Children with a reduced conscious level should have a capillary glucose tested within 15 minutes of presentation. [1]
In all cases, Blood gas: pH, pCO2, bicarbonate and lactate may provide useful information in cases of shock, sepsis, trauma, respiratory distress, or suspected acid-base imbalance.
Sepsis-specific cases: Urinalysis, full blood count: haemoglobin, white cell count and differential, and platelet count; blood culture (meningococcal pcr depending on clinical presentation), CRP.
Metabolic-specific cases:
Overdose cases: Plasma, serum and urine to be saved for later analysis of specific agents e.g. opiates, tricyclics.