Article Text
Abstract
This seventh best-practice review examines four series of common primary care questions in laboratory medicine: (1) blood count abnormalities 2; (2) cardiac troponins; (3) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; and (4) viral diseases 2. The review is presented in a question–answer format, with authorship attributed for each question series. The recommendations are 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. The recommendations 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.
- ACS, acute coronary syndrome
- CHD, coronary heart disease
- CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- CMV, cytomegalovirus
- EBV, Epstein–Barr virus
- FBC, full blood count
- GMS, General Medical Services
- HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
- LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
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Footnotes
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* These organisations contributed direct funding to support the project start-up.
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Published Online First 17 October 2006
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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, representatives of whom have contributed to the reviewing process. The opinions stated are, however, those of the authors.