title: Best practice in primary care pathology: review 5.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Durham, UK. info@smellie.com
authors.forename: W S A
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Smellie
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D018020:Lithium Compounds