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Best practice in primary care pathology: review 9
  1. W S A Smellie1,
  2. N Shaw2,
  3. R Bowlees2,
  4. A Taylor3,
  5. R Howell-Jones4,
  6. C A M McNulty4
  1. 1Department of Chemical Pathology, Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 6AD, UK
  2. 2Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics, Bede House, All Saints Business Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2ES, UK
  3. 3Department of Chemical Pathology, Furness District General Hospital, Dalton Lane, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA14 4LF, UK
  4. 4Health Protection Agency Primary Care Unit, Department of Microbiology, Gloucester Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    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

Abstract

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.

  • ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone
  • CKD, chronic kidney disease
  • ECG, electrocardiogram
  • eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate
  • GMS, General Medical Services
  • HTA, Health Technology Agency
  • best practice
  • primary care
  • interdisciplinary
  • evidence-based medicine

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Footnotes

  • Published Online First 26 January 2006

  • Competing interests: None declared.