Understand what common blood tests measure, how laboratory reports and reference intervals work, and how to describe patterns safely. Start with blood cells and progress through FBC, U&E, liver tests, bone profile, thyroid, HbA1c and more.
Begin with plasma, red cells, white cells and platelets, then learn how to read the laboratory report before interpreting individual panels.
The course covers:
• Full blood count and red-cell indices
• Ferritin, iron, vitamin B12 and folate
• Urea, electrolytes, creatinine and eGFR
• Liver blood tests and bone profile
• TSH and thyroid testing
• HbA1c and glucose-related reporting
• CRP, ESR and inflammatory markers
• Coeliac serology and coagulation basics
• Eight staged cases, mandatory checks and a 30-question final assessment
Representative UK adult intervals are clearly labelled teaching examples. The reporting laboratory range, units, clinical context and local pathway always take precedence.
Developed by Ben R K Harper, an HCPC-registered advanced critical care paramedic and clinical educator. The course focuses on understanding what tests measure, reading the whole report, recognising limitations and communicating uncertainty safely before progressing to more advanced interpretation.
