Main description:

Blood Tests Made Easy is a quick reference guide designed to bring medical students up to speed when interpreting blood tests on their clinical placements. Small enough to be carried and quickly referenced on the go, this book covers everything you need to know when interpreting bloods, including the main abnormalities you are likely to encounter. Rather than focusing on theory or physiology, it is designed to provide an easy-to-follow guide to support clinical decision making.

This latest addition to the Made Easy series will fill knowledge gaps on blood test interpretation, becoming a valuable asset both for medical students and, later, as a reference guide to increase junior doctors' confidence on the wards.

Relevant to real life - material laid out like real hospital laboratory tests
Easy to use - information presented in a clear and accessible format
Case studies and multiple-choice questions to aid revision
Portable for easy access on the wards

Contents:

1. Effective use of laboratory tests
2. Interpreting laboratory tests
3. The urea and electrolyte (U&E) profile
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Bicarbonate
- Chloride
- Urea
- Creatinine
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
- Other tests of kidney function
4. The bone profile
- Calcium
- Phosphate
- Albumin
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
5. The liver profile
- Bilirubin
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
- Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
6. Blood gas analysis and pH
7. Endocrine testing
- Pituitary function
- Adrenal function
- Thyroid function
- Gonadal function
- Other hormones
8. Blood proteins
9. Enzymes
10. Glucose and other tests relevant to diabetes mellitus
11. Lipids and other tests relevant to cardiovascular disease
12. Tumour markers
13. Assessing nutrition
14. Heavy metals
15. Therapeutic drug monitoring
16. Poisoning
17. The full blood picture (FBP)
- Haemoglobin
- White cell count
- Platelet count
- Red cell indices
- Blood film interpretation
18. Tests of coagulation
19. Blood grouping
20. Testing during pregnancy
21. Testing during childhood
22. Metabolic disorders
23. Analysis of body fluids other than blood
- Urine
- Pleural fluid
- Peritoneal fluid
- Cerebrospinal fluid
- Synovial fluid