Abstract

This tenth best practice review examines three series of common primary care questions in laboratory medicine: (i) antenatal testing in pregnant women, (ii) estimated glomerular filtration rate calculation (iii) safety testing for methotrexate and (iv) blood glucose measurement in diabetes. The review is presented in question-answer format, referenced for each question series. The recommendations represent a précis of guidance found using a standardised literature search of national and international guidance notes, consensus statements, health policy documents and evidence-based medicine reviews, supplemented by MEDLINE EMBASE searches to identify relevant primary research documents. They are not standards but form a guide to be set in the clinical context. Most are consensus rather than evidence-based. They will be updated periodically to take account of new information.