A biomarker is one measurable thing in a biological sample, so ferritin, TSH, HbA1c and vitamin D are each a biomarker and not a test. The laboratory measures it, gives it a number and a unit, and prints a reference range next to that number.
The word matters commercially because a supplier's catalogue is counted in biomarkers, while your customer buys a panel. Aniva has over 2,500 orderable parameters across eight modalities, but no single customer ever orders 2,500 of them, so the useful question is which of them you can sell together.
Two suppliers can offer the same marker name, yet give you different numbers, because the measurement method and the reference range are set by each laboratory.
- Ask which method is used for each biomarker, because immunoassay and mass spectrometry give different numbers.
- Ask whether the biomarker can be measured from the sample type you plan to sell.
- Ask which reference range the laboratory applies, since ranges differ between laboratories.
- Ask whether the marker is available at every site that will run your orders.
In this glossary, Panel explains how biomarkers are grouped for sale, Referenzbereich covers the range printed beside each number, and Befund covers what the customer finally reads.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat or rule out any condition. Discuss your own results with a clinician who knows your history.
