Test Advice

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Over the years, Melbourne Pathology has received many requests for advice on pathology tests appropriate to various clinical conditions. In response, we have compiled the following checklist for your consideration.

This list is neither exhaustive nor authoritative and should only be regarded as a prompt to assist the busy practitioner. Obviously, in individual and specific circumstances, some tests mentioned will be irrelevant. Conversely, other tests which do not appear on this list may be very appropriate.

To encourage appropriate ordering strategies, the tests are organised into 'First stage', 'Second stage' and 'More specialised' tests.

We are always happy to help you choose the most appropriate tests to assist with your patient management and we welcome your feedback on this checklist.

To contact us for advice or to provide feedback please call (03) 9287 7700 or email enquiries@mps.com.au.

You may also refer to the Complete Clinical Problem Listing from The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia manual for guidance in clinical scenarios.

Advice search:

Acute inflammation
- First stage test	FBE, ESR, C-reactive protein
- Second stage test	Urine mcs, U&E, LFT

Alopecia
- First stage test	TFT, iron studies, antinuclear factor, ESR
- Second stage test	Fungal microscopy and culture
- More specialised tests	Skin biopsy

Amenorrhoea
- First stage test	Quantitative HCG, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinsing hormone
- Second stage test	TFT, oestradiol, prolactin

Ante-natal screen (before 20 weeks)
- First stage test	FBE, blood group & antibodies, Rubella, Syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B & C serology, urine mcs, cervical cytology
- More specialised tests	Maternal serum antenatal screening programme (triple test)

Ante-natal screen (for 26 - 28 Weeks)
- First stage test	Blood group & antibodies, glucose tolerance test

Ante-natal screen (for 30 - 36 Weeks)
- First stage test	FBE, group B Streptococcus screen

Anti-coagulant therapy (initial monitoring of warfarin therapy)
- First stage test	INR

Arthritis
- First stage test	Serum uric acid, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor, extractable nuclear antigen, ESR, C-reactive protein
- Second stage test	HLA B27, complement, faeces mcs, Ross River virus serology, Barmah Forest virus serology, Hepatitis C serology
- More specialised tests	PCR/serology for Bordetella pertussis, PCR/serology for influenza A & B & parainfluenza & respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus PCR, Q Fever serology, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture, iron studies

Atypical pneumonia / chronic cough
- First stage test	Sputum mcs, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture, Legionella serology and culture, serology for Mycoplasma & Chlamydia
- Second stage test	PCR/Serology for Bortetella pertussis, PCR/serology for influenza A & B & parainfluenza & respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus PCR, Q Fever serology
- More specialised tests	Mantoux

Bleeding tendency (Clinical bleeding history is pivotal to appropriate interpretation).
- First stage test	FBE, coagulation profile (APTT, PT, fibrinogen), renal and liver function, platelet function screen (PFA-100), von Willebrand disease screen, Blood Group
- Second stage test	Platelet aggregometry, factor assays and inhibitors, TCT, von Willebrand multimer studies

Chest pain
- First stage test	Troponin, creatine kinase
- Second stage test	Repeat first stage tests

Dementia
- First stage test	FBE, ESR, U&E, TFT
- Second stage test	Vitamin B12, red cell folate, Syphilis serology, blood lead

Depression
- First stage test	FBE, fasting blood glucose, TFT
- Second stage test	Serum cortisol, urine drug screen

Diabetes monitoring
- First stage test	HBA1c, urine albumin, lipids, U&E

Diarrhoea
- First stage test	Faeces mcs x2 (Due to HIC requirements only one culture and two microscopies can be performed in 7 days)
- Second stage test	Reducing substances, Clostridium difficile toxin, rotavirus, adenovirus
- More specialised tests	Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, urine hydroxy indole acetic acid, bowel biopsy

Erectile dysfunction
- First stage test	Testosterone, luteinsing hormone, LFT
- Second stage test	Fasting blood glucose, iron studies, lipids

Fatigue / weakness
- First stage test	FBE, TFT, U&E, LFT
- Second stage test	Serum calcium, iron studies, EBV serology, Ross River virus serology, Barmah Forest virus serology
- More specialised tests	Creatine kinase, antinuclear factor, acetylcholine receptor antibody, short synacthen stimulation test

Gynaecomastia
- First stage test	LFT, U&E, TFT
- Second stage test	Testosterone, luteinsing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone
- More specialised tests	Urine drug screen (especially THC), prolactin, fine needle aspiration

Hepatomegaly +/- Liver Dysfunction
- First stage test	FBE, LFT, Hepatitis A, B & C screen
- Second stage test	Iron studies, CMV serology, EBV serology
- More specialised tests	Fasting blood glucose, lipids, antinuclear factor, serum alpha-foetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, Malarial parasites, Hydatid serology, Q Fever serology

Hirsutism
- First stage test	Testosterone, free testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinsing hormone
- Second stage test	Urine cortisol, 17 hydroxy progesterone

