Lesson 1Metabolic panels: basic and comprehensive metabolic panel components and clinical significanceCovers basic and comprehensive metabolic panels, including included analytes, specimen requirements, reference intervals, and how abnormal patterns guide evaluation of renal function, glucose control, electrolytes, and overall metabolic status.
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 osmolalityExplores renal function and electrolyte tests, including BUN, creatinine, anion gap, and osmolality, emphasising preanalytical issues, calculation methods, and interpretation in acute kidney injury, dehydration, and acid-base disorders.
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)Provides a structured approach to choosing tests based on presenting symptoms such as chest pain, dysuria, and jaundice, highlighting core panels, rule-out strategies, red flags, and when to escalate to advanced or confirmatory testing.
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 cultureDetails routine urinalysis, including dipstick chemistry and microscopic sediment, with emphasis on correlation to renal and urinary tract disease, criteria for reflex culture, and recognition of contamination or collection problems.
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 timingCovers selection and timing of cardiac biomarkers, including troponin I/T, CK-MB, and BNP, focusing on release kinetics, serial sampling strategies, assay interferences, and integration with clinical risk scores and ECG findings.
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 hematology tests in acute care, focusing on CBC, differential, reticulocyte count, and smear review triggers, and how these parameters support evaluation of infection, anaemia, bleeding risk, and bone marrow disorders.
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 testsFocuses on selecting microbiology tests based on suspected source, including urine and blood cultures, rapid antigen and molecular assays, and how timing, volume, and transport conditions affect pathogen recovery and result reliability.
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 patternsExplains liver function and injury tests, including AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and bilirubin fractions, emphasising pattern recognition for hepatocellular, cholestatic, and infiltrative disease, plus preanalytical and drug-related 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 coagulation assays and urgent bedside tests, including PT/INR, aPTT, D-dimer, and point-of-care glucose and lactate, with emphasis on indications, limitations, and rapid communication of critical or panic 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
