Clinical Pathology Panels

Abstract

A clinical pathology panel (also known as a battery or profile) is a collection of tests routinely performed to confirm good health, or to diagnose a disease or toxic effect. If, for example, one wishes to determine whether an animal has liver disease, some or all of the parameters in a hepatic panel might be performed. Because each parameter in a panel has its own advantages and specificities for diagnosing disease, the measurement of multiple parameters increases the likelihood of a correct diagnosis through a weight-of-the-evidence approach. A panel may be modified as prudence and costs allow. There are panels for a wide variety of health conditions ranging from acute cholecystitis to acute pancreatitis to a pancreas panel.