BIOCHEM 3H03 Lecture 1: 1. Test Performance Characteristics
5 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Branch of medicine that provides laboratory results, interpretation and consultation. Examines the chemical content of biological fluids: guide for decision making and management of patients, requires accurate, relevant and timely information. Diagnosis establish underlying reason for the signs, symptoms and complaints: based on history, clinical signs, results of investigations and response to treatment. Monitoring monitor blood concentrations of drugs, effect of treatment: must be a suitable analyte. Screening looking for underlying disease in the absence of signs/symptoms: population screening newborn screening programs, selective screening e. g. of older people for carcinoma. Individual screening part of a health check up: opportunistic screening hypercholesterolaemia in people found to have hypertension, screening based on risk. Screening for colon cancer using fecal occult blood testing. Other samples but these 3 are the main. Choice of sample depends on: analyte to be measured, biological considerations, ease of collection. Testing can be done on whole blood, serum or plasma.
