Best practice in primary care pathology: review 6
- W S A Smellie1,
- J Forth2,
- J J Coleman3,
- W Irvine4,
- P C Dore5,
- G Handley6,
- D G Williams7,
- P J Galloway8,
- K G Kerr9,
- R Herriot10,
- G P Spickett11,
- T M Reynolds12
- 1Department of Chemical Pathology, Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK
- 2Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics, Bede House, All Saints Business Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- 3Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Investigation Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
- 4Department of Microbiology, School of Molecular Medical Sciences, University Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
- 5Department of Immunology, Hull Royal Infirmary, Anlaby Road, Hull, UK
- 6Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK
- 7Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Kayll Road, Sunderland, UK
- 8Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK
- 9Department of Microbiology, Harrogate District Hospital, Harrogate, UK
- 10Department of Immunology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Forresterhill, Aberdeen, UK
- 11Department of Immnology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UK
- 12Department of Chemical Pathology, Queen’s Hospital, Burton on Trent, Staffs, UK
- Correspondence to: Dr W S A Smellie Department of Chemical Pathology, Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 6AD, UK; info{at}smellie.com
- Accepted 13 June 2006
- Published Online First 5 July 2006
Abstract
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.
- ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
- ARB, angiotensin II receptor antagonists
- CRP, C reactive protein
- eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate
- ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- FBC, full blood count
- GFR, glomerular filtration rate
- GMS, General Medical Services
- HLA, human leucocyte antigen
- RhF, rheumatoid factor
- SpA, spondyloarthritides
- VZIG, varicella-zoster immunoglobulin
- VZV, varicella-zoster virus
Footnotes
-
Published Online First 5 July 2006
-
↵* These organisations contributed direct funding to support the project start up.
-
This work has been supported (in alphabetical order) by the Association of Clinical Biochemists*, Association of Clinical Pathologists*, Association of Medical Microbiologists, British Society for Haematology, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Pathologists* and the Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics in Newcastle (SCHIN), representatives of whom have contributed to the reviewing process. The opinions stated are however those of the authors.
-
Competing interests: None declared.
