Best practice in primary care pathology: review 5.
This fifth best practice review examines three series of common primary care questions in laboratory medicine: (1) minor liver function test abnormalities; (2) laboratory monitoring of patients receiving lithium; and (3) investigation of possible venous thromboembolism. The review is presented in question-answer format, referenced for each question series. The recommendations represent a precis of guidance found using a standardised literature search of national and international guidance notes, consensus statements, health policy documents and evidence-based medicine reviews, supplemented by Medline Embase searches to identify relevant primary research documents. They are not standards but form a guide to be set in the clinical context. Most are consensus-based rather than evidence-based. They will be updated periodically to take account of new information.
Smellie
W S A
WS
Department of Chemical Pathology, Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Durham, UK. info@smellie.com
Forth
J
J
Ryder
S
S
Galloway
M J
MJ
Wood
A C
AC
Watson
I D
ID
D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000097:blood*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D018020:Lithium Compounds