[How to Interpret Data from Routine Laboratory Tests].

Abstract

The reversed clinicopathological conference (RCPC) is one of the most effective training methods to inter- pret routine laboratory data. In this RCPC, three specialists in laboratory medicine discussed laboratory data of a patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Even though they interpreted the data with different methods, they arrived at the same conclusion. This discussion shows that it is possible to grasp the disease condition by RCPC training. In addition, combining laboratory data, the medical history, and physical find- ings helps improve the diagnostic ability. [Review].