1.2 Lab Values

Question 1

Normal value for WBCs

Answer 1

5.0-10.0

Question 2

What is leukocytosis?
Causes
Clinical Implications

Answer 2

Elevated WBC

Causes:
Infection - main one to know

Symptoms-based approach for determining appopriateness for activity (esp in presence of fever)

Question 3

What is leukopenia?

Causes
Clinical implications

Answer 3

Decreased WBC count

Causes:
Chemotherapy & AI disease (main ones to know)

Symptoms-based approach
Increased risk for infection

Question 4

Normal value for platelets

Answer 4

140-400

Question 5

What is thrombocytosis?

Causes
Clinical Implications

Answer 5

Elevated platelet count

Inflammation
Splenectomy
Neoplasm / cancer
High altitudes

Risk of BLOOD CLOTS

Question 6

What is thrombocytopenia?

Causes
Clinical Implications

Answer 6

Decreased platelet count

Radiation
Chemo
Viral infection
Nutrition deficiency
Leukemia

Increased risk of BLEEDING

Question 7

What is measured with a complete blood count (CBC)?

Answer 7

Platelets
Hct
Hb

Question 8

Normal value for hemoglobin

Answer 8

15 g / dL

M: 14-17
F: 12-16

Question 9

Elevated Hb

Causes
Clinical Implications

Answer 9

Elevated Hb

Causes:
Severe burns
High altitude
Congenital heart disease
Severe dehydration

> 20 - increase risk of blood clots

Question 10

Decreased Hb

Causes
Clinical implications

Answer 10

Hemorrhage
Nutritional deficiency
Renal disease
Sickle Cell Anemia

<8 don’t ambulate!!
High risk of orthostatic hypotension

Question 11

Normal values for hematocrit

Answer 11

45%

M: 42-42%
F: 37-47%

Question 12

Elevated Hct

Causes
Clinical implications

Answer 12

Burns
Severe dehydration
Higher altitude

Increased risk of blood clotting

Question 13

Decreased Hct

Causes
Clinical implications

Answer 13

Leukemia
Dietary deficiency
Pregnancy
Hyperthyroidism
Hemorrhage

<25% - VERY cautious w/ upright activity due to risk of orthostatic hypotension (symptoms-based approach)