Course Overview
This full-day course on Interpreting Blood Results in Primary Care is designed for experienced healthcare professionals who wish to strengthen their ability to interpret common laboratory investigations and apply results safely within clinical practice.
Clinicians working in Primary Care frequently review blood results as part of chronic disease management, medication monitoring and acute illness assessment. This course supports participants in understanding the clinical significance of abnormal results, recognising patterns of disease, and identifying when further investigation or referral is required.
Teaching focuses on linking blood test abnormalities with underlying physiology, medication monitoring requirements and national guidance, enabling clinicians to make safe and informed clinical decisions.
Who Should Attend
This course is suitable for:
- Practice Nurses
- Advanced Nurse Practitioners
- Emergency Nurse Practitioners
- Paramedics working in Primary Care
- Pharmacists involved in patient review
Participants should already have experience reviewing blood results within clinical practice.
What This Course Covers
Full Blood Count (FBC)
- Understanding normal ranges and common abnormalities
- Recognising patterns of anaemia
- Vitamin B12 and related abnormalities
- When to repeat, investigate or escalate results
Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
- Interpreting common patterns of abnormal liver tests
- Recognising hepatocellular vs cholestatic patterns
- Medication-related liver abnormalities
- When further investigation is required
Urea and Electrolytes (U&E)
- Understanding electrolyte abnormalities
- Recognising dehydration and renal impairment
- Linking results to clinical context
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
- Recognising AKI in Primary Care
- Interpreting changes in renal function
- Escalation and management considerations
Lipid Profiles
- Understanding lipid results
- Interpreting cardiovascular risk
- Monitoring treatment and lifestyle interventions
Linking Blood Tests to Clinical Practice
- Organ system interpretation
- Medication monitoring requirements
- Chronic disease management
- Applying national guidance and clinical judgement
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Interpret common blood test results within Primary Care
- Recognise abnormal patterns in FBC, LFT, U&E and lipid profiles
- Understand links between blood tests, organ function and disease processes
- Identify medication-related monitoring requirements
- Recognise when results require escalation or further investigation
- Apply national guidance alongside clinical judgement
Course Format
Duration: Full-day
Delivery: Virtual or face-to-face
Format includes:
- Structured teaching sessions
- Case-based discussion
- Interactive interpretation exercises
- Reflection and action planning
Certification
Certificate of attendance provided for CPD and revalidation purposes.