Basic Skills in Interpreting Laboratory Data

The editor's informational page about:

Basic Skills in Interpreting Laboratory Data : Illustrated With Case Studies

Scott Traub (Editor) at ScottTraub@aol.com

2nd Edition, Paperback, Published by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Publication Date: June 1996, ISBN: 1879907623. You can purchase Basic Skills in Interpreting Laboratory Data via Amazon Books.

Summary and outline of book by the editor

Preface/Introduction

This book aims to familiarize health-care providers with the fundamentals of interpreting clinical laboratory test results. The vast majority of tests discussed here is performed in the clinical laboratory and involve biochemistry. Pulmonary function tests, some cardiac tests (e.g., electrocardiogram) and arterial blood gases are exceptions. They are included because of their importance in diagnosis and selection and monitoring of therapy. The scope of this book is limited to those tests that are routinely available at or performed by most laboratories or hospitals. With few exceptions, it does not cover investigational or research assays.

The book is geared primarily to the mid-career, general practitioner who has had only limited experience working with laboratory test results but who wants to develop skills in this area. A glossary of contextual definitions is included (Appendix C) to help readers who do not have an extensive medical vocabulary. The "allied health" student (who does not need to study the analytical and procedural aspects of tests) may also find this book useful as a primary text in a "clinical laboratory data" course, or as a reference source (it is heavily indexed) for a therapeutics or diagnostics course.

Organization

Chapters and discussions are organized primarily by disease or organ system; however, for ease of discussion, some chapters and sections use a "test" perspective (e.g., chapters 15 and 16). Consequently, discussion of some tests appears in more than one chapter. To minimize redundancy, within each chapter the scope of such tests covers only pertinent aspects and interchapter referrals are given. In addition, comprehensive indexing allows the reader to easily locate discussion of the various clinical applications and interpretations of theses tests.

It is important for readers to have a basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology, at least as they relate to the mechanism behind the change in test results. Therefore, chapters on tests related to specific organ systems or diseases (chapters 6 through 16) are briefly prefaced with pertinent anatomy and physiology.

As the title implies, this text emphasizes the interpretation of laboratory test results as opposed to (1) the chemical or procedural aspects of the assay or (2) decisions regarding appropriate test selection. All chapters begin with learning objectives and include a table of contents. Chapters 1 through 3 cover fundamental definitions, concepts and technologies relating to laboratory testing, and should facilitate comprehension of subsequent chapters. Chapters 4 and 5 deal with drugs and are written from a test viewpoint. Chapters 6 through 16 cover common laboratory tests to assess functional status of and gain other information on various body systems.

What's New

All material from the 1st edition has been updated and expanded. Unlike the first edition, all chapters include several case studies and real-life practical examples of interpreting test results. Although this is not a "therapeutics" text, authors have been encouraged to use drug therapy - related examples to reinforce important points or concepts concerning interpretation of a laboratory test. This was based on the assumption that this would allow many readers to be able to integrate and apply the knowledge more easily.

New to this edition are QuickView Charts for pertinent tests. These charts provide a "snap-shot" of important clinical information including reference ranges for adults & pediatrics; "critical values"; if a natural substance - the major tissue/organ location and whether the substance has any inherent physiological activity; major causes and mechanisms of "true" abnormal (high/positive/low) results; time-course (after insult) of positive/high tests (i.e., time to onset, peak, normalization of result); signs and symptoms associated with high (or positive) and low values; diseases and drugs monitored with the test; and significant in vitro drug interferences.

Outline and Summary of Contents

CHAPTER 1 - Definitions and Concepts
CHAPTER 2 - Common Assays - Clinical Relevance of Technology
CHAPTER 3 - Evaluating Potential Drug Interferences with Test Results
CHAPTER 4 - Drugs of Abuse Testing
CHAPTER 5 - Interpretation of Serum Drug Concentrations (SDC)
CHAPTER 6 - Electrolytes and Other Minerals
CHAPTER 7 - The Kidneys and Urology
CHAPTER 8 - Arterial Blood Gases and Acid-Base Balance
CHAPTER 9 - Pulmonary Function Tests
CHAPTER 10 - The Heart & Myocardial Infarction
CHAPTER 11 - The Liver & Gastroenterology
CHAPTER 12 - Endocrine and Metabolism
CHAPTER 13 - Metabolic Disorders
CHAPTER 14 - Hematology: Red & White Cell Lines and Related Tests
CHAPTER 15 - Hematology: Tests of Blood Coagulation
CHAPTER 16 - Infectious Diseases
CHAPTER 17 - Rheumatological and Autoimmune Diseases
APPENDICES
INDEX

CHAPTER 1

Definitions and Concepts

Normal Range, Specificity, Sensitivity and Predictive Value
Qualitative vs (Semi-) Quantitative tests; Laboratory Error
Units Used in Reporting Laboratory Data
Rationale For Ordering Tests and Cost-Benefit Considerations
General Guidelines For Interpretation of Laboratory Data
Review of selected books and services