1st order laboratory parameters – obligatory laboratory tests.
- Small blood count
- Differential blood count
- Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
- 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).
- Fasting glucose (fasting blood glucose), if necessary oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT).
- 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.
- NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide) – if heart failure (cardiac insufficiency) is suspected.
- Rheumatism diagnostics – CRP (C-reactive protein) or BSG (blood sedimentation rate); rheumatoid factor (RF), CCP-AK (cyclic citrulline peptide antibodies), ANA (antinuclear antibodies), if necessary HLA-B27.
- Test for occult (not visible) blood in the stool.
Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, etc. – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Cortisol [Addison’s disease: free (8:00 a.m.) [↓]; cortisol in 24-hour urine [↓].
- Infection: serologic testing – depending on suspected diagnosis.
- Tumor markers – as far as useful in the context of a primary diagnosis.
