Question

Your patient is a 52-year-old woman with flu-like symptoms, minor chest “discomfort” and dull pain in both arms. This started yesterday, she tried to sleep it off, and when she woke up feeling worse, her husband made her come into the ED.

Question: What lab and diagnostic orders do you anticipate? (include the normal reference range – may utilize the med surg book and or ATI).

Answer 1

Physical examination : flu symptoms has to checked like increased temperature, muscle and body aches, heart rate ( tachycardia and tachypnea might be seen) etc. Lung examination include dry cough and focal wheezing.

Influenza viruse testing methods include rapid influenza diagnostic test, rapid molecular test, immunofluoresence, cell culture etc with which types of virus can be detected. RT-PCR is also a relevant test. RBC WBC and platelets will be higher and sometimes platelets go high by keeping WBC RBC in normal range. WBC ranges upto 4-11.30 normal, leukocyte range normal is less than 6250cells/mm3 - CBC may be useful clinically . Findings of standard laboratory tests like CBC and electrolytes levels are non specific but are helpful in workup of study. Leukopenia and lymphopenia are the typical finding in influenza.