Understanding laboratory investigations for nurses and health care professionals

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.

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""Understanding Laboratory Investigations for Nurses and Health Professionals (second edition)"" provides nurses with essential, easily digested information about the most frequently requested tests performed on patient samples in hospital laboratories, including the clinical relevance of test results. ""Understanding Laboratory Investigations for Nurses and Health Professionals (second edition)"" explains the physiological function being measured, details of reference ranges and the clinical significance of test results for diagnosis or patient monitoring. Test results which warrant immediate clinical intervention are identified and wherever possible, abnormal test results are related to symptoms. The second edition reflects recent developments in practice and includes more on point of care testing, additional chapters on calcium and phosphorus and urinalysis/dipstick testing, and a glossary. Each chapter ends with discussion of a case study and questions to help students assess their understanding of the topic.