title: When laboratory tests are abnormal and the patient feels fine.
abstract: With routine biochemical screens, the problem is often with the tests, not with the patient. Nine of the most common offenders, which provide little if any useful information in the absence of clinical manifestations, are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shulkin
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: DeTore
mesh_terms: D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014556:Urine / Q000032:analysis*; D014558:Urobilinogen / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D014558:Urobilinogen; D014527:Uric Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase