The Lab Interpretation Course for Nurse Practitioners

Trusted by over 1,000 clinicians across North America

Build confidence in lab interpretation with a clear, step-by-step, evidence-based approach — by nurse practitioners in collaboration with leading clinical experts.

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Meet the creators

  • 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

  • Developed in collaboration with leading clinical experts

  • Built for primary care with real-world relevance

  • Evidence-based, step-by-step interpretation framework

  • Self-paced, on-demand online modules with lifetime access

  • Private community forum for discussion and peer support

Course overview

  • What’s Inside

    Interpreting lab results can be complex. Numbers alone rarely tell the full story, and confident interpretation requires both structure and clinical reasoning.

    This course helps clinicians develop a clear, evidence-based framework for interpreting laboratory results accurately and confidently. It was created by nurse practitioners in collaboration with leading clinical specialists to strengthen clinical reasoning and support safe, informed patient care.

    You will learn a practical, evidence-based framework that guides you through every stage of interpretation, from confirming a result to evaluating the clinical context, ordering targeted tests, and recognizing when referral is required. This structured process helps you act with confidence and integrate laboratory data effectively into clinical care.

    The curriculum incorporates Canadian, U.S., and international guidelines, ensuring relevance across North America and beyond. Both metric and imperial units are used throughout.

    Who It’s For

    This program is designed for clinicians in primary care who want to strengthen their confidence in lab interpretation and clinical decision-making. It welcomes nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physicians, physician assistants, naturopathic doctors, and other licensed healthcare professionals involved in ordering, interpreting, or managing lab results in practice.

    What You’ll Learn

    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 and know when referral is appropriate

    • Select appropriate follow-up investigations

    • Integrate lab results into clinical reasoning and management

    Program Format

    The program is self-paced and fully online, offering lifetime access (no subscription required), over 7 hours of recorded video lessons, and more than 200 pages of downloadable, evidence-based material.

    Click below to explore each module.

  • Establish a strong foundation and a structured, repeatable process for accurate and efficient lab interpretation.

    • Ordering labs with purpose and accuracy

    • Understanding test accuracy and reference ranges

    • Interpreting labs in clinical context

    • Recognizing critical lab values and urgent results

  • Learn a systematic, clinically focused approach to interpreting the CBC and understanding what each finding means for patient care.

    • Introduction to CBC and peripheral smear assessment

    • Approach to anemia (microcytic, normocytic, macrocytic)

    • Approach to polycythemia

    • Approach to neutropenia, lymphocytopenia, neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia

    • Approach to thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis

  • Interpret iron and deficiencies using a structured, evidence-based method.

    • Ferritin, TIBC, TSAT, and serum iron interpretation

    • Differentiating iron deficiency, anemia of chronic disease, and iron overload

    • Approach to vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiencies

    • Integrating findings to guide next steps

  • Evaluate kidney function and electrolyte disorders using a systematic approach to identify when further testing or referral is needed.

    • eGFR, creatinine, BUN, urine ACR, and urinalysis

    • Distinguishing AKI from CKD and staging CKD

    • Approach to abnormal eGFR and creatinine

    • Approach to hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, and hypercalcemia

  • Identify and interpret abnormal liver test patterns to guide diagnosis and management.

    • Introduction to liver function tests (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin, albumin, INR)

    • Hepatocellular, cholestatic, and isolated hyperbilirubinemia patterns

    • Synthetic function and clinical implications

    • Hepatitis B and C interpretation

    • MASLD and fibrosis risk assessment

  • Apply a consistent framework to interpret thyroid, reproductive, and adrenal tests across clinical contexts.

    • Thyroid function and antibody testing

    • Approach to hypo- and hyperthyroidism

    • Female hormone testing (FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, AMH)

    • Male hormone testing (total and free testosterone, SHBG, FSH, LH, prolactin)

    • Approach to PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, infertility, and adrenal insufficiency

  • Connect lab interpretation to cardiometabolic health and long-term preventive care.

    • Screening for type 2 diabetes and identifying type 1 red flags

    • Lipid interpretation and cardiovascular risk assessment

    • Evidence-based targets and metabolic syndrome

    • Approach to elevated creatine kinase

  • Interpret inflammatory and autoimmune markers to support diagnosis and guide appropriate referral.

    • Approach to elevated ESR and CRP

    • Approach to positive rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP

    • Approach to positive ANA and anti-dsDNA

    • Recognizing autoimmune patterns and systemic disease indicators

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Reviewed by NPs

  • “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

  • “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

  • “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

  • Ready to feel confident interpreting labs?

    Join a community of clinicians building confidence in lab interpretation.

    Learn through a fully online, self-paced course you can start anytime
    Watch over 7 hours of expert-led video lessons created by NPs in collaboration with clinical experts
    Access more than 200 pages of downloadable, evidence-based material for immediate use in practice
    Connect with peers through a private discussion space for collaboration and support
    Study anywhere using your desktop, laptop, or mobile device
    Enjoy lifetime access with a one-time payment and no subscription

Testimonials

Registration is open

Join 1,000+ building confidence in lab interpretation

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 FAQs

  • We are in the process of obtaining continuing education accreditation to formally recognize that this program meets the highest standards of professional development and educational quality. Participants will be notified as soon as accreditation is approved.

  • The course integrates Canadian, U.S., and international clinical guidelines, making it relevant for clinicians across North America and beyond. Lab values are presented in metric units, with imperial units included where applicable.

  • Yes. While most participants are based in North America, healthcare professionals worldwide are welcome to register.

  • No. The course is fully online, self-paced, and on-demand, allowing you to begin whenever you’re ready and progress at your own pace, in the way that best fits your schedule.

  • Yes. All participants can request a certificate of completion once they finish the course.

  • No. While this course was created by and for nurse practitioners, it is also open to physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, pharmacists, midwives, naturopathic doctors, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals interested in strengthening their lab interpretation skills.