Blood Chemistries



Routine, and where appropriate special blood chemistries, a hemogram, and a urinalysis should be obtained. The choice of special laboratory tests depends upon the clinical circumstances. If a col­lagen vascular or immune complex disease is sus­pected, the serum complement should be meas­ured. Determination of the titer of antinuclear antibodies is indicated in patients suspected to have systemic lupus erythematosus. In patients with a clinical picture consistent with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis or Goodpasture’s syndrome, the serum should be checked for the presence of anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies. Serum and urine protein electropho­resis is indicated in patients in whom the diag­nosis of multiple myeloma is suggested.