Understanding Your Thai Health Check-Up Results (2026 Guide)

Q: My Bangkok health check-up results are in Thai — what do I do?

If you had your check-up at a major international hospital (Bumrungrad, Samitivej, Bangkok Hospital, Vejthani, BNH), ask for an English copy — all these hospitals issue English reports as standard. If your report is in Thai only, the international patient centre can arrange a translated summary. Alternatively, photograph the numerical results — the laboratory values (numbers and units) are universal.

Q: What if one of my results is flagged as 'out of range'?

An out-of-range flag means the value falls outside the statistical normal range — it does NOT necessarily mean you are sick. Many out-of-range results are minor, transient, or clinically insignificant. The attending doctor's written assessment at the end of the report tells you which abnormal results require follow-up. If in doubt, book a 15-minute doctor consultation at the hospital (฿300–800) to review specific concerns.

Q: How do I share my Bangkok test results with my doctor back home?

Ask the hospital to email a PDF copy of your full laboratory report — all major Bangkok international hospitals provide this service free of charge. For imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI), request a CD or USB stick of the DICOM files and a radiologist's written report. Most Western hospitals and GPs can read DICOM files directly.

Blood test results: normal ranges to know

Key blood test reference ranges used by Thai hospitals (WHO/international standards):

▸Fasting blood glucose: 70–100 mg/dL (normal), 100–125 (pre-diabetes), 126+ (diabetes threshold)
▸HbA1c (3-month blood sugar average): <5.7% (normal), 5.7–6.4% (pre-diabetes), 6.5%+ (diabetes)
▸Total cholesterol: <200 mg/dL (desirable), 200–239 (borderline), 240+ (high)
▸LDL cholesterol: <100 mg/dL (optimal for most), <70 for high-risk individuals
▸HDL cholesterol: >60 mg/dL (good), <40 for men / <50 for women (low, risk factor)
▸Triglycerides: <150 mg/dL (normal), 150–199 (borderline), 200+ (high)
▸ALT/AST (liver enzymes): ALT normal 7–40 U/L, AST 10–40 U/L — elevated may indicate liver stress
▸Creatinine (kidney): Male 0.7–1.3 mg/dL, Female 0.6–1.1 mg/dL
▸TSH (thyroid): 0.4–4.0 mIU/L (normal); outside range requires follow-up
▸Uric acid: Male <7.0 mg/dL, Female <6.0 mg/dL — elevated linked to gout

Cancer marker results: what they mean

Cancer tumour markers included in Bangkok hospital packages — what to know:

▸AFP (alpha-fetoprotein, liver cancer): <10 ng/mL is normal; elevated doesn't mean cancer — can be elevated in liver disease, pregnancy, or other conditions
▸PSA (prostate, men only): <4.0 ng/mL (normal); 4–10 is a grey zone; >10 warrants urology referral
▸CA-125 (ovarian, women): <35 U/mL normal; elevated in many conditions (endometriosis, fibroids) not just cancer
▸CEA (colon/lung/breast): <2.5 ng/mL (non-smokers), <5.0 (smokers); mild elevation is common and often not cancer
▸CA 19-9 (pancreatic): <37 U/mL; single elevated result requires repeat testing — highly variable
▸⚠️ Important: A single elevated cancer marker result is NOT a cancer diagnosis. It requires clinical context, repeat testing, and specialist review. Do not panic over a borderline result.

CBC (complete blood count) explained

What each CBC measurement means:

▸Haemoglobin (Hb): Male 13.5–17.5 g/dL, Female 12.0–15.5 g/dL — low indicates anaemia
▸WBC (white blood cells): 4,500–11,000 cells/μL — high may indicate infection or inflammation
▸Platelets: 150,000–400,000/μL — low may affect clotting; high may increase clot risk
▸MCV (red blood cell size): 80–100 fL — low indicates iron-deficiency anaemia; high indicates B12/folate deficiency
▸Thai hospitals flag out-of-range values with H (high) or L (low) markers on the report

Frequently Asked Questions

My Bangkok health check-up results are in Thai — what do I do?▼

If you had your check-up at a major international hospital (Bumrungrad, Samitivej, Bangkok Hospital, Vejthani, BNH), ask for an English copy — all these hospitals issue English reports as standard. If your report is in Thai only, the international patient centre can arrange a translated summary. Alternatively, photograph the numerical results — the laboratory values (numbers and units) are universal.

What if one of my results is flagged as 'out of range'?▼

An out-of-range flag means the value falls outside the statistical normal range — it does NOT necessarily mean you are sick. Many out-of-range results are minor, transient, or clinically insignificant. The attending doctor's written assessment at the end of the report tells you which abnormal results require follow-up. If in doubt, book a 15-minute doctor consultation at the hospital (฿300–800) to review specific concerns.

How do I share my Bangkok test results with my doctor back home?▼

Ask the hospital to email a PDF copy of your full laboratory report — all major Bangkok international hospitals provide this service free of charge. For imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI), request a CD or USB stick of the DICOM files and a radiologist's written report. Most Western hospitals and GPs can read DICOM files directly.