Lesson 1Metabolic panels: basic and comprehensive metabolic panel components and clinical significanceThis lesson covers basic and comprehensive metabolic panels, listing the analytes included, sample needs, normal ranges, and how unusual patterns help check 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 osmolalityThis lesson looks into kidney function and salt tests like BUN, creatinine, anion gap, and osmolality, stressing sample handling issues, calculation ways, 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)This lesson gives a clear method for choosing tests from symptoms like chest pain, painful urination, and yellow skin, pointing out main panels, exclusion plans, warning signs, and when to move to 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 cultureThis lesson explains standard urine testing, covering dipstick chemicals and microscope view of particles, focusing on links 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 timingThis lesson covers picking and timing heart markers like troponin I/T, CK-MB, and BNP, looking at release patterns, repeat sampling plans, test mix-ups, 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 triggersThis lesson starts with blood tests in urgent cases, focusing on full blood count, cell types, young red cell count, and when to check slides, supporting checks for infections, low blood, bleeding risks, and bone 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 testsThis lesson focuses on choosing germ tests by suspected source, covering urine and blood cultures, quick germ and gene tests, and how time, amount, and transport affect finding germs 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 patternsThis lesson explains liver tests like AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and bilirubin types, stressing pattern spotting for liver cell damage, blockages, and invasions, plus sample and drug mix-ups.
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 lactateThis lesson reviews blood clotting tests and quick bedside checks like PT/INR, aPTT, D-dimer, and spot glucose and 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
