1st order laboratory parameters – obligatory laboratory tests.
- Toxin detection* from vomit or food residues, blood serum, stool; also in food samples Caution! In infant botulism, toxin detection rarely succeeds!
- Bacteriological examinations* (often too late) – only in infant botulism or wound botulism (in other cases only toxin effect).
* Reportable in the sense of the Infection Protection Act: the direct or indirect detection of Clostridium botulinum or toxin detection (report by name!).
Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and the obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Small blood count
- Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
- Electrolytes – calcium, potassium, magnesium.
- Fasting glucose (fasting blood sugar)
- Blood gas analysis (BGA)
- Thyroid parameters – TSH
- Liver parameters – alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT, GGT), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin.
- Renal parameters – urea, creatinine, cystatin C or creatinine clearance, if necessary.
- Blood cultures, swabs from drains, etc.
