Laboratory Medicine
General Information / Guidance on test interpretation- Clinical Biochemistry
Please find information by clicking on the links below:
Advice Regarding Result Interpretation:
ALLERGY TESTING - How to diagnose allergy in adults in primary care
B12 - see HAEMATINICS
BIOTIN- Biotin interference in Roche-manufactured immunoassays
BNP - Use of natriuretic peptides in the management of suspected heart failure
CALCIUM
– Guidance for assessment of hypercalcaemia in primary care
– Investigation of Hypocalcaemia in Primary Care
CALPROTECTIN
- The York faecal calprotectin care pathway for GPs *Updated Aug 24*
- Faecal calprotectin guidance for patients being managed in secondary care *Updated Aug 24*
CORTISOL - Investigation of Adrenal Insufficiency and Cushing’s Syndrome in Adults
CHLORIDE – Guidance for interpreting chloride results
CREATINE KINASE - Causes of Elevated CK
CRP - See INFLAMMATORY MARKERS
CUSHINGS SYNDROME - See CORTISOL
DIABETES - see HBA1C
ESR - See INFLAMMATORY MARKERS
ESTRADIOL – See OESTRADIOL
FAECAL CALPROTECTIN - See CALPROTECTIN
FERRITIN (high) - Investigation of elevated ferritin
FERRITIN (low) See HAEMATINICS
FOLATE - See HAEMATINCS
FREE LIGHT CHAINS – Guidance for interpreting free light chain results
FSH - Menopause investigation and laboratory testing
HAEMATINICS - Guidance for primary care on interpretation of haematinics (B12, folate and ferritin) *Updated June 24*
HBA1C (diagnosis of diabetes) – Guidance for when HbA1c is not suitable for diagnosis of diabetes
HBA1C (monitoring of diabetes) – Guidance for when HbA1c is not suitable for monitoring diabetes
HEART FAILURE - See BNP
HYPERKALAEMIA - See POTASSIUM
HYPONATRAEMIA - See SODIUM
HYPOMAGNESAEMIA - See MAGNESIUM
HYPOPHOSPHATAEMIA - See PHOSPHATE
IMMUNOGLOBULINS - Guidance for investigation of low immunoglobulins
INFLAMMATORY MARKERS – Guidance for which test to use and when
LIVER BLOOD TESTS / LIVER DISEASE -
- Guidance for primary care on liver disease and liver blood tests
- Reference Ranges for Liver Function Tests in Pregnancy
MAGNESIUM - Guidance for assessment and management of hypomagnesaemia in primary care
MENOPAUSE - See FSH
METANEPHRINES (Urine) – Investigation of suspected phaeochromocytoma using 24h urine metanephrines
MYELOMA/MGUS - See PARAPROTEINS
OSMOLALITY (Urine) - Guidance for investigation of polyuria / polydipsia
OESTRADIOL – Interpreting serum oestradiol levels
PARAPROTEINS - Management of patients with paraprotein
PHOSPHATE -
Information for Primary Care: Management of Hypophosphataemia * Updated April 24*
Renal Tubular Reabsorption of Phosphate * Updated April 24*
POTASSIUM -
- Investigating and management of hyperkalaemia (high potassium) in primary care (adults)
- Investigating and management of hypokalaemia (low potassium) in primary care (adults)
- Top tips for avoiding haemolysis
- Hyperkalaemia due to DELAYED CENTRIFUGATION
- To enquire about obtaining a centrifuge for your surgery, please contact Carl Burkinshaw, Biochemistry Operational Manager (York and Scarborough): 01723 342028, carl.burkinshaw@york.nhs.uk
POLYURIA- see OSMOLALITY (Urine)
PROLACTIN - Investigation of hyperprolactinaemia
PV - See INFLAMMATORY MARKERS
Renal Tubular Reabsorption of Phosphate - See PHOSPHATE
SODIUM - Investigation and management of hyponatraemia in primary care (Adults)
THERAPEUTIC DRUGS - Sampling requirements for commonly requested therapeutic drugs
THYROID FUNCTION TESTS - Guidance for requesting and interpreting thyroid function tests (TFTs)
TRACE ELEMENTS (ZINC, SELENIUM, COPPER) - A guide to requesting trace elements for adults in primary care
TROPONIN - Troponin testing in primary care
Web Page 26 Last Updated: 13/11/2024
Advice for Requesters - Cervical Cytology
How to Send Samples to the Lab
Advice for Requestors - Immunology
Advice for Requesters- Microbiology
Guidance on test interpretation- Clinical Biochemistry
Transportation of Samples and Postage
High Risk/Danger of Infection Samples
Request form and specimen labelling