Abnormal Laboratory Results Manual

Abnormal Laboratory Results
Foreword

Preface to the third edition

Contributors

Acknowledgments

Part 1 General Issues
1 What to do about abnormal laboratory results

2 Abnormal laboratory results

3 What does the reference range of a biochemical screen test mean?

4 Pitfalls in interpreting laboratory results

5 Moving beyond sensitivity and specificity: using likelihood ratios to help interpret diagnostic tests

6 Point-of-care testing comes of age in Australia

7 Urine testing

Part 2 Biochemistry Tests
8 Plasma sodium

9 Serum potassium

10 Serum urea

11 Assessing renal function

12 Interpreting arterial blood gases

13 Calcium and vitamin D

14 Magnesium: the forgotten electrolyte

15 Hyperuricaemia

16 Liver function tests

17 Interpretation and significance of high blood cholesterol

18 Managing hyperlipidaemia: criteria for investigating lipids

19 New cardiac markers

20 B-type natriuretic peptide: a new diagnostic tool for congestive heart failure

21 Thyroid function tests

22 Evaluating adrenocortical function in adults

23 The glucose tolerance test

24 Diabetes monitoring: use of glycated haemoglobin and glycated protein assays

25 Fertility testing

26 Biochemical tests in pregnancy

27 Biochemical tests for abnormalities in pregnancy

28 Interpreting paediatric biochemistry results

29 Drug screens

30 Therapeutic drug monitoring: which drugs, why, when and how to do it

Part 3 Haematology Tests
31 The red cells

32 Interpreting biochemical tests for iron deficiency: diagnostic difficulties imposed by the limitations of individual tests

33 Appropriate use of tests for folate and vitamin B deficiency

34 Screening for thalassaemia and haemoglobin variants

35 Investigations for thrombotic tendencies

36 Tests of haemostasis: detecting the patient at risk of bleeding

37 Abnormal haematology results in children

Part 4 Microbiology Tests
38 Hepatitis B: laboratory diagnosis and vaccination

39 Hepatitis C: laboratory diagnosis and monitoring

40 HIV testing in Australia

41 Testing for sexually transmitted infections

42 Testing for Helicobacter pylori

Part 5 Immunology Tests
43 Screening for multiple myeloma

44 Testing cell-mediated immunity

45 Cell markers

46 Skin prick testing and in vitro assays for allergic sensitivity

47 Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)

48 Rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody

Part 6 Genetic Tests
49 BRCA testing for familial breast cancer

Index