Laboratory Medicine
General Information / Advice for requesters - Clinical Biochemistry
Please find information by clicking on the links below:
Advice Regarding Test Requesting and Result Interpretation:
ALLERGY TESTING - How to diagnose allergy in adults in primary care *Updated Dec 2021*
B12 - see HAEMATINICS
BIOTIN- Biotin interference in Roche-manufactured immunoassays *Updated Nov 2021*
BNP - Use of natriuretic peptides in the management of suspected heart failure
CALPROTECTIN
- The York faecal calprotectin care pathway for GPs
- Faecal calprotectin guidance for patients being managed in secondary care *Updated Nov 2021*
CORTISOL - Diagnosis of Cushings Syndrome
CHLORIDE – Guidance for interpreting chloride results *New Document 2022*
CREATINE KINASE - Causes of Elevated CK *Updated Aug 2021*
CRP - See INFLAMMATORY MARKERS
CUSHINGS SYNDROME - See CORTISOL
DIABETES - see HBA1C
ESR - See INFLAMMATORY MARKERS
ESTRADIOL – See OESTRADIOL
FAECAL CALPROTECTIN - See CALPROTECTIN
FERRITIN (high) - Investigation of elevated ferritin
FERRITIN (low) See HAEMATINICS
FOLATE - See HAEMATINCS
FREE LIGHT CHAINS – Guidance for interpreting free light chain results *New Nov 2021*
FSH - Menopause investigation and laboratory testing
HAEMATINICS - Guidance for primary care on interpretation of haematinics (B12, folate and ferritin) *Updated Aug 2021*
HBA1C (diagnosis of diabetes) – Guidance for when HbA1c is not suitable for diagnosis of diabetes
HBA1C (monitoring of diabetes) – Guidance for when HbA1c is not suitable for monitoring diabetes
HEART FAILURE - See BNP
HYPERKALAEMIA - See POTASSIUM
HYPONATRAEMIA - See SODIUM
HYPOMAGNESAEMIA - See MAGNESIUM
IMMUNOGLOBULINS - Guidance for investigation of low immunoglobulins *New Document October 2021*
INFLAMMATORY MARKERS – Guidance for which test to use and when * Updated Feb 2022*
LIVER BLOOD TESTS / LIVER DISEASE - Guidance for primary care on liver disease and liver blood tests *Updated Nov 21*
MAGNESIUM - Guidance for assessment and management of hypomagnesaemia in primary care *Updated Dec 2021*
MENOPAUSE - See FSH
METANEPHRINES (Urine) – Investigation of suspected phaeochromocytoma using 24h urine metanephrines - *New Nov 2021*
MYELOMA/MGUS - See PARAPROTEINS
OSMOLALITY (Urine) - Guidance for investigation of polyuria / polydipsia
OESTRADIOL – Interpreting serum oestradiol levels
PARAPROTEINS - Management of patients with paraprotein *Updated March 2022*
PHOSPHATE - Renal Tubular Reabsorption of Phosphate *Updated March 2022*
POTASSIUM -
- Investigating and management of hyperkalaemia (high potassium) in primary care (adults)
- Investigating and management of hypokalaemia (low potassium) in primary care (adults) * New document - April 2022*
- Top tips for avoiding haemolysis
- Hyperkalaemia due to DELAYED CENTRIFUGATION
- To enquire about obtaining a centrifuge for your surgery, please contact Carl Burkinshaw, Biochemistry Operational Manager (York and Scarborough): 01723 342028, carl.burkinshaw@york.nhs.uk
POLYURIA- see OSMOLALITY (Urine)
PROLACTIN - Investigation of hyperprolactinaemia
PV - See INFLAMMATORY MARKERS
Renal Tubular Reabsorption of Phosphate - See PHOSPHATE
SODIUM - Investigation and management of hyponatraemia in primary care (adults)
THERAPEUTIC DRUGS - Sampling requirements for commonly requested therapeutic drugs
THYROID FUNCTION TESTS - Guidance for requesting and interpreting thyroid function tests (TFTs)
TRACE ELEMENTS (ZINC, SELENIUM, COPPER) - A guide to requesting trace elements for adults in primary care – *NEW March 2021*
TROPONIN - Troponin testing in primary care
Information Regarding Service Delivery
2018 01: REPORTING PROBLEMS
Procedure for recording and reporting sample quality problems
2019 03: INSULIN LIKE GROWTH FACTOR (IGF-1)
2019 04: CKD-EPI
Use of the CKD-EPI equation (NICE guideline 182)
Sample Collection and Testing Protocols
Urine Collection Procedure for 24 hour urine *Updated Nov 2021*
Glucose Tolerance Test *Updated March 2022*
Overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test
Clinical Biochemistry Archived User Communications
Web Page 26 Last Updated: 25/04/2022
Advice for Requesters - Cervical Cytology
Advice for Requestors - Immunology
Advice for Requesters- Microbiology
Advice for requesters - Clinical Biochemistry
Transportation of Samples and Postage
High Risk/Danger of Infection Samples
Request form and specimen labelling