Tips for IM Attendings – Chapter 13 – Understanding Laboratory Tests

We order many laboratory tests.  Learners report laboratory tests regularly, but too often they lack a sophisticated understanding of their meaning. Regularly a new student or intern reports that the labs are “unremarkable” (an unfortunate term).  As a lover of lab test interpretation I cringe, especially when I look at the labs for clues.  Excellent internists know that laboratory tests provide clues and those clues sometimes lead to answers. The best attending physicians will study and learn how to interpret all the common tests and many of the less commonly ordered tests.  Here is the good news, most learners appreciate developing a better understanding of what laboratory tests mean. Here are a few examples, please let me know of others that you favor: How to interpret liver tests How to evaluate hyponatremia Interpreting abnormal bicarbonate levels Calcium Phosphate The complete blood count Anemia Thrombocytopenia WBC differential Creatinine – especially how and when to use the eGFR Appropriate use of urine electrolytes and osms Urinalysis – what clues does it provides (how the specific gravity can help us) Pleural fluid analysis Ascitic fluid analysis CSF analysis These are not trivial, yet too many learners miss the clues that these tests provide.  If we plan to order tests, we must understand how they help us help the patient.  Too often in practice and in education physicians miss these clues. Quick talks on these subjects help us integrate ...
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs