Understanding Laboratory Investigations

Christopher Higgins is a former Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer and freelance scientific writer.

PART 1 Introduction. Chapter 1 Introduction to clinical laboratories. Chapter 2 Some principles of laboratory testing. PART 2 Clinical Biochemistry Tests. Chapter 3 Blood glucose. Chapter 4 Serum/plasma sodium and potassium. Chapter 5 Serum/plasma urea and creatinine and creatinine clearance. Chapter 6 Serum/plasma calcium and phosphate. Chapter 7 Blood gases. Chapter 8 Serum/plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. Chapter 9 Cardiac markers. Chapter 10 Thyroid function tests. Chapter 11 Liver function tests. Chapter 12 Serum/plasma amylase. Chapter 13 Drug overdose: paracetamol and salicylate. Chapter 14 Therapeutic drug monitoring: lithium, digoxin and theophylline. . PART 3 Haematology Tests. Chapter 15 Full Blood Count 1: Red blood cell count, haemoglobin and other red cell indices. Chapter 16 Full Blood Count 2: White cell count and differential. Chapter 17 Tests of Haemostasis: Platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT). Chapter 18 Laboratory investigation of anaemia: Iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, B12 and folate. Chapter 19 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. PART 4 Blood Transfusion Testing. Chapter 20 Blood Group, antibody screen and crossmatch. PART 5 Microbiology Testing. Chapter 21 Urine microscopy, culture and sensitivity. Chapter 22 Blood culture. PART 6 Cytopathology Testing. Chapter 23 Cervical ('Pap') smear test. PART 7 Point Of Care Testing. Chapter 24 Dipstick testing of urine