Lesson 1Metabolic panels: basic and comprehensive metabolic panel components and clinical significanceCovers basic and comprehensive metabolic panels, including analytes included, specimen needs, reference ranges, and how abnormal patterns help assess kidney function, blood sugar control, electrolytes, and general metabolic health.
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 at kidney function and electrolyte tests like BUN, creatinine, anion gap, and osmolality, stressing pre-test issues, calculation methods, and reading results in acute kidney injury, dehydration, 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)Offers a clear method for picking tests based on symptoms like chest pain, painful urination, and jaundice, pointing out key panels, exclusion strategies, warning signs, and when to move to advanced 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 standard urine testing, covering dipstick chemistry and microscopic sediment, with focus on links to kidney and urinary issues, rules for follow-up culture, and spotting contamination or collection errors.
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 choosing and timing heart biomarkers like troponin I/T, CK-MB, and BNP, focusing on release patterns, repeat sampling, test interferences, and combining with risk scores and ECG results.
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, differential, reticulocyte count, and smear review triggers, and how these aid in checking for infection, anaemia, bleeding risk, 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 testsFocuses on picking microbiology tests by suspected source, including urine and blood cultures, rapid antigen and molecular tests, and how timing, volume, and transport affect bug detection and result accuracy.
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 pattern spotting for liver cell damage, bile duct issues, and infiltration, plus pre-test and drug 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 urgent bedside checks like PT/INR, aPTT, D-dimer, and point-of-care sugar and lactate, emphasising uses, limits, and quick reporting of critical 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
