Blood Analysis & Biochemistry

Question 1

What is haematology?

Answer 1

-complete blood count is an integral part of the diagnostic investigation of any systemic disease
-blood collected in EDTA tube for haematology

Question 2

Why must blood tubes be filled to the correct level?

Answer 2

-overfilling could lead to clot formation

-under-filling may alter cell size and morphology

Question 3

What is a quantitive examination of cells?

Answer 3

Includes PCV, total red cell count, total white cell count, platelet count, and total plasma protein concentration

Question 4

What is a qualitative examination?

Answer 4

Examination of blood smears for changes in cell shape and structure

Question 5

What is dog and cat PCV?

Answer 5

Dog = 37-55%

Cat = 24-45%

Question 6

What speed is centrifuge set at for PCV?

Answer 6

10,000 rotations per minute for 5 mins

Question 7

What equipment is required for PCV?

Answer 7

-gloves
-gown
-capillary tube
-clay seal
-blood
-centrifuge
-hawksley microhaemocratic reader

Question 8

What is the process of a PCV test?

Answer 8

-invert blood sample
-fill capillary tube 3/4 way up, hold horizontally
-thumb on top, apply clay seal at bottom
-put in centrifuge, must be balanced
-clay plug placed at outer side

Question 9

How to read a PCV sample?

Answer 9

-line bottom of clay plug at the bottom line of reader
-line top of plasma at the top of the line

Question 10

What are the 3 layers of blood in centrifuged capillary tube?

Answer 10

Plasma
Buffy coat
Red blood cells

Question 11

What does an increased PCV mean?

Answer 11

Dehydration = as plasma levels are reduced

Endotoxic shock

Question 12

What does a decreased PCV mean?

Answer 12

Anaemia

Haemorrhage

Decreased number of red blood cells

Question 13

What can a blood smear be used to identify?

Answer 13

-abnormalities of rbc’s and WBC’s
-total white blood cell counts
-differential white blood cell count

Question 14

What equipment is needed for blood smears?

Answer 14

-gloves
-EDTA blood sample
-microscope slide
-spreader slide
-distilled water
-swabs
-capillary tubes

Question 15

What is the process of preparing a blood smear?

Answer 15

-label microscope slide, patient ID and date
-apply ppe
-clean slide with distilled water
-invert sample
-insert capillary tube
-apply blood to the slide and spread the blood
-should be thumb or bullet shape

Question 16

How is a diff-quick stain carried out?

Answer 16

-prepare small pot of blue, red, purple stain
-dip dried blood smear slide into each stain 5 times, each for 1 second, excess shook off in-between
-rinse back side of slide with distilled water
-air dry slide vertically

Question 17

How long should it take for the blood to clot?

Answer 17

1 - 2 minutes

Question 18

What are the 2 blood clotting tests?

Answer 18

Buccal Mucosa Bleeding Time
-incision taken from inner lip
-tissue pressed against wound until bleeding stops

Activated Clotting Time
-1ml of blood placed in tube
-time from aspiration to clotting time

Question 19

What does a pre-anaesthetic profile test?

Answer 19

-urea
-creatine
-ALT
-ALKP
-glucose
-total protein

Question 20

What is urea?

Answer 20

-the waste product formed by the liver and excreted by the kidneys as a result of protein metabolism
-good indicator of liver and kidney function

Question 21

What is creatine?

Answer 21

-found in skeletal muscles
-quantity produced depends on diet and muscle mass
-determines kidney function

Question 22

What is glucose?

Answer 22

-main source of energy for cells in the body and concentration is controlled by hormones insulin and glucagon
-glucose levels are an indication of carbohydrate metabolism and endocrine pancreatic function

Question 23

What are normal dog and cat glucose levels?

Answer 23

Dog = 4.11 - 7.94 mmol/L

Cat = 4.11 - 8.83 mmol/L

Question 24

What does increased and decreased levels of urea indicate?

Answer 24

Increased
-infection
-dehydration
-chronic heart failure

Decreased
-liver failure
-low protein diet

Question 25

What does increased levels of creatine indicate?

Answer 25

-heart disease
-trauma to muscles
-muscle disorders

Question 26

What does increased and decreased levels of ALT indicate?

Answer 26

Increased
-liver disease

Decreased
-not significant

Question 27

What does increased and decreased levels of glucose indicate?

Answer 27

Increased
-diabetes mellitus
-stress
-pancreatitis

Decreased
-starvation
-malabsorption

Question 28

What does increased and decreased levels of total protein indicate?

Answer 28

Increased
-dehydration
-infection

Decreased
-renal disease
-malnutrition

Question 29

What is reviewed in a general health profile?

Answer 29

-albumin
-amylase
-calcium
-cholesterol
-phosphorus
-total bilirubin

Question 30

What is albumin?

Answer 30

-maintains osmotic pressure of blood, formed by the liver

Question 31

What is amylase?

Answer 31

-water soluble enzyme secreted by the pancreas

Question 32

What does increased and decreased levels of calcium indicate?

Answer 32

Increased
-dehydration
-renal disease

Decreased
-pregnancy
-eclampsia

Question 33

What does increased and decreased levels of cholesterol indicate?

Answer 33

Increased
-diabetes mellitus
-liver and renal disease

Decreased
-maldigestion
-malabsorption

Question 34

What is phosphorus?

Answer 34

-plays vital roles in function and structure of cells
-levels affected by age, diet, timing of sample

Question 35

What does increased and decreased levels of phosphorus indicate?

Answer 35

Increased
-kidney disease

Decreased
-malnutrition