Hyperlipidaemia
- First stage test	Lipids, HDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose
- Second stage test	LFT, TFT, U&E

Hypertension
- First stage test	Urine mcs, fasting blood glucose, U&E
- Second stage test	TFT, urine catecholamines, urine cortisol
- More specialised tests	Aldosterone/renin

Infertility – female
- First stage test	Oestradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinsing hormone
- Second stage test	Prolactin, TFT, serum cortisol
- More specialised tests	Testosterone, free testosterone, 17 hydroxy progesterone, chromosome studies (blood)

Infertility – male
- First stage test	Semen analysis
- Second stage test	Testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinsing hormone, fasting blood glucose, prolactin
- More specialised tests	Chromosome studies (blood), iron studies, sperm antibodies, testicular biopsy

Lymphadenopathy
- First stage test	FBE, ESR, EBV serology, CMV serology, Toxoplasma serology
- Second stage test	Angiotensin converting enzyme, Syphilis serology, HIV serology
- More specialised tests	Chlamydia serology, fine needle aspiration +/- flow cytometry, tissue culture

Malabsorption, failure to thrive
- First stage test	FBE, urine mcs, reducing substances, faeces mcs (including fat globules)
- Second stage test	Vitamin B12, LFT, HIV serology, iron studies
- More specialised tests	Immunoglobulin A & G & M, serum carotene, GAD antibodies, endomysial antibody, small bowel biopsy

Obesity
- First stage test	Fasting blood glucose, TFT, urine cortisol
- Second stage test	Lipids
- More specialised tests	Dexamethasone suppression test

Peripheral neuropathy
- First stage test	Vitamin B12, fasting blood glucose, U&E
- Second stage test	LFT, porphyrin screen (urine or faeces)
- More specialised tests	Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, thallium)

Pharyngitis
- First stage test	Throat swab, FBE, monospot
- Second stage test	EBV serology
- More specialised tests	Streptococcal serology

Polyuria
- First stage test	Fasting blood glucose, U&E, urine mcs
- Second stage test	Osmolality (serum and urine)
- More specialised tests	Water deprivation test

Pyrexia of Unknown Origin
- First stage test	FBE, ESR, C-reactive protein, LFT, urine mcs
- Second stage test	Blood cultures, angiotensin converting enzyme, Malarial parasites, faeces mcs
- More specialised tests	CMV serology, EBV serology, Brucella serology, Q Fever serology, Toxoplasma serology, Syphilis serology, Dengue Fever serology, HIV serology, Leprospirosis serology, Beta 2 microglobulin

Recurrent / persistent infections (immune deficiency)
- First stage test	FBE, ESR, immunoglobulin A & G & M, protein EPG, HIV serology
- Second stage test	Fasting blood glucose, complement, lymphocyte surface markers (blood)

Recurrent miscarriage
- First stage test	TFT, antinuclear factor, anti-cardiolipin antibodies
- Second stage test	Fasting blood glucose, Chlamydia PCR, lupus anti-coagulant
- More specialised tests	Chromosome studies (blood), culture for Listeria

Renal impairment / failure
- First stage test	Urine mcs, urine albumin, U&E, LFT, fasting blood glucose, serum uric acid
- Second stage test	Creatinine clearance, urine protein, prostatic specific antigen
- More specialised tests	Antinuclear factor

Splenomegaly
- First stage test	FBE, ESR, LFT, rhematoid factor
- Second stage test	Hepatitis B & C serology, INR, APTT, fibrinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme, antinuclear factor, EBV serology, CMV serology, HIV serology
- More specialised tests	Malarial parasites, Mantoux test, flow cytometry (blood), osmotic fragility

Suspected illicit drug usage
- First stage test	Urine drug screen, LFT
- Second stage test	Hepatitis B & C serology, HIV serology

Thrombotic tendency/Venous Thromboembolism (Hx of anticoagulants & thrombosis, incl FHx, essential)
- First stage test	FBE, coagulation profile (APTT, PT, fibrinogen). lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, Protein C&S, Antithrombin, APCR (activated protein C resistance), prothrombin gene mutation, Factor VIII, fasting homocysteine.
- Second stage test	Factor V Leiden, beta 2 glycoprotein 1, HITT (heparin induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia) screen, PNH (paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria) screen

Tumour markers
- First stage test	Carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 125, CA 19-9
- Second stage test	Serum alpha-foetoprotein, HCG (tumour marker), CA 15.3
- More specialised tests	BRCA2 (breast cancer gene)

Urethritis
- First stage test	Urethral swab, PCR for Chamydia and Gonorrhoeae
- Second stage test	Syphilis serology, HIV serology

Weight Loss
- First stage test	FBE, TFT, U&E
- Second stage test	LFT, fasting blood glucose
- More specialised tests	Short synacthen stimulation test, carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 125, CA 19-9