TestComments
Blood culture

  • May eventually diagnose bacteremia

  • Results are not considered negative until incubating for 48 hours

Blood gas

  • Assesses the degree of hypoxemia and acid-base status

Blood glucose

  • Hypoglycemia can cause or aggravate tachypnea

Chest radiography

  • Differentiates various types of respiratory distress

Complete blood count with differential

  • Leukocytosis or left shift: stress or infection

  • Neutropenia: bacterial infection

  • Low hemoglobin level: anemia

  • High hemoglobin level: polycythemia

  • Low platelet count: sepsis

  • Calculation of immature to total neutrophil ratio

C-reactive protein

  • Has a negative predictive value in assessing for infection

Pulse oximetry

  • Detects hypoxia and assesses the degree of oxygen requirement