1st order laboratory parameters – obligatory laboratory tests.
- Small blood count [MCV ↑ in alcohol abuse and myxedema]
- Differential blood count
- Inflammatory parameter – CRP (C-reactive protein)
- Urine status (rapid test for: pH, leukocytes, nitrite, protein, glucose, ketone, urobilinogen, bilirubin, blood), sediment, if necessary urine culture (pathogen detection and resistogram, that is, testing suitable antibiotics for sensitivity / resistance) [if necessary, detection of glucose and ketone bodies in diabetic ketoacidosis].
- Electrolytes – calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium.
- Fasting glucose (fasting blood sugar)
- Blood gas analysis (ABG); determination of:
- Liver parameters – alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT, GGT).
- Renal parameters – urea, creatinine, cystatin C or creatinine clearance, as appropriate.
- Lipase – specific marker of acute pancreatitis (pancreatitis).
Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and mandatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Blood cultures/smears
- Toxicological screening/drug screening in urine.
- CSF puncture (collection of cerebrospinal fluid by puncture of the spinal canal) for CSF diagnosis.
- Vitamin levels (thiamine (vitamin B1), niacin (vitamin B3/nicotinic acid), cobalamin (vitamin B12), folic acid).
- Ammonia
- Digoxin level – if digitalisin intoxication is suspected.
- Autoimmune serology with ANA, ANCA
- Alpha-1 fetoprotein (AFP) – as part of the six-month screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; hepatocellular carcinoma); liver cirrhosis is considered a precancerous condition (possible precursor to cancer) for this purpose.
