Lesson 1Metabolic panels: basic and comprehensive metabolic panel components and clinical significanceCovers basic and full metabolic panels, including all analytes inside, sample needs, normal ranges, and how odd patterns help check kidney work, sugar control, salts balance, and general body metabolism 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 osmolalityLooks into kidney function and salt tests like BUN, creatinine, anion gap, osmolality, stressing sample handling issues, calculation ways, and reading in sudden kidney trouble, dry body, and acid-base problems.
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)Gives a clear way to choose tests from symptoms like chest pain, painful wee, yellow skin, pointing out main panels, rule-out plans, danger signs, and when to go for advanced or confirm 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 cultureDetails regular urine test, including dipstick chemicals and microscope bits, stressing link to kidney and urine path problems, rules for extra culture, and spotting dirt or bad collection.
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 picking and timing heart markers like troponin I/T, CK-MB, BNP, focusing on release times, repeat sampling, test mix-ups, and mixing 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, focusing on full blood count, cell types, young red cell count, smear check triggers, and how they help check infection, low blood, bleed risk, 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 testsFocuses on picking germ tests by suspected spot, including urine and blood cultures, quick antigen and gene tests, and how time, amount, transport affect germ find 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 patternsExplains liver work and damage tests like AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, bilirubin parts, stressing pattern spot for liver cell, block, infiltrate disease, 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 lactateReviews blood clotting tests and quick bedside ones like PT/INR, aPTT, D-dimer, finger sugar and lactate, stressing when to use, limits, quick share of danger 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
