The Lab Interpretation Course for Nurse Practitioners — trusted by 700+ and counting

This comprehensive lab interpretation course was developed by NPs for NPs, with input from specialists across Canada. It’s designed to help you build confidence through practical, step-by-step guidance grounded in clinical reasoning and evidence.

You’ll learn how to approach common lab tests in primary care—why they’re ordered, what abnormal results mean, possible causes, what to do next, and when to monitor or refer. The focus is on non-pregnant adults and real-world primary care practice.

The course is fully asynchronous — virtual, self-paced, and on-demand — with lifetime access, so you can start anytime and revisit the material whenever you need.

While designed with NPs in mind, it’s open to all healthcare providers looking to strengthen their lab interpretation skills.

Click each module below to view a high-level overview.

• When and why to order labs

• Key factors to consider when ordering lab tests

• References ranges

• Test accuracy

• Structured approach to interpretation

• Understand trends

• Critical values

• Stepwise approach to interpreting red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets

• CBC components

• Peripheral blood smear

• RBC abnormalities:

  • Anemia

    • Microcytic anemia

    • Normocytic anemia

    • Macrocytic anemia

  • Polycythemia

• WBC abnormalities:

  • Neutropenia

  • Lymphocytopenia

  • Neutrophilia

  • Lymphocytosis

  • Eosinophilia

• Platelet abnormalities:

  • Thrombocytopenia

  • Thrombocytosis

• Stepwise approach to interpreting iron studies and common deficiencies

• Iron studies:

  • Ferritin

  • TIBC

  • TSAT

  • Serum iron

• Recognizing patterns

• Iron deficiency anemia vs. anemia of chronic disease vs. iron overload

• Vitamin B12 deficiency

• Vitamin D deficiency

• Stepwise approach to interpreting kidney function and common electrolyte abnormalities

• Kidney function:

  • eGFR

  • Creatinine

  • BUN

  • ACR

  • Urinalysis

• AKI vs. CKD

• CKD and staging

• Electrolyte abnormalities:

  • Hyponatremia

  • Hypernatremia

  • Hypokalemia

  • Hyperkalemia

  • Hypercalcemia

• Stepwise approach to interpreting liver function tests

• Liver function tests:

  • ALT

  • AST

  • ALP

  • GGT

  • Bilirubin

  • Albumin

  • INR

• Patterns of abnormal liver tests

  • Hepatocellular

  • Cholestatic

  • Isolated hyperbilirubinemia

• Hep B

• Hep C

• MASLD

• Stepwise approach to interpreting hormonal and reproductive tests

• Thyroid function

  • TSH

  • Free T4

  • Free T3

  • Anti-TPO

  • Anti-TG

  • TRAb

  • TSI

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Hyperthyroidism

• Female hormone tests

  • FSH/LH

  • E2

  • Progesterone

  • Prolactin

  • Total testosterone

  • DHEAS

  • AMH

• Amenorrhea and irregular cycles

• PCOS

• Perimenopause and menopause

• Infertility

• Male hormone tests

  • Total testosterone

  • Free testosterone

  • FSH/LH

  • Prolactin

  • SHBG

  • Low testosterone

• Adrenal Insufficiency

  • 8 AM cortisol

  • ACTH

• Diabetes:

  • Fasting glucose

  • HbA1c

  • OGTT

  • Random glucose

  • C-peptide

  • Diabetes autoantibodies

  • Differentiating between type 1 vs type 2

• Lipid and related screening:

  • Lipid panel

  • Apo B

  • Lipoprotein(a)

  • CK

• Cardiovascular risk assessment

• Metabolic syndrome

• Stepwise approach to interpreting inflammatory markers

• Elevated ESR

• Elevated CRP

• Positive RF

• Positive Anti-CCP

• Positive ANA

• Positive Anti-dsDNA