Biolochemical Tests Flashcards
Fasting serum gastrin: ques it answers, explanation
- How much gastrin is in serum?
- purpose of fasting is because presence of food stimulates G-cells to produce gastrin, so it is to remove this stimulant
d-xylose: ques it answers, explanation
- how well are monosaccharides absorbed?
- if all goes well, xylose should be absorbed
Fecal fat: ques it answers, explanation
- how well is fat absorbed? How much fat is in stool?
- If all goes well, should be within range
lactose intolerance test: ques it answers
- how much lactose is present in the GI lumen
secretin simulation test: ques it answers, explanation
- how do G-cells react to secretin?
- Secretin inhibits G-cells to produce gastrin, therefore we’d expect to see a decrease in G-cell function
serum carotene: ques it answers, explanation
- how well are fats absorbed?
- carotene is absorbed into the body in association with fats
H. pylori: ques it answers
Is there H. pylori present?
tissue transglutaminase antibody test: ques it answers, explanation
- is celiac disease antibody present
- positive = 98% chance it’s celiac disease
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): ques it answers, explanation
- is inflammation present?
- if inflammation is present, ESR would increase because proteins will be produced that bind to RBC and cause it to accumulate at bottom of test tube faster
C-reactive protein: ques it answers, explanation
- is inflammation present?
- CRP in serum increases when there’s inflammation
fecal calprotectin: ques it answers, explanation
- is inflammation present in the intestines?
- distinguishes btwn IBD and IBS (IBD > 40ug/g). calprotectin concentrations increase in presence of inflammation
Endoscopy (upper GI, colonoscopy): explanation
- upper endoscopy = esophagus, stomach, small intestine
- Colonoscopy = large intestine, colon, rectum
Describe liver urine tests
- high urobilinogen can be detected if abnormally high conc in blood
- bilirubin not normally high enough to be detected in urine
Describe the three liver blood tests
- Prothrombin Time (PT): a useful coagulation test that indicates liver fnc because hepatocytes make clotting factors. (> RR indicates not enough coagulation so either hepatocyte dmg or Vit K deficiency)
- International Normalized Ratio (INR): calculation based on PT. > RR indicates clotting too slowly (hepatocyte dmg)
- Serum albumin: hepatocytes make albumin and secrete it into blood. If < RR, indicates hepatocyte dmg.
What are the 5 liver enzyme tests?
-
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST):
- not very liver specific but made in high amts in liver
- found in cytoplasm of hepatocytes
- >RR in hepatitis, cirrhosis, OBD, and heart/muscle problems -
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT):
- more liver-specific than AST
- found in cytoplasm of hepatocytes
- >RR in hepatitis, cirrhosis, and OBD -
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP):
- found in cells lining biliary duct (but also in bone…)
-»_space;RR in OBD
- >RR in hepatitis, cirrhosis -
Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT):
- indicates liver or renal problem
- not specific for anyt type of liver disease, but elevated during cirrhosis
-»_space;>RR in OBD, can be used to confirm ALP is not positive for bone - Serum cholesterol: >RR may indicate gallstone formation -> OBD