Blood Analysis & Biochemistry Flashcards
What is haematology?
-complete blood count is an integral part of the diagnostic investigation of any systemic disease
-blood collected in EDTA tube for haematology
Why must blood tubes be filled to the correct level?
-overfilling could lead to clot formation
-under-filling may alter cell size and morphology
What is a quantitive examination of cells?
Includes PCV, total red cell count, total white cell count, platelet count, and total plasma protein concentration
What is a qualitative examination?
Examination of blood smears for changes in cell shape and structure
What is dog and cat PCV?
Dog = 37-55%
Cat = 24-45%
What speed is centrifuge set at for PCV?
10,000 rotations per minute for 5 mins
What equipment is required for PCV?
-gloves
-gown
-capillary tube
-clay seal
-blood
-centrifuge
-hawksley microhaemocratic reader
What is the process of a PCV test?
-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
How to read a PCV sample?
-line bottom of clay plug at the bottom line of reader
-line top of plasma at the top of the line
What are the 3 layers of blood in centrifuged capillary tube?
Plasma
Buffy coat
Red blood cells
What does an increased PCV mean?
Dehydration = as plasma levels are reduced
Endotoxic shock
What does a decreased PCV mean?
Anaemia
Haemorrhage
Decreased number of red blood cells
What can a blood smear be used to identify?
-abnormalities of rbc’s and WBC’s
-total white blood cell counts
-differential white blood cell count
What equipment is needed for blood smears?
-gloves
-EDTA blood sample
-microscope slide
-spreader slide
-distilled water
-swabs
-capillary tubes
What is the process of preparing a blood smear?
-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
How is a diff-quick stain carried out?
-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
How long should it take for the blood to clot?
1 - 2 minutes
What are the 2 blood clotting tests?
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
What does a pre-anaesthetic profile test?
-urea
-creatine
-ALT
-ALKP
-glucose
-total protein
What is urea?
-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
What is creatine?
-found in skeletal muscles
-quantity produced depends on diet and muscle mass
-determines kidney function
What is glucose?
-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
What are normal dog and cat glucose levels?
Dog = 4.11 - 7.94 mmol/L
Cat = 4.11 - 8.83 mmol/L
What does increased and decreased levels of urea indicate?
Increased
-infection
-dehydration
-chronic heart failure
Decreased
-liver failure
-low protein diet
What does increased levels of creatine indicate?
-heart disease
-trauma to muscles
-muscle disorders
What does increased and decreased levels of ALT indicate?
Increased
-liver disease
Decreased
-not significant
What does increased and decreased levels of glucose indicate?
Increased
-diabetes mellitus
-stress
-pancreatitis
Decreased
-starvation
-malabsorption
What does increased and decreased levels of total protein indicate?
Increased
-dehydration
-infection
Decreased
-renal disease
-malnutrition
What is reviewed in a general health profile?
-albumin
-amylase
-calcium
-cholesterol
-phosphorus
-total bilirubin
What is albumin?
-maintains osmotic pressure of blood, formed by the liver
What is amylase?
-water soluble enzyme secreted by the pancreas
What does increased and decreased levels of calcium indicate?
Increased
-dehydration
-renal disease
Decreased
-pregnancy
-eclampsia
What does increased and decreased levels of cholesterol indicate?
Increased
-diabetes mellitus
-liver and renal disease
Decreased
-maldigestion
-malabsorption
What is phosphorus?
-plays vital roles in function and structure of cells
-levels affected by age, diet, timing of sample
What does increased and decreased levels of phosphorus indicate?
Increased
-kidney disease
Decreased
-malnutrition
