Lab Medicine

Question 1

What are the 4 main reasons to request laboratory investigations?

Answer 1

Screening
Diagnosis
Monitoring
Prognosis

Question 2

Describe role of screening and give an example.

Answer 2

Detection of sub-clinical disease e.g cervical smear.

Question 3

Describe the role of monitoring and give an example.

Answer 3

Confirmation or rejection of clinical diagnosis e.g measurement of urea or creatinine for query renal function.

Question 4

Describe monitoring and give an example.

Answer 4

Natural history or response to treatment e.g measure CRP to see if infection is resolved or measure CD4+ and viral load for HIV).

Question 5

Describe prognosis.

Answer 5

Prediction of course or outcome e.g tumour markers.

Question 6

List some individual laboratory medicine specialities.

Answer 6

Genetics, forensic pathology, haematology, microbiology, immunology, toxicology, virology, histopathology, clinical biochemistry.

Question 7

Give an example of use of lab tests in the patient pathway.

Answer 7

40yo male, MI 3 months ago, family history, increased BP and tendon xanthomata.
Biochem report shows increased cholesterol and LDL - Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (confirmed by Simon Broome criteria)

Question 8

Describe benefits of point of care testing.

Answer 8

Improved turnaround time, potential for better monitoring, less invasive, however can go wrong!

Question 9

Give examples of point of care testing.

Answer 9

BM, gases, urine analysis.

Question 10

Explain why it is important to adhere to laboratory sample acceptance policy.

Answer 10

Allows lab to produce right results on right patient at the right time and allow clinicians to give right treatment in a timely manner.

Question 11

What is the essential info required for samples.

Answer 11

Name, chi number, DOB, location, requesting practitioner, specimen type, anatomical site, date and time.