The Lab Interpretation Course for Nurse Practitioners
Trusted by 1,000+ across North America
Build confidence in lab interpretation with a step-by-step, evidence-based approach — designed for NPs, open to all healthcare providers
Meet the creators
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Aliya Hajee
Nurse Practitioner
Course Creator & Instructor -
Claudia Mariano
Nurse Practitioner - Retired
Expert Reviewer -
Alix Consorti
Nurse Practitioner
Expert Reviewer -
Kathryn Flanigan
Nurse Practitioner
Expert Reviewer -
Dr. Ziad Solh
Hematologist
Expert Reviewer - Module 2 -
Dr. Supriya Joshi
Hepatologist & Gastroenterologist
Expert Reviewer - Module 3 & 5 -
Dr. Daniel Schwartz
Nephrologist
Expert Reviewer - Module 4 -
Dr. Akshay Jain
Endocrinologist
Expert Reviewer - Module 6 & 7
We’ve got you covered
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Developed by NPs in collaboration with leading clinical experts
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Built for primary care with real-world relevance
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Evidence-based, step-by-step lab interpretation guidance
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Self-paced, on-demand online modules with lifetime access
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Community forum to ask questions and share insights with peers
Course overview
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Interpreting labs can feel overwhelming. Results aren’t always clear, numbers alone don’t tell the story, and next steps aren’t always obvious.
This is the first lab interpretation course designed for Canadian NPs, developed by NPs in collaboration with leading experts across the country. It incorporates Canadian, U.S., and international guidelines, making it highly relevant to NPs and other healthcare providers across a variety of practice settings who want to build or refresh their lab interpretation skills.
The course focuses on interpreting labs for non-pregnant adults in a way that is practical, evidence-based, and clinically relevant. You’ll gain step-by-step guidance rooted in clinical reasoning, helping you interpret labs with clarity and confidence while making informed, patient-centred decisions in everyday practice.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
Apply a structured approach to interpreting lab tests
Recognize normal and abnormal results in clinical context
Identify critical findings that require urgent action or referral
Select appropriate follow-up investigations
Integrate lab results into clinical reasoning and management
This self-paced online course includes lifetime access with no subscription required. You’ll receive 7+ hours of recorded content and 200+ pages of evidence-based material.
Scroll down to explore each section for a high-level overview of the topics covered in this course.
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When and why to order labs
Key factors to consider before ordering
Reference ranges and test accuracy
Understanding trends over time
Recognizing critical values
A structured approach to interpretation
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Stepwise approach to red cells, white 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
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Stepwise approach to iron studies and common deficiencies
Iron studies:
Ferritin
TIBC
TSAT
Serum iron
Recognizing common patterns
Iron deficiency anemia vs. anemia of chronic disease vs. iron overload
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency
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Stepwise approach to kidney function tests and common electrolyte abnormalities
Kidney function:
eGFR
Creatinine
BUN
ACR
Urinalysis
AKI vs. CKD
Staging CKD
Electrolyte abnormalities:
Hyponatremia
Hypernatremia
Hypokalemia
Hyperkalemia
Hypercalcemia
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Stepwise approach to liver function tests
Liver function tests:
ALT
AST
ALP
GGT
Bilirubin
Albumin
INR
Patterns of abnormal liver tests
Hepatocellular
Cholestatic
Isolated hyperbilirubinemia
Mixed
Synthetic abnormalities
Hep B
Hep C
MASLD
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Stepwise approach to 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
Androstenedione
AMH
Amenorrhea and irregular cycles
PCOS
Perimenopause and menopause
Infertility
Male hormone tests
Total testosterone
Free testosterone
SHBG
FSH
LH
Prolactin
SHBG
Low testosterone
Adrenal Insufficiency
Cortisol
ACTH
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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)
Cardiovascular risk assessment
Metabolic syndrome
Stepwise approach to elevated CK
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Stepwise approach to inflammatory markers
Elevated ESR
Elevated CRP
Positive RF
Positive Anti-CCP
Positive ANA
Positive Anti-dsDNA
Reviewed by NPs
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“This course is valuable for both new and experienced NPs. The content is comprehensive, well-organized, and directly relevant to clinical practice. It really helps build confidence with lab interpretation—something that’s so important but often under-taught. I would highly recommend it to any NP looking to strengthen these skills.”
Alix Consorti, MN, BScN, NP-PHC, MSCP
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“This lab interpretation course is an outstanding resource for NPs looking to strengthen their diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making. It offers a much more thorough and practical approach to interpreting lab results in everyday practice. This level of lab interpretation isn’t always taught in our training, and this course helps fill that gap.”
Claudia Mariano, MSc, BScN, PHCNP
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“This course is an excellent review for both NP learners and experienced clinicians. It walks through why certain labs are ordered, what conditions might be causing abnormal results, and how to interpret that. The self-paced format makes it easy to access when needed. I highly recommend it!”
Kathryn Flanigan, MN, BScN, NP-PHC
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Ready to feel confident interpreting labs?
Join a community building confidence in lab interpretation.
✔ Learn through a fully online, self-paced course you can start anytime
✔ Watch 7+ hours of video lessons led by NPs in collaboration with experts
✔ Access 200+ pages of evidence-based materials you can use right away in practice
✔ Connect with peers in a private discussion space for support and collaboration
✔ Study anywhere — on desktop, mobile, or through our app for easy access
✔ Enjoy lifetime access with a one-time payment — no subscriptions required
Testimonials

Registration is open
Join 1,000+ building confidence in lab interpretation.
FAQs
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This course is fully online, self-paced, and on-demand, so you can begin whenever it feels right for you and move through the content at your own pace.
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Yes — once you finish the course, you’ll be able to request a certificate of completion to recognize your learning.
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The course is designed to be practical across North America. It draws on both Canadian and U.S. guidelines, with lab values shown in metric units and imperial units included for reference.
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Accreditation is currently under consideration. If the course becomes accredited, we’ll let all participants know right away.
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Yes — while most participants are in North America, healthcare professionals from anywhere in the world are welcome to join.
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Not at all. While the course was created with nurse practitioners in mind, we also warmly welcome physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, pharmacists, midwives, naturopaths, dietitians, and others interested in strengthening their lab interpretation skills.