Best practice in primary care pathology: review 6.
This sixth best practice review examines four series of common primary care questions in laboratory medicine: (1) laboratory monitoring in hypertension and heart failure abnormalities; (2) markers of inflammatory joint disease; (3) laboratory investigation of chronic diarrhoea; and (4) mumps and chickenpox. 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, Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK. info@smellie.com
Forth
J
J
Coleman
J J
JJ
Irvine
W
W
Dore
P C
PC
Handley
G
G
Williams
D G
DG
Galloway
P J
PJ
Kerr
K G
KG
Herriot
R
R
Spickett
G P
GP
Reynolds
T M
TM
D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D009107:Mumps / Q000175:diagnosis; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*
D015415:Biomarkers