normal or abnormal — it's a simple yes or no." — No. A lab value only means something in relation to its unit, its reference range, and the clinical context. A tumor marker can rise for reasons unrelated to cancer; a blood count can drop for reasons unrelated to the cancer itself. Reading a single number without these three pieces of context can lead you to the wrong conclusion about what is happening.
Who This Page Is NOT For
This page is not a tool to interpret your own lab results, and it is not a substitute for the explanation given by the laboratory or your treating oncologist. It is for patients and families who have received a Chinese oncology laboratory report and want to understand its structure and terminology — so they can ask better questions of their treating team. Only your treating oncologist, with the full clinical picture, can interpret your results for your specific case.
The Three Groups of Results in a Chinese Oncology Lab Report
Most Chinese oncology lab reports organize results into three groups. Knowing which group a result belongs to helps you understand what it can and cannot tell you.
1. 血常规 — Blood counts
A standard panel of blood cell measurements, including red cells, white cells, and platelets.
- Red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb)
- White blood cells (WBC) and differential
- Platelets (PLT)
- Used to monitor treatment tolerance
2. 肿瘤标志物 — Tumor markers
Proteins or substances that may be elevated in some cancers. They are not diagnostic on their own.
- CEA, CA19-9, CA125, AFP, PSA
- May rise for non-cancer reasons
- Used to monitor trend, not to diagnose
3. 分子检测 — Molecular results
Tests that detect specific genetic or molecular features of the tumor (or, in some cases, of the patient).
- Mutation tests (EGFR, KRAS, BRCA)
- Fusion tests (ALK, ROS1, NTRK)
- Expression tests (PD-L1, HER2)
- Often done on tumor tissue, not blood
How to Read a Single Result: Three Parts
Every result in a Chinese lab report has three parts. Reading only one of them is a common source of error.
| Part | Chinese label | What it tells you | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test name | 项目 (xiàng mù) | Which substance or measurement is being reported | A result without the test name cannot be interpreted |
| Value | 结果 (jié guǒ) | The measured number | A number alone does not tell you whether it is normal |
| Reference range | 参考范围 (cān kǎo fàn wéi) | The range the laboratory considers typical for a healthy population | Reference ranges differ between laboratories and methods |
| Unit | 单位 (dān wèi) | The measurement unit (for example, g/L, mg/dL, U/mL) | The same number can mean different things in different units |
Terms Most Often Misread
| Chinese term | Pinyin | Approximate English | Why it is easy to misread |
|---|---|---|---|
| 升高 / 增高 | shēng gāo / zēng gāo | Elevated / increased | An elevated tumor marker does not by itself mean cancer is progressing. It can rise for non-cancer reasons. |
| 降低 / 减低 | jiàng dī / jiǎn dī | Decreased / reduced | A decreased blood count can reflect treatment effect, not disease progression. |
| 阴性 / 阳性 | yīn xìng / yáng xìng | Negative / positive | In molecular tests, "positive" or "negative" depends on the specific test and what it measures. |
| 正常 / 异常 | zhèng cháng / yì cháng | Normal / abnormal | "Abnormal" is a broad label, not a diagnosis. It tells you the value is outside the reference range, not why. |
| 参考范围 | cān kǎo fàn wéi | Reference range | Ranges differ between laboratories and methods. Comparing two reports from different labs without checking the range can mislead. |
| 单位 | dān wèi | Unit | The same number in different units means different things. Always check the unit before comparing values. |
| 未检出 | wèi jiǎn chū | Not detected | "Not detected" does not necessarily mean "absent." It depends on the sensitivity of the test. |
| 临界值 | lín jiè zhí | Borderline value | A borderline value is neither clearly normal nor clearly abnormal. It usually requires repeat testing or clinical correlation. |
A Fictional Example: How the Same Number Can Mean Different Things
The example below is fictional. It is used only to show how the same number can mean different things depending on the unit and reference range. It is not derived from any real patient's records.
How to read this example: The two reports show the same hemoglobin value, but in different units. 110 g/L is the same as 11.0 g/dL. If you compare the numbers without checking the units, you might think Report 1 is much higher than Report 2 — but they are the same. This is why the unit and the reference range must always be read together with the number. A value cannot be interpreted from the number alone.
