Table describing common lab tests?

[bretonnia]

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I'm looking for a single table or graphic of some sort describing commonly ordered lab tests and what they test for. I.e. CBC: Hct, WBC, etc. I don't need it to contain "normal values"; I just want to learn what many of the commonly ordered lab tests are and what they mean. Does anyone know where that can be found?

I thought the Merk manual would have something, but so far, no luck. I can find individual information easily, but nothing at one spot.

 

[Priapism4tooLong]

The most important thing any good doctor will tell you is that

 

[Priapism4tooLong]

Doctors don't order lab tests, lab tests order us.

 

[CrimsonKing]

The labs you order will differ based on a patient's specific presentation, history, and physical exam.

You could always order a ridiculous amount of tests that waste money and don't help you much, but you should try not to do that.

If everything could follow the same flowsheet there would be no need to have us, as nurses and midlevels would be capable of doing the job.

 

[sinombre]

Doctors don't order lab tests, lab tests order us.

How is medical school in Russia?

 

[Apoplexy__]

I'm looking for a single table or graphic of some sort describing commonly ordered lab tests and what they test for. I.e. CBC: Hct, WBC, etc. I don't need it to contain "normal values"; I just want to learn what many of the commonly ordered lab tests are and what they mean. Does anyone know where that can be found?

I thought the Merk manual would have something, but so far, no luck. I can find individual information easily, but nothing at one spot.

Are you asking for something that says:
-CBC: Hct, Hgb, RBC's, WBCs, Bands, Segs...
-CMP: Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3-...
-Lipid profile: Total chol, LDL, HDL...

Etc.?

 

[Smurfette]

search for "lab panel components".

No one expects you to know much beyond the common cbc, bmp, cmp, LFTs, lipid panel, coag studies, ABG. Other tests you will learn as you go along. Some hospital systems bundle stuff that other places will just have as individual orders, so realize that not every lab panel name or grouping is ubiquitous.

http://laboratory.uchealth.com/tests/lab-panel-components/
http://www.centralmedlab.com/panelmenu.html

Also, some hospitals have slight variations in some lab panels, or call them different names (i.e. "chem-7"="bmp", etc.).

 

[bretonnia]

Are you asking for something that says:
-CBC: Hct, Hgb, RBC's, WBCs, Bands, Segs...
-CMP: Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3-...
-Lipid profile: Total chol, LDL, HDL...

Etc.?

Yeah. Just the common ones. I ask because my school includes case studies in its curriculum, and we usually will end up ordering blood tests of some sort. Plus, I'd like to be more familiar with common labs for rotations.

 

[Apoplexy__]

Yeah. Just the common ones. I ask because my school includes case studies in its curriculum, and we usually will end up ordering blood tests of some sort. Plus, I'd like to be more familiar with common labs for rotations.

My school had the same curriculum. Don't worry, you'll pick it up really quickly and effortlessly.

Check smurfette's links, but don't spend too much time on it. Your curriculum will prepare you plenty for ordering labs on rotations.