Interpreting Your Results#
Reading your TeleTest lab report - common terminology, what STI result statuses mean, why certain results look "flagged" without being clinically significant, and answers to common interpretation questions by test type.
This page explains what you'll see on a typical lab report and answers common interpretation questions. For how long results take and how follow-up works, see Results. For clinical follow-up on an abnormal result, use the follow-up link in your patient portal - it connects you with a clinician at no additional fee.
Reading your lab report#
What do the common status codes ("N", "Pending", "Final") on my lab report mean?#
These codes describe the state of the report, not whether the result itself is normal or abnormal:
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pending (or PND) | The lab is still processing this test. The final result hasn't been released yet. |
| Final | The lab has finished processing and released the complete result. |
| N (under an "Abn" / "Abnormal" column) | A placeholder character used by some labs' systems. It does not mean "normal" or "abnormal" - it's just a column marker that the report is in progress. |
If you see "N" or "Pending" on your report, the final result will appear automatically once the lab releases it - you don't need to do anything.
I have partial results - some tests are showing but others aren't. Why?#
This is normal. Different tests on the same requisition can come back at different times - especially if some are processed in-house and others are sent to a specialized reference lab or to a Public Health Laboratory. Your portal updates as each test releases, so you don't need to follow up.
See the Results page for the typical turnaround for each common test.
Why does my report say "Specimen referred to: Public Health Laboratories"?#
Nothing is wrong, and you don't need to do anything. Some blood tests, such as HIV and syphilis, are done only at the provincial public health laboratory (Public Health Ontario in Ontario, the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory in BC). The lab where you gave your sample sends that part on to them.
You usually see this line on an early report. Your urine results, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, are often back within a day, and the line marks the blood tests that are still at the public health lab. Those take longer because the sample is transported first: over the past year, HIV and syphilis results reached TeleTest a median of about 5 days after the lab visit, most within 3 to 6 days (see measured result times). A visit on a Friday or before a long weekend can take longer.
When the remaining results arrive, you get an email and they appear in your TeleTest portal. You don't need to check MyCareCompass or the lab's portal.
STI / STD result terminology#
The exact wording varies by lab and test type, but most STI results use one of the terms below.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Not Detected / Non Detected / Negative | No evidence of current infection in the sample. |
| Detected / Positive | Active infection detected. A clinician follow-up link will appear in your portal. |
| Non-Reactive | No detectable antibodies or antigens to the infection (typically a negative blood test). Testing after the window period closes is important for reliable interpretation. |
| Reactive | Antibodies or antigens to the infection are present. This usually requires further testing or clinical follow-up to confirm. |
| Equivocal / Indeterminate | The result is borderline and the lab couldn't classify it. The lab may rerun the test automatically, or you may need a repeat test in a few weeks. |
| Pending / PND | The lab is still processing. Final result coming. |
For an active or follow-up-required result, a follow-up link will appear in your patient portal automatically.
Interpretation by test type#
For interpretation guidance on specific tests, see the relevant topic page. Each page covers what the test measures, what the result means, and common follow-up questions.
- Cholesterol / Lipid Profile - see Cholesterol Profile and NMR Lipid Profile.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) - see Complete Blood Count (CBC). Covers isolated MCHC / MCH / MCV flags.
- Creatinine and eGFR (kidney function) - see Creatinine and eGFR. Covers low creatinine with normal eGFR.
- Diabetes (HbA1c, Fasting Blood Glucose) - see Diabetes - A1c and Fasting Blood Glucose.
- STI testing (chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, etc.) - see All About STI Testing, About the Herpes Virus, and Mycoplasma genitalium.
- Thyroid (TSH, T3, T4) - see The Thyroid - TSH, T3, T4, RT3.
- Testosterone (TT, Free-T, DHT) - see Testosterone and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG).
- Vitamin D - see Vitamin D. Covers what to do about low Vitamin D.
- Vitamin B12 - see Vitamin B12. Covers what to do about high Vitamin B12.
- Vitamin B9 (Folate) - see Vitamin B9 (Folate).
- PSA (prostate) - see Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA).
- AMH (fertility) - see Fertility Testing and AMH.
If your specific question isn't covered on a topic page, use our contact form to flag it and our team can add it.
When in doubt#
- Abnormal-result follow-up: use the follow-up link in your patient portal - it appears automatically and is included at no additional fee. See the Results page for follow-up timing details.
- Normal results with persistent symptoms: a physical exam at a walk-in clinic or with your family doctor is often the right next step.
- You'd like a clinician to interpret a specific result: submit a new consultation through the relevant test panel on teletest.ca and mention which results you'd like to discuss in the intake's additional-information section.
Last reviewed: Spring 2026. Reviewed by Dr. Mohan Pandit, Chief Medical Officer at TeleTest. We review this page periodically as medical guidelines, lab practices, and provincial programs evolve. This page is for general information, not personal medical advice. If you've noticed information that may be out of date or have suggestions, please contact us - we appreciate the help keeping these resources accurate.