C1

Question 1

What is the importance of chemical pathology?

Answer 1

• provides biochemical information about patient

- important in screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of a disease

Question 2

Name the different sample/specimen types analyzed in a Chemical Pathology laboratory

Answer 2

• blood serum or plasma
• urine
• cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• pleural fluid (fluid on lungs)
• ascetic fluid (abdominal fluid)

Question 3

What are similarities between blood serum and plasma?

Answer 3

• Both in aqueous phase

- Both samples centrifuged (cells spun out and go to the bottom

Question 4

What are differences between blood serum and plasma?

Answer 4

• Plasma: blood cells removed, and anticoagulant added
• Serum: clotted, and free of fibrinogen and other
  clotting proteins

Question 5

What are the different collection systems?

Answer 5

• Blood collecting tubes: different tubes for different tests and if the incorrect tube is used, it interferes with the test
• 24 hour urine collection
• Transport systems in hospitals: rapid/ice transport stops metabolism

Question 6

What are the steps in the testing process?

Answer 6

• pre-analytical: outside lab
• analytical: inside lab
• post-analytical: recording results

Question 7

What are preanalytical variables that can affect the results obtained in the laboratory?

Answer 7

• incorrect sample or label

- haemolysis: red blood cells rupture/destroyed