Tamingthesru
How Stuff Works: The Renal Panel Edition
Have you ever wondered what is actually being measured when you order a renal panel/BMP/serum electrolytes? Well grab your nearest pumpkin spice latte and put your Gilmore Girls Netflix binge on pause because we are about to get a little basic . . . science!
Hepatitis Panel Interpretation
Viral hepatitis is a commonly encountered and increasing problem thanks in part to the rise in injection drug use. Here I review the screening recommendations and interpretation of hepatitis B and C serology. Screening recommendations are based on CDC and US Preventative Task Force guidelines. Prevalence of viral hepatitis is much higher in the ED setting and may warrant expanded screening. This is an active area of research and there are as of yet no formal professional recommendations regarding expanded screening. In this post we will explore the current screening recommendations for HBV and HCV and detail the interpretation of the test findings.
Coagulation Studies
All bleeding stops eventually... Even in your anticoagulated patients? What about that INR of 1.4? On rivaroxaban? To better know the state of anticoagulation we first must understand the tests we use to define them. Take a dive with Dr. Murphy-Crews through our anticoagulation studies