Best practice in primary care pathology: review 9.
This ninth best-practice review examines two series of common primary care questions in laboratory medicine: (i) potassium abnormalities and (ii) venous leg ulcer microbiology. The review is presented in question-and-answer format, referenced for each question series. The recommendations represent a précis 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 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 DL14 6AD, UK.
Shaw
N
N
Bowlees
R
R
Taylor
A
A
Howell-Jones
R
R
McNulty
C A M
CA
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*