Biochemistry and Urinanalysis

Question 1

Why is it important to use serum if possible when performing boichemistry?

Answer 1

Anticoagulants can interfere with some tests

Question 2

What does a serum separator tube contain?

Answer 2

A gel which separates away the cells

Question 3

How can serum be seperated?

Answer 3

Centrifuging and then collecting the supernatant

Serum Seperator tubes

Question 4

How is plasma collected?

Answer 4

put in an anticoagulant and will need to centrifuge

Question 5

With a complete biochemistry profile, what is important to consider with reference to RIs?

Answer 5

RIs represent about 95% of normal animals, so with more tests, it is more likely that a healthy animals result will fall outside of the RI

Question 6

What concept should be remembered when interpreting biochemistry results?

Answer 6

There is a balance between factors going in and factors coming out.

Question 7

What does total protein consist of?

Answer 7

Globulins & Albumin. Fibrinogen if measuring plasma

Question 8

Why is it important to look at the colour of plasma when assessing total protein?

Answer 8

Because TP is assessed by a refractometer/colorimiter. So Icterus, haemolysis and lipemia can affect the result.

Question 9

What may cause increased and decreased TP?

Answer 9

Inc - dehydration (falsely increased), inflammation, neoplasia

Dec - dilution, loss, decreased synthesis

Question 10

What causes decreased albumin?

Answer 10

increased loss

decreased synthesis

Question 11

How could neoplasia and inflammation be distinguised?

Answer 11

Polyclonal (inflammation) or monoclonal (neoplasia)

Question 12

How is the liver assessed?

Answer 12

Enzymes
Metabolites
Functional Tests

Question 13

What may cause increased pancreatic enzymes? Are these always a reliable indicator of pancreatic function?

Answer 13

Pancreatits (dogs) and renal disease (cats). Not specific to pancreas as they can come from other sources.

Question 14

What is important to remember when assessing renal function?

Answer 14

Look at blood results AND urineanalysis

Question 15

What are the things to look at when assessing kidney function?

Answer 15

Creatinine (n.b. may be increased in muscly animals)

Urea

Question 16

How can pre-renal, renal and post renal be distinguished?

Answer 16

Pre-renal will see no urinary changes.

Question 17

What are causes of azotemia in pre-renal, renal and post-renal cases?

Answer 17

Pre - dehydration
Renal - renal disease
Post - obstruction

Question 18

What will a healthy kidney do?

Answer 18

It will still concentrate urine (specific gravity)

Question 19

Give a normal USG for:

a) dog
b) cat
c) horse/cow

Answer 19

a) 1.030
b) 1.035
c. 1.025

Question 20

Why is urea not a reliable indicator of renal function in a cow?

Answer 20

They can secrete urea into their saliva so urea levels can be influenced by high protein meals or GI bleeding

Question 21

What does one need to remember when assessing sodium levels?

Answer 21

It is influenced by water intake, water loss and intake of the metabolite itself.

Question 22

What is increased potassium levels associated with?

Answer 22

Renal failure (failure to clear) and hypoadrenocorticism

Question 23

What are decreased potassium levels associated with?

Answer 23

renal dysfunction

vomiting/diarrhoea

Question 24

Other than renal dysfunction and vomiting/diarrhoea, what else influences potassium balance?

Answer 24

Acid-base status

Question 25

When are changes in chloride without concurrent changes in sodium likely to occur?

Answer 25

With vomiting or with changed in acid-base status.

Iodine/Bromide salts (iatrogenic) can also affect the number on the machine

Question 26

When should free calcium levels be checked and why?

Answer 26

If total calcium is raised/decreased as most calcium is bound to albumin so total calcium levels are affected by albumin levels. If a change in total calcium is not accompanied by a change in albumin levels.

Question 27

Which other mineral is affected by PTH levels?

Answer 27

Phosphorus

Question 28

Which metabolites are raised in growing animals?

Answer 28

Phosphorus, calcium and ALP