| name | langcare-lab-interpretation |
| description | Retrieves, organizes, and interprets laboratory results with clinical context including delta checks, abnormal pattern recognition, and drug-lab correlations. Use when asked to interpret labs, review lab results, explain bloodwork, check labs, lab trends, or abnormal labs. Flags critical values requiring immediate action.
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Lab Result Interpreter
When to Use This Skill
Use when a clinician needs laboratory results organized by panel, interpreted with clinical context, flagged for abnormals and critical values, and correlated with active medications and conditions.
Clinical Workflow
- Use
fhir_read to retrieve Patient demographics (age, gender for reference range selection)
- Use
fhir_search to pull recent Observation resources (category=laboratory) sorted by date
- Organize results by panel: CBC, BMP/CMP, liver, lipids, thyroid, coagulation, urinalysis
- Flag abnormal values using interpretation field and referenceRange; classify as normal, abnormal, or critical
- Calculate delta checks: pull prior values for each abnormal result, compute absolute and percent change
- Identify abnormal patterns (e.g., microcytic anemia, hepatocellular injury, cholestatic pattern, anion gap)
- Use
fhir_search to pull active Conditions and MedicationStatements for clinical correlation (drug-lab interactions)
- Present structured report with trending, pattern analysis, and recommended actions
FHIR Resources
- Observation -- Lab results: code (LOINC), valueQuantity, interpretation, referenceRange, effectiveDateTime, status, component
- Patient -- Age/sex for reference range selection
- Condition -- Clinical correlation with active diagnoses
- MedicationStatement -- Drug-lab interaction correlation
FHIR Query Examples
Pull Recent Labs (30 days)
fhir_search(resourceType="Observation", queryParams="patient=[patient-id]&category=laboratory&date=ge[30-days-ago]&_sort=-date&_count=200")
Pull Specific Panel (CBC)
fhir_search(resourceType="Observation", queryParams="patient=[patient-id]&code=58410-2&_sort=-date&_count=5")
Pull Prior Values for Delta Check
fhir_search(resourceType="Observation", queryParams="patient=[patient-id]&code=[loinc-code]&_sort=-date&_count=5")
Clinical Guidelines
- CAP/CLIA critical value reporting requirements
- KDIGO guidelines for renal function interpretation
- ADA standards for diabetes lab monitoring
- ACC/AHA guidelines for lipid interpretation
Interpretation Guide
- Group by panel and present in tabular format with value, reference range, and interpretation flag
- Significant delta thresholds: Hgb drop >2 g/dL, K+ change >1.0 mEq/L, Cr increase >0.3 mg/dL or >50% (AKI criteria), platelet drop >50% (HIT concern), Na change >8 mEq/L in 24h
- Abnormal patterns: elevated AST+ALT with AST/ALT >2 (alcoholic hepatitis), low MCV + low ferritin (iron deficiency), high MCV + low B12 (megaloblastic anemia), pancytopenia (bone marrow failure workup), elevated anion gap (MUDPILES differential)
- Common drug-lab interactions: metformin + elevated lactate, statins + elevated CK/ALT, ACEi + elevated K+/Cr, warfarin + INR, heparin + platelet drop (HIT)
Safety
- Never fabricate clinical data -- only report what FHIR returns
- Flag critical/abnormal values immediately
- Scope all FHIR queries to the authenticated patient
- Use standard terminology (LOINC, SNOMED CT, RxNorm, ICD-10)
- Present data in clinician-friendly format with reference ranges
