Essential laboratory tests in emergencies; on behalf of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Committee on Preparation of Laboratories for Emergencies (C-PLE)

This article aims to define a minimum panel of essential laboratory tests to be used in emergency and disaster settings through expert consensus. A structured survey was distributed to the 24 members of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Committee on Preparation of Laboratories for Emergencies (C-PLE). Participants were asked to rate a predefined list of diagnostic tests using a four-level priority scale (essential, critical, supportive, not recommended), with scores ranging from 1 to 4. Responses were collected over a two-week period, and mean scores with standard deviations were calculated to classify each test into priority categories. Additional test suggestions were also solicited and evaluated. A total of 20/24 members (83.3 %) completed the survey. Tests classified as essential (mean score 1.00-1.49) included complete blood count, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride), blood glucose, lactate, blood gases (including ionized calcium), urinalysis, and ABO/RhD blood typing. Critical tests (mean score 1.50-2.49) comprised urea and/or creatinine, coagulation parameters such as prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), aminotransferases (especially alanine aminotransferase; ALT), and cardiac troponins. Supportive tests (mean score 2.50-3.49) included C-reactive protein, D-dimer, rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, and procalcitonin. Additional tests, such as urine pregnancy testing, bilirubin, and pancreatic enzymes, were proposed for potential inclusion based on clinical relevance. These findings establish a prioritized, consensus-based diagnostic framework tailored to resource-limited emergency contexts, emphasizing rapid, high-impact testing to support clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.