Abstract
<jats:p>Biochemical interpretation can aid dietetic assessment and ensure a holistic review. Biochemistry should be interpreted alongside the clinical presentation. This chapter focuses on the interpretation of the urea and electrolytes, bone profile, liver function tests, inflammatory response, haematinics, trace elements and micronutrients. Hyponatraemia is a common electrolyte abnormality caused by an excess of total bodywater when compared with total body sodium content. Albumin is a serum hepatic protein with a half‐life of 17–19 days. Haematocrit is a measurement of the proportion of blood that is made up of cells. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate measures how fast erythrocytes fall through a column of blood. Serum ferritin is the most sensitive and specific test for iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anaemia is defined as a blood haemoglobin level below <130 g/L in men and <120 g/L in women.</jats:p>