Lesson 1Metabolic panels: basic and comprehensive metabolic panel components and clinical significanceLooks at basic and full metabolic panels, covering the tests included, sample needs, normal ranges, and how odd patterns help check kidney work, sugar levels, salts in blood, and general body balance.
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 osmolalityDives into kidney function and salt tests like BUN, creatinine, anion gap, and blood thickness, stressing sample handling issues, how to calculate, and reading results in sudden kidney problems, dryness, and acid balance troubles.
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 urine, or yellow skin, pointing out main panels, ruling out steps, warning signs, and when to go for more advanced checks.
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 cultureGoes into everyday urine tests, covering stick chemistry and sediment under microscope, linking to kidney and bladder issues, rules for growing bugs, and spotting mix-ups or poor 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, and BNP, focusing on how they rise, repeat sampling, test mix-ups, and matching 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, and when to check slides, helping spot 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 testsFocuses on choosing bug tests by likely source, like urine and blood growth, quick antigen and gene tests, and how time, amount, and transport affect finding germs reliably.
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 tests like AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and bilirubin types, stressing patterns 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 lactateReviews clotting tests and quick bedside checks like PT/INR, aPTT, D-dimer, finger sugar and lactate, stressing when to use, limits, and fast sharing of danger results.
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
