What is a Biomarker?
A biomarker is a measurable biological indicator (e.g., glucose, cholesterol, sodium, hemoglobin) that provides information about a person’s health state.
Biomarkers are used in laboratory tests, wearable device data, and clinical reports.
For example, a complete blood count consists of several biomarkers.
Currently, there are more than 5000 biomarkers in Ornament’s database.
We are constantly expanding our information, but it is still incomplete. Ornament will not include any biomarker values given in units of measurement not present in the app. Typos or other mistakes in biomarker names may also cause them to not upload correctly. If a biomarker is later added to the database, you can manually update your previous results to include it.
If any biomarkers from an uploaded report are missing, the rest of the test will still be digitized.
You can also request new biomarkers to be added.
Structure of a Biomarker in Ornament
Each biomarker in Ornament includes several key characteristics:
• Name and Synonyms
A biomarker has a main title (e.g., “Anion Gap”) and can have synonyms or translations in different languages.
• Biomaterial
Defines the sample type (serum, blood, urine, etc.). This ensures values are not confused across different sample sources.
For example:
“Glucose in serum” and “Glucose in blood” are treated as different biomarkers in the system.
• Measurement Units
Biomarkers can be measured in different units depending on their type (e.g., glucose in mg/dL or mmol/L).
Some are unitless (e.g., Body Mass Index, ratios, scores), and some are binary (e.g., _Positive / Negative).
Many units include alternate spellings or symbols
(e.g., µg = mcg = ug, µL = uL = mcL, mM = mmol/L).
Ornament normalizes these via a synonyms list so inputs from various labs are parsed consistently.
• Possible Value Range
Most biomarkers have realistic minimum and maximum values. These ranges help filter out input errors (e.g., mistyped lab results).
• References
Biomarkers often include reference ranges for interpreting results:
- Common range - values expected for most healthy individuals.
- Optimal range - narrower, sometimes recommended for specific populations.
• Recorded Values (Entries)
Each record (entry) typically contains:
- The measured value (normalized into the default unit).
- The original value and unit as it appeared in the lab result.
- The date of the measurement.