About the Authors xiv About the Contributors xvii Preface xviii Acknowledgments xxi Part 1 Patient Care Considerations 1 1 The Gold Standard, Standards of Care, and Spectrum of Care: An Evolving Approach to Diagnostic Medicine 3 Ryane E. Englar 1.1 Defining the Gold Standard 3 1.2 Limitations of the Gold Standard 4 1.3 Returning to the Case of the Cat with Stranguria: a Different Perspective on Standards of Care 4 1.4 Limitations to Standards of Care 5 1.5 Spectrum of Care 6 References 7 2 Consultation Room Communication Strategies that Facilitate Dialogue on the Diagnostic Approach to Patient Care 9 Ryane E. Englar 2.

1 Emergence of Communication as a Clinically Relevant Skill in Human Health Care 9 2.2 The Evolution of Communication in Veterinary Health Care 10 2.3 Communication Skills That Are Essential to Diagnosis-Making 11 2.4 Concepts of Health Literacy and Compliance 13 2.5 Using Easy-to-Understand (Nonmedical) Language 14 2.6 Checking in 15 2.7 Assessing the Client''s Knowledge 17 2.8 Signposting 18 2.

9 Addressing the Cost of Care 20 References 22 Part 2 Quick Assessment Tests (QATS) Involving Blood 27 3 Packed Cell Volume 29 Sharon M. Dial 3.1 Procedural Definition: What Is this Test About? 29 3.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform this Test? 29 3.3 Equipment 29 3.4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform this Test? 30 3.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 33 3.6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 33 3.

7 Interpreting Test Results 34 3.8 Clinical Case Example(s): Can We Link to the Cases in Chapter 5? 35 3.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 35 3.10 Key Takeaways 36 References 36 4 Total Protein as Measured by Refractometry 37 Sharon M. Dial 4.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 37 4.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform this Test? 37 4.3 Equipment 38 4.

4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform this Test? 38 4.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 42 4.6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 43 4.7 Interpreting Test Result 43 4.8 Clinical Case Example(s) 44 4.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Values 44 4.10 Key Takeaways 44 Reference 45 Suggested References 45 5 Gross and Microscopic Evaluation of the Buffy Coat 46 Sharon M. Dial 5.

1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 46 5.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform this Test? 46 5.3 Equipment 47 5.4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform this Test? 47 5.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 50 5.6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 53 5.7 Interpreting Test Results 53 5.8 Clinical Case Example(s) 54 5.

9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 54 5.10 Key Takeaways 54 Reference 54 6 The Blood Film 55 Sharon M. Dial 6.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 55 6.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 55 6.3 Equipment 55 6.4 Procedural Steps: Preparing the Blood Film How Do I Perform This Test? 56 6.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 64 6.

6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 64 6.7 Interpreting Test Results 69 6.8 Clinical Case Example(s) 70 6.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 70 6.10 Key Takeaways 70 References 70 Suggested Bench-Side Reference 71 7 Blood Glucose 72 Sharon M. Dial 7.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 72 7.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 72 7.

3 Equipment 73 7.4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform This Test? 73 7.5 A Note on Quality Control 73 7.6 Procedure for Patient Samples 74 7.7 Time Estimate to Perform Test 76 7.8 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 76 7.9 Interpreting Test Results 77 7.10 Clinical Case Example(s) 78 7.

11 Add-On Tests That you May Need to Consider and Their Additive Values 78 7.12 Key Takeaways 78 References 78 8 Blood Urea Nitrogen 79 Sharon M. Dial 8.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 79 8.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 79 8.3 Equipment 80 8.4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform this Test? 80 8.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 81 8.

6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 81 8.7 Interpreting Test Results 82 8.8 Clinical Case Example(s) 82 8.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 82 8.10 Key Takeaways 83 9 Whole Blood Lactate 84 Sharon M. Dial 9.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 84 9.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 84 9.

3 Equipment 85 9.4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform This Test? 85 9.5 A Note on Quality Control 85 9.6 Procedure for Patient Samples 85 9.7 Time Estimate to Perform Test 87 9.8 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 87 9.9 Interpreting Test Results 87 9.10 Clinical Case Example(s) 88 9.

11 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 88 9.12 Key Takeaways 88 References 88 10 Saline Agglutination Test 89 Sharon M. Dial 10.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 89 10.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 89 10.3 Equipment 89 10.4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform This Test? 89 10.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 91 10.

6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 91 10.7 Interpreting Test Results 92 10.8 Clinical Case Example(s) 92 10.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 92 10.10 Key Takeaways 92 Reference 93 11 Activated Clotting Time 94 Sharon M. Dial 11.1 Procedural Definition: ("What Is This Test About?") 94 11.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 94 11.

3 Equipment 94 11.4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform This Test? 94 11.5 Time Estimate To Perform Test 96 11.6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 97 11.7 Interpreting Test Results 97 11.8 Clinical Case Example(s) 97 11.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 97 11.10 Key Takeaways 97 Part 3 Quick Assessment Tests (QATS) Involving Urine 99 12 Assessing Urine''s Physical Properties 101 Ryane E.

Englar 12.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 101 12.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 101 12.3 Equipment 102 12.4 Procedural Steps 103 12.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 105 12.6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 105 12.7 Interpreting Test Results 106 12.

8 Clinical Case Example(s) 111 12.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 113 12.10 Key Takeaways 113 12.11 Clinical Pearls 114 References 115 13 Urine Specific Gravity 116 Ryane E. Englar 13.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 116 13.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform this Test? 117 13.3 Equipment 117 13.

4 Procedural Steps 118 13.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 124 13.6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 124 13.7 Interpreting Test Results 124 13.8 Clinical Case Example(s) 126 13.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 127 13.10 Key Takeaways 127 13.11 Clinical Pearls 127 References 128 14 Chemical Evaluation of Urine 130 Ryane E.

Englar 14.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 130 14.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 132 14.3 Equipment 132 14.4 Procedural Steps 132 14.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 136 14.6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 136 14.7 Interpreting Test Results 138 14.

8 Clinical Case Example(s) 141 14.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 142 14.10 Key Takeaways 143 14.11 Clinical Pearls 144 References 145 15 Urine Sediment Examination 146 Sharon M. Dial 15.1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 146 15.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 146 15.3 Equipment 147 15.

4 Procedural Steps: How Do I Perform This Test? 147 15.5 Time Estimate to Perform Test 149 15.6 Procedural Tips and Troubleshooting 151 15.7 Interpreting Test Results 152 15.8 Clinical Case Example(s) 157 15.9 Add-On Tests That You May Need to Consider and Their Additive Value 157 15.10 Key Takeaways 157 Reference 157 Suggested Bench-Side References 158 Part 4 Quick Assessment Tests (QATS) Involving Feces 159 16 Assessing the Physical Properties of Fecal Matter 161 Ryane E. Englar 16.

1 Procedural Definition: What Is This Test About? 161 16.2 Procedural Purpose: Why Should I Perform This Test? 161 16.3 Equipment 164 16.4 Procedural.