2: Common Hematologic (Blood) Tests Flashcards
What are the basic components of the CBC?
WBC count WBC differential count RBC Count Hematocrit (Hct) Hemoglobin Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) Red Cell Distribution Width (RCW) Platelet Count Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)
What is a CBC?
A complete blood count used as a broad screening test to check for such disorders as anemia, infection, and other disease.
-Panel of tests that examine different parts of the blood.
What is the WBC count? When can it be increased or decreased?
-Count of actual number of white blood cells per volume of blood.
- Increased w/ infections, inflammation, cancer, leukemia
- Decreased w/ some medications, bone marrow failure, chemotherapy, & congenital marrow aplasia (marrow doesn’t develop normally)
What is a WBC differential count?
% of each of the 5 major types of leukocytes
What are band neutrophils?
Immature neutrophils and are also apart of the WBC differential count.
What can significant increase in lymphocytes be associated with?
ACUTE or CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
What is a Red Blood Cell Count? What are the effects when they are decreased and increased?
Count of actual number of RBCs per volume of blood.
- When decreased associated with ANEMIA
- When increased associated with Fluid loss due to DIARRHEA, DEHYDRATION, and BURNS
What is the Hemoglobin test?
Measures the amount of oxygen- carrying proteins in the blood
**Mirrors RBC count results
What is Hematocrit?
Measures the percentage of RBCs in a given volume of whole blood
**Mirrors RBC count results
What is Hemoglobin?
An iron containing protein found inside RBCs
-Carries oxygen & necessary for maintaining an oxygen-carrying capacity compatible w/ life.
Hemoglobin makes up ______________ of the mass of each red cell? Do men or women have a higher level?
1/3
Men have higher levels b/c they have more RBCs
Describe the globin subunits in hemoglobin
The 4 globin subunits (made of amino acids) are each complexed w/ an heme molecule, w/ IRON.
What causes Anemia?
A lack of iron due to poor diet or chronic blood loss
Why does Anemia lead to weakness and tiredness?
Les hemoglobin is available to carry oxygen to the tissues which may result in weakness and tiredness
What is the Mean Corpuscular volume (MCV)?
Measurement of the average size of RBCs
What is MACROCYTIC? What is an Example?
MCV is Elevated when RBCs are larger than normal.
Ex: In Anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency
What is MICROCYTIC? What is an Example?
When the MVC is decreased, RBCs are smaller than normal
Ex: Seen in iron deficient anemia or thalassemias
What is the Mean Corpuscle Hemoglobin? (MCH). How could the values increase or decrease?
The calculation of the average amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin inside a RBC.
- Macrocytic RBCs have a HIGHER MCH
- Microcytic RBCs habe a LOWER MCH
What is the Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin MCHC? What can cause it to decrease or increase ?
Calculation of the average concentration of hemoglobin inside a red cell.
**Decreased MCHC with HYPOCHROMIA are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally diluted inside the red cells. Seen with IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA & THALASSEMIA
**Increased MCHC values w/ HYPERCHROMIA seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally concentrated inside the red cells. Seen with Hereditary SPHEROCYTOSIS (rare congenital disorder)
What is the Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) ?
Calculation of the variation in the size of RBCs.
***Normal range is 11-15% in RBCs
What is Anisocytosis? What is Poikilocytosis?
Anisocytosis= The amount of variation in RBC size like in pernicious anemia (increase in the RDW)
Poikilocytosis= The amount of variation in size and shape, causes an increase in RDW
What is the Platelet count ?
The number of platelets in a given volume of blood
-Both increases and decreases can point out abnormal conditions of excess bleeding or clotting
What is the Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) ?
When do you get an increase in MPV?
A machine- calculated measurement of the average size of platelets
***New platelets are larger, & increased MPV occurs when increased numbers of platelets are being produced
What is the function of platelets?
In conjunction w/ blood clotting cascade is to stop bleeding from injured small blood vessels as in cuts/abrasion by sticking together FORMING PLUGS.
What is thrombocytopenia?
Patients can bleed out easily & excessively. A variety of disease conditions can cause low numbers of platelets
What is CMP? When is CMP (Complete metabolic panel) ordered for?
- A panel of 14 individual blood tests
- Ordered as part of a history & physical examination, but can also be used to monitor a disease process or the effectiveness of treatment
- **Patient fasts for 10-12 hours before
What are the components of a CMP?
1) Sodium 2) Potassium 3) Calcium 4) Chloride 5) Carbon dioxide 6) Glucose 7) Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Creatinine 8) Albumin 9) Total Protein 10) Total Bilirubin 11) Alkaline Phosphate (ALP) 12) Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) 13) Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
What is Glucose ? What does measuring it do?
IT is a carbohydrate and major fuel for cells
-Measuring it determines if a patient is hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic
What is fasting hyperglycemia associated with?
Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
What is some bodily needs for Sodium?
1) Regulation of plasma volume
2) Generation of nerve impulses
3) Generation of muscle contractions
4) Generation of glucose absorption in the small intestine
What is Hypernatremia & hyponatremia?
Imbalances of sodium
What are some of the needs the body ahas for potassium?
1) Generation of nerve impulses
2) Generation of muscle contractions
3) Acid base BALANCE
* ** good at maintaing our pH level