According to HIPAA, a patient's lab results are considered:

Under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), a patient's lab results are classified as Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI encompasses any information that relates to an individual's health condition, the provision of healthcare, or payment for healthcare that can be used to identify the individual. This includes lab results, which are sensitive data that could reveal details about a person's medical history or health status.

The importance of PHI classification lies in the stringent protections HIPAA provides for such information. It is designed to ensure that healthcare providers handle this data with confidentiality and integrity, limiting who can access it and under what circumstances. Understanding that lab results fall under PHI emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to adhere to HIPAA guidelines, ensuring that patients' rights to privacy and security of their health information are maintained.