Lesson 1Metabolic panels: basic and comprehensive metabolic panel components and clinical significanceExplains basic and comprehensive metabolic panels, covering analytes included, sample needs, normal ranges, and how unusual patterns help assess kidney function, blood sugar control, salts balance, and general body metabolism.
BMP vs CMP: included analytes and indicationsElectrolyte patterns in dehydration and acidosisGlucose, calcium, and renal markers in panelsSpecimen handling, hemolysis, and interferencesInterpreting multi-analyte trends over timeLesson 2Renal and electrolytes: BUN, creatinine, electrolytes, anion gap, serum osmolalityCovers kidney function and electrolyte tests like BUN, creatinine, anion gap, and osmolality, stressing pre-testing issues, calculation methods, and reading results in sudden kidney problems, water loss, and acid-base imbalances.
BUN and creatinine: physiology and limitationsEstimated GFR calculations and clinical useElectrolyte panels and anion gap calculationSerum osmolality and osmolar gap assessmentPreanalytical factors affecting renal testsLesson 3Principles of test selection based on presenting symptoms (chest pain, dysuria, jaundice)Offers a systematic way to pick tests from symptoms like chest pain, painful urination, and yellow skin, focusing on main panels, exclusion tactics, warning signs, and timing for advanced or confirming tests.
Chest pain: cardiac, metabolic, and D-dimer testsDysuria: urinalysis, culture, and STI panelsJaundice: liver tests and hemolysis markersFever and sepsis: culture and lactate strategyAlgorithmic test pathways and reflex rulesLesson 4Urinalysis components: dipstick chemistry, microscopic sediment, indications for cultureDescribes standard urine testing, including strip chemistry and sediment under microscope, linking to kidney and urine path issues, rules for follow-up culture, and spotting mix-ups or collection faults.
Urine collection methods and preservationDipstick parameters and common interferencesMicroscopic sediment: cells, casts, and crystalsCriteria for reflex or indicated urine cultureDistinguishing contamination from true infectionLesson 5Cardiac biomarker selection: troponin I/T, CK-MB, BNP — indications and timingDiscusses choosing and timing heart markers like troponin I/T, CK-MB, BNP, with focus on release patterns, repeat sampling, test glitches, and combining with risk scores and heart tracings.
Troponin I vs T: assay features and cutoffsSerial sampling and delta troponin strategyCK-MB: legacy uses and current limitationsBNP and NT-proBNP in heart failure workupInterferences and false-positive elevationsLesson 6Hematology basics for acute presentation: CBC interpretation, differential, reticulocyte count, peripheral smear triggersIntroduces blood tests for urgent cases, covering full blood count, cell types, young red cell count, and smear checks, aiding checks for infections, low blood, bleeding risks, and marrow issues.
CBC parameters and critical value flagsDifferential patterns in infection and allergyAnemia classification and reticulocyte countPeripheral smear triggers and key findingsPreanalytical issues in hematology samplesLesson 7Microbiology tests selection: urine culture, blood culture indications, specimen-dependent rapid testsGuides picking germ tests by suspected site, covering urine/blood cultures, quick antigen/molecular tests, and effects of timing, amount, transport on germ detection and result trust.
Indications and timing for urine culturesBlood culture sets, volume, and contaminationSource-specific rapid antigen and PCR testsAnaerobic, wound, and respiratory culturesTransport media, temperature, and stabilityLesson 8Liver function tests: AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, total and direct bilirubin — interpretation patternsDetails liver tests like AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, bilirubin types, focusing on patterns for liver cell damage, blockages, and invasions, plus pre-test and medicine interferences.
AST and ALT in hepatocellular injuryALP and GGT in cholestatic processesTotal vs direct bilirubin and jaundice typesPattern recognition in mixed liver diseaseSpecimen handling and drug interferencesLesson 9Coagulation and bedside tests relevant to urgent care: PT/INR, aPTT, D-dimer, point-of-care glucose and lactateReviews clotting tests and quick bedside checks like PT/INR, aPTT, D-dimer, spot glucose/lactate, stressing uses, limits, and fast sharing of urgent or alarm values.
PT/INR: monitoring warfarin and liver functionaPTT: intrinsic pathway and heparin therapyD-dimer in suspected venous thromboembolismPoint-of-care glucose: accuracy and pitfallsLactate in shock and sepsis assessment
