Biochemistry

Question 1

Name items tested in a pre-anaesthetic panel

Answer 1

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
• Creatinine
• Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP)
• Alanine Transferase (ALT)
• Total Protein (TP)
• Glucose

Question 2

Name items tested during a general health profile

Answer 2

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
• Creatinine
• Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP)
• Alanine Transferase (ALT)
• Total Protein (TP)
• Albumin (ALB)
• Globulin
• Amylase
• Glucose
• Calcium
• Phosphate
• Total Bilirubin

Question 3

What do you need for a biochem

Answer 3

• Serum or plasma
• Heparin tube (Lithium heparin)
• Orange top (green, big tube in mixed practice)
• Spun down to yield plasma
• Plain or gel tube
• Clear or brown top (red, big tube in mixed practice)
• Left to clot naturally then spun down to yield serum (no
clotting factors)
• Electronic analyser or Minimum data base test kits
• See blood sampling notes for details of sampling technique and sample
preservation

Question 4

What is the normal pH of blood?

Answer 4

Normal pH in blood is 7.35
• If pH drops (becomes acidic,
too many H+
ions), kidney
excretes the excess H+
ions in
urine (metabolic acidosis)
• If pH goes up (becomes
alkali), kidney stops excreting
H+
ions in urine (metabolic alkalosis)

Question 5

How can you ensure quality of the tests run?

Answer 5

• Suitable sampling technique
• Suitable preservation / anticoagulant
• Regular machine maintenance and servicing
• Regular calibration of machine and appropriate response to results
• Using external lab to confirm unexpected results
• Sufficient training of personnel to avoid handler error
• Ensure chemistry dry slides or wet chemistry are in data and stored
according to manufacturer’s recommendations

Question 6

Describe sample timing

Answer 6

Results are greatly affected by the timing of blood sampling
• Glucose – increased in periods of stress (especially cats)
• Recent meal – increase cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose
especially.
• Generally for biochemistry, starve for
~12 hours prior to sampling.
• Drug monitoring – peak and trough levels

Question 7

What can cause errors in the report/analysis?

Answer 7

• Old sample
• Haemolysis
• Icterus
• Lipaemia
• Incorrect sample type or volume

Question 8

What does ELISA stand for?

Answer 8

Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay

Question 9

List some ELISA tests

Answer 9

Angio Detect
• FIV/FeLV Combo
• SNAP Parvo
• Canine SNAP cPL
• OvuCHECK Premate
• ACTH stim test