Questions to Bring to Your Doctor
These questions are educational. They are not an assessment of your case. Review the answers with your licensed oncologist.
What is the reference range for this result, and what unit is used?
Ask for the range and unit as printed on the report, and confirm they match your previous results.
How does this result compare with my previous results?
Ask about the trend over time, not just the single value.
If a tumor marker is elevated, what else could explain it?
Tumor markers can rise for non-cancer reasons. Ask what else might be contributing.
If a molecular test is positive or negative, what does it mean for my treatment options?
Ask which treatment categories the result may open or close — not which treatment to choose.
Does this result need to be repeated, and if so, when?
Some results are checked again after a short interval. Ask whether a repeat test is planned.
Continue Your Research
Related reference pages on Chinese medical documents and cancer diagnosis.
What Do 符合, 考虑为, 倾向, and 不除外 Mean?
How four modifier terms express different levels of diagnostic certainty in a Chinese pathology report.
How Do I Match a Chinese Drug Name to Its Generic Name?
Identify a Chinese cancer drug by brand, active ingredient, or generic name.
What Do the Terms in a Chinese Discharge Summary Mean?
The document you hand to your home oncologist — diagnosis, procedures, medications, discharge status, and follow-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an elevated tumor marker mean the cancer is progressing?
Not necessarily. Tumor markers can rise for reasons unrelated to cancer — including inflammation, infection, benign conditions, and laboratory variation. A single elevated value is not a diagnosis. What matters is the trend over time, interpreted in the context of your clinical situation, imaging, and treatment history. Ask your treating oncologist what the value means in your specific case.
Why do two lab reports show the same value in different units?
Different laboratories, different countries, and different methods may use different units for the same measurement. For example, hemoglobin can be reported in g/L or g/dL. The same physiological value appears as a different number depending on the unit. Always read the unit and the reference range together with the value — never compare numbers across reports without checking that the units match.
What does "未检出" (not detected) mean in a molecular test?
"未检出" means the test did not detect the target substance under the conditions used. It does not necessarily mean the substance is absent — it depends on the sensitivity of the test. A very low level of a mutation or fusion may fall below the detection threshold. If the result matters for a treatment decision, ask your oncologist whether a more sensitive test or a repeat test would be appropriate.
What is the difference between "正常" and "异常"?
"正常" (normal) means the value falls within the laboratory's reference range. "异常" (abnormal) means it falls outside that range. Neither label is a diagnosis. "Abnormal" tells you the value is outside the typical range — not why, and not what it means for you. A value can be outside the reference range without indicating disease, and a value inside the range does not guarantee health.
Can I compare results from two different laboratories?
Only with caution. Different laboratories may use different methods, units, and reference ranges. A value that is "normal" in one laboratory's range may be outside another laboratory's range. If you are comparing results from two laboratories, ask your oncologist whether the methods are comparable, and whether the trend should be interpreted with caution.
Where can I find the full list of Chinese medical document reference pages?
This page is part of a series of question-based reference pages on Chinese medical documents. Related pages cover pathology certainty terms, drug-name matching, high-risk mistranslation terms, discharge summaries, imaging reports, and molecular reports. You can find the full list on the Evidence Hub.
Sources & References
- 国家卫生健康委员会. 医疗机构临床实验室管理办法. (National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. Management Measures for Clinical Laboratories in Medical Institutions.) nhc.gov.cn ↗
- 中华医学会检验医学分会. 临床实验室参考区间制定与验证指南. (Chinese Medical Association Laboratory Medicine Branch. Guidelines for Establishing and Verifying Reference Intervals in Clinical Laboratories.)
- 中国抗癌协会肿瘤标志专业委员会. 肿瘤标志物临床应用专家共识. (Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Tumor Marker Committee. Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Tumor Markers.)
- 北京市海淀医院病理科. 病理报告="有字天书"？别急，一文教你看懂. 2024-08-28. Beijing Municipal Health Commission ↗
- 腾讯医典. 免疫组化检查：如何解读结果. baike.qq.com ↗