Which of the following laboratory tests are commonly requested in family medicine?

In family medicine, the Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a commonly requested laboratory test due to its broad utility in assessing a patient’s overall health and detecting a range of disorders, such as anemia, infection, and various hematological conditions. A CBC provides essential information, including white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, hematocrit, and platelet count. This information is crucial for family physicians as they perform routine health assessments and diagnose or monitor various medical conditions prevalent in primary care settings.

The other tests listed, while valuable, are typically not ordered as frequently in a primary care context. For example, the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is primarily used for specific immunological assessments or disease screenings, which may not be as routine in family medicine compared to the general health assessment provided by a CBC. Myocardial perfusion scans and CT scans are more specialized diagnostic procedures often utilized in cardiology or radiology settings rather than in routine family practice. Therefore, the CBC stands out as a foundational test frequently utilized in family medicine for comprehensive patient evaluation.