Question

a 19 - year - old female patient comes into your office experiencing light headedness, nausea, occasional vomiting, and abdominal pains. further history reveals that she has not eaten anything out of the ordinary within the last couple of days. which of the following labs would be most appropriate to run?
a) hcg
b) alt
c) ast
d) crp
e) amylase/lipase

Explanation:

• hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin): In a 19 - year - old female with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, pregnancy should be a primary consideration. hCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy, and measuring it can help rule in or out pregnancy as a cause of these symptoms.
• ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) and AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase): These are liver enzymes. While liver problems can cause nausea and abdominal pain, there is no indication in the history (no mention of risk factors like alcohol use, exposure to hepatotoxins, etc.) that points strongly to a liver - related issue over pregnancy at this stage.
• cRP (C - reactive protein): It is a marker of inflammation. General inflammation could be a cause, but it is a non - specific test and does not target the most likely cause (pregnancy) as directly as hCG.
• Amylase/Lipase: These are enzymes related to pancreatic function. Pancreatitis can cause abdominal pain, but again, there is no indication (like a history of gallstones, alcohol abuse which are common risk factors for pancreatitis) to suggest pancreatic issues over pregnancy as the first - line consideration.

Answer:

A. hcg