Studies are organized in a similar way for ease of use and include the following.
Introductory Information
Background rationale
Test purpose
Interfering factors
Description and method of the procedure and laboratory test completion
Evidence-based outcomes
Patient involvement
Normal Findings
Normal reference values
Conventional and SI units
Age-related values and critical values when applicable
Procedures
Process of intratest care
Method of specimen collection and handling for laboratory tests
Method of diagnostic procedures
Clinical Implications
Interpretation of abnormal findings
Unexpected outcomes
Disease patterns
Clinical considerations for newborn, infant, child, adolescent, and older adult groups when appropriate
Interventions
Pre- and posttest patient care
Specific guidelines for each test phase
Special Clinical Alerts, Procedural Alerts, and Notes appear frequently throughout to signal special cautions.
A fully updated list of selected references at the end of each chapter, representing a composite of information from various disciplines, directs the clinician to information available beyond the scope of this book, and extensive appendices provide additional data for everyday practice.