Routine and Optional Laboratory Tests for the Investigation of Patients With Hypertension

1. Routine laboratory tests that should be performed for the investigation of all patients with hypertension include the following:
   1. Urinalysis (Grade D);
   2. Blood chemistry (potassium, sodium, and creatinine) (Grade D);
   3. Fasting blood glucose and/or glycated hemoglobin (A1C) (Grade D);
   4. Serum total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, non-HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (Grade D); lipids may be drawn fasting or non-fasting (Grade C); and,
   5. Standard 12-lead electrocardiography (Grade C).
2. Assess urinary albumin excretion in patients with diabetes (Grade D).
3. All treated hypertensive patients should be monitored according to the current Diabetes Canada guidelines for the new appearance of diabetes (Grade B).
4. During the maintenance phase of hypertension management, tests (including those for electrolyte, creatinine, and fasting lipids) should be repeated with a frequency reflecting the clinical situation (Grade D).