This article first appeared in Pathology in Practice (Hobba H, Silver L. Evolution of POC testing. Pathology in Practice 2013; 14 [2]: 63) and is reproduced here by kind permission (www.pathologyinpractice.com). © 2013 kdm communications limited Point-of-care (POC) testing has allowed the pathology department in...

Blood glucose concentration is normally maintained within the approximate range of 3.5-8.5 mmol/L (63-153 mg/dL) largely by the synergistic opposing action of two pancreatic hormones: insulin and glucagon. Insulin secretion causes decrease in blood glucose concentration and glucagon secretion causes increase in blood...

The concentration of sodium (Na) in blood serum/plasma is determined by ion-specific electrode (ISE) technology that measures the physiologically important activity of sodium ions present in the aqueous (water) phase of plasma.  Two methods are available: direct ISE and indirect ISE. Direct ISE, which is employed in...

Arterial blood gas analysis provides the means for assessment of two related physiological functions that are disturbed in a wide range of medical conditions.  The first is the facility of the lungs to simultaneously add inspired oxygen to blood and remove carbon dioxide from blood, prior to excretion in expired air...

Lactic acidosis, the most common kind of metabolic acidosis, is characterized by reduced blood pH (usually <7.25) in association with marked increase in blood lactate (usually >5.0 mmol/L). Lactic acidosis has many possible causes but two broad etiological classes have been defined: type A (hypoxic) lactic acidosis and ...

Human chorionic gonadptrophin (HCG) is a hormone composed of two dissimilar sub-units (a and b) that is normally only produced in measurable quantities by synctiotrophoblastic (placental) cells during pregnancy. Pregnancy testing is based on measurement of the concentration HCG in urine or blood serum.    Blood levels ...

Discussion of electrolyte disorders associated with diabetes is most usually confined to the abnormality of plasma/serum sodium and potassium concentrations that occur in the two acute, life-threatening, conditions of decompensated diabetes: diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma (HNKC).   As a...

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a parameter of prime clinical significance because it defines kidney function. All those with reduced kidney function, no matter what the cause, have reduced GFR, and GFR correlates well with disease severity. The most accurate assessment of GFR is thus valuable not only for early...

http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2014/10/16/09031936.00039214.full.pdf+html. Accessed Oct 2014. Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is clinically useful because it allows assessment of two vital interrelated physiological functions: pulmonary gas exchange and maintenance of blood pH (acid-base homeostasis)....

D-dimer testing can combined with assessment of pretest probability be used to rule out VTE in patients with a sufficiently low pretest probability of VTE. Patients with a negative D-dimer result can be ruled out, while patients with a positive D-dimer result need to have imaging performed for confirmatory diagnosis. ...