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HOW TO USE THIS SECTION
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This section contains information about commonly used laboratory tests. It includes most of the blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid tests found in this book, with the exception of therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacogenetic tests (see Chapter 4). Entries are arranged alphabetically.
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Test/Reference Range/Collection
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This first column lists the common test name, the specimen analyzed, and any test name abbreviation (in parentheses).
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Below this is the reference range (also called reference interval) for each test. The first entry is in conventional units, and the second entry (in [brackets]) is in SI units (Système International d’Unités). Any panic values for a particular test are placed here after the word Panic. The reference ranges provided are from several large medical centers; consult your own clinical laboratory for those used in your institution.
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This column also shows which tube to use for collecting blood and other body fluids, how much the test costs (using symbols; see below), and how to collect the specimen.
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The scale used for the cost of each test is:
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Listed below are the common specimen collection tubes and their contents:
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This column contains physiologic information about the substance being tested. Information on classification and biologic importance, as well as interactions with other biologic substances and processes, is included.