Workup for Unspecified Condition
Given the lack of clinical context in this question, I cannot provide a specific diagnostic workup recommendation, as appropriate testing depends entirely on the presenting symptoms, clinical scenario, and suspected diagnosis.
General Principles for Diagnostic Workup
The appropriate workup must be guided by the specific clinical presentation, suspected diagnosis, and patient risk factors. Without knowing the condition in question, providing a standardized workup would be clinically inappropriate and potentially harmful.
Context-Dependent Approach
The evidence provided demonstrates that diagnostic workups vary dramatically based on the clinical scenario:
For neurodevelopmental disorders: The workup includes comprehensive history, physical examination, chromosomal microarray (CMA), and Fragile X testing as first-tier tests, with consideration of exome sequencing for unexplained cases 1
For immune-related adverse events: The workup includes complete blood count, inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP), organ-specific testing (CK for myositis, troponin for cardiac involvement), and imaging as indicated by the affected organ system 1
For pericardial disease: First-level testing includes blood cell count, renal and liver function, thyroid function, cardiac biomarkers (troponins, CK), ECG, echocardiography, and chest X-ray, with second-level testing (CT, CMR, pericardiocentesis) reserved for cases where first-level testing is insufficient 1
For elevated HbA1c: The workup includes alternative glycemic markers (fasting glucose, glycated albumin), complete blood count with peripheral smear, reticulocyte count, and red blood cell lifespan markers (haptoglobin, LDH) 2
Critical Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not order indiscriminate testing without clinical suspicion. The evidence consistently shows that diagnostic workups should be:
Targeted based on clinical presentation: Testing should follow a logical sequence from first-tier (high-yield, low-risk) to second-tier (more invasive or specialized) investigations 1
Risk-stratified: High-risk features should prompt more aggressive workup and specialist referral 1
Guided by expert evaluation when available: Multidisciplinary review improves diagnostic accuracy, particularly for complex conditions 1
Recommendation
To provide an appropriate workup recommendation, you must specify: the patient's presenting symptoms, relevant medical history, physical examination findings, and the suspected diagnosis or differential diagnoses. Without this information, any workup recommendation would be arbitrary and potentially lead to unnecessary testing, delayed diagnosis, or patient harm.