Medical Tech
Essay Question: Reference intervals provide valuable information to doctors in their interpretation of laboratory test results, and are important in patient diagnosis and making key clinical decisions. The reference interval serves as a benchmark with which to compare a patients test result. Currently, many paediatric laboratory test results are inappropriately interpreted using reference intervals obtained from adult populations, hospitalized paediatric populations, or outdated and/or inaccurate technology. Thus, many paediatric reference intervals used in diagnostic laboratories are incomplete and may not be suitable for clinical use. Discuss the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical challenges that can affect the establishment of paediatric reference intervals. Propose how you would overcome those challenges and provide relevant examples. (Your essay should include the rationale for establishing a paediatric reference interval, factors that can affect it and any other considerations that are applicable.)
