03/09g Lab Tools of Evidence-Based Medicine I Flashcards
What is anatomic pathology?
Disease diagnosis based on gross and microscopic examination of patterns in tissues, organs, and whole bodies
What is clinical pathology?
Disease diagnosis based on laboratory analysis of bodily fluids or tissues
What does a clinical pathologist do?
Serves as a liaison of knowledge between the technical aspects of the lab and actual clinical practice
Makes sure that labs are in compliance with the FDA, OSHA, etc.
Consults with clinicians to guide lab test ordering, interpretation of lab values, and clinical decision-making based on lab data
Why order a lab test??
1) Confirm a clinical impression
2) Rule out a diagnosis
3) Monitor therapy/disease course
4) Establish prognosis
5) Screen for disease
6) Prevent liability
What does the chemistry lab do? List some specific tests
Analyzes chemical components of blood, serum, urine, body fluids, etc.
Tests - electrolytes, tissue enzymes, blood gas, urinalysis
What does the microbiology and immunology lab do? List some specific tests
Cultures and identifies infectious organisms and the body’s immune response to them
Tests - cultures, antibiotic sensitivity, Gram stain
What does the serology lab do? List some specific tests
Analyzes the response (antibody levels) to infection, tumor, non-neoplastic disease, and immunization
Tests - tumor markers, infectious organisms antibody titers
What does the molecular diagnostics lab do? List some specific tests
Analysis of genetic material, including single genes and chromosomes from both humans and pathogens
Tests - chromosomal abnormalities, prognostic indicators, infectious organisms identification
What does the toxicology lab do? List some specific tests
Analyzes toxins, drug levels, and environmental and therapeutic insults
Tests - heavy metal poisoning, antibiotics, levels of chemotherapeutic agents
What do the blood bank and transfusion services do?
Provide blood products for patients who need them (everyone!)
Consult on patients with transfusion issues (compatibility testing)
May be responsible for blood collection and blood product manufacturing (if you don’t do this, you’re NOT a blood bank!)
What does the hematology and coagulation lab do?
Analyzes blood and bone marrow, focusing on cellular elements and coagulation factors, and consults on hematologic disorders
Tests - CBC, platelet counts, hemoglobin, PT and PTT, factor levels
What is the difference between precision and accuracy?
PRECISION is the ability of a test to produce nearly identical values when repeated under identical conditions (repeatability)
ACCURACY is the ability of a test to produce results that are close to the “true” measurement
What is a reference range?
A range of acceptable values for an analyte, based on a healthy cohort
Lots of things can impact what is “healthy”
Do reference ranges capture all normal values?
NO!
No, no, no, no
NO.
What is a “gold standard” test?”
The Best Way to test for a specific disease, against which all other lab tests are compared
