Chemical Pathology Day 1

Question 1

What is chemical pathology

Answer 1

Chemical pathology is the branch of laboratory medicine in which chemical and biochemical methods are applied to the study of diseases. In other words, it is the study of changes in chemical constitution and biochemical mechanisms of the body as a result of disease.

Question 2

What are the uses of biochemical tests

Answer 2

1. Diagnosis (confirm, refute, refine)
2. Prognosis
3. Screening
4. Monitoring
5. Research into biomedical basis of diseases and in clinical trials of known drugs

Question 3

What test does KATH use for screening for typhoid fever

Answer 3

Blood culture but not Widal test because Widal test is not always accurate

Question 4

What is the function of an LFT

Answer 4

Gives you the extent of damage of the liver

Question 5

What is refining as used in differential diagnosis

Answer 5

Putting the disease in its proper perspective

Question 6

What does a profile of a disease give you

Answer 6

Gives you the nature of the infection

Question 7

What is diagnosis

Answer 7

Diagnosis is when a biomedical test is used to identify a present disease, illness or problem

Question 8

What is a prognosis

Answer 8

Prognosis is when a biomedical test is used to predict the course of the diagnosed disease, illness or problem and to determine the treatment or outcome of the condition identified. Eg. FBS and DM

Question 9

What are the types of blood used in testing

Answer 9

Whole blood
Plasma
Serum

Question 10

Testing for glycated Hb used what kind of blood

Answer 10

Whole blood

Question 11

Mention some specimen used for testing

Answer 11

Venous blood (whole blood, serum or plasma)
Arterial blood (for blood gases)
Capillary blood
Urine
Faeces/stool
CSF
Sputum and saliva
Tissues and cells (hair, nail, skin)
Aspirates Eg. Pleural fluid, ascites, synovial fluid
Intestinal or duodenal fluid
Pancreatic pseudocyst (collection of leaked pancreatic fluid into the system)
Calculi or kidney stones
NB:

Question 12

What are some factors to consider before doing a test

Answer 12

1. The lab should be provided with the correct specimen
2. Right information to ensure that the right test is carried out (eg. if it’s creatinine, specify if it’s urine or serum creatinine)
3. Details of patients should be provided. Eg. Age, sex, actual menstrual period, etc

Question 13

What is the use of lithium heparin tubes

Answer 13

For arterial blood gases

Question 14

What is the use of citrate tubes

Answer 14

For coagulation studies

Question 15

What are the uses of EDTA tubes

Answer 15

Glycated haemoglobin
Haematological tests - Full Blood Count Electrophoresis
Blood film for Malaria Parasites ESR, etc

Question 16

What is the use of fluoride tubes

Answer 16

Blood glucose test

Question 17

What are the uses of gel separator tubes

Answer 17

General Chemistries – LFT, RFT/KFT/BUE Cr, Lipid Profile, Ca, Mg, Phos, Uric Acid, LDH, Lipase, CK, Amylase, etc.
Hormonal Tests – TFT, PSA, Fertility profile, Tumour Markers, etc.
Serological tests – HbsAg, HIV, HCV, VDRL

Question 18

What is plasma

Answer 18

The liquid part of blood that contains clotting factors

Question 19

What is the use of the gel in a gel separator tube

Answer 19

It facilitates or speeds up the clotting process
It serves as a barrier between the supernatant (liquid part) and the solid part

Question 20

What are some precautions (things to avoid doing) to take in sample collection

Answer 20

1. Incorrect (wrong) specimen container
2. Inappropriate sampling sites (don’t take samples from arms receiving infusions else stand the risk of hemodilution)
3. Incorrect specimen storage
4. Difficulty in obtaining blood specimen
5. Prolonged stasis during venipuncture
6. Insufficient sample volume
7. Errors in timing of sample taking

Question 21

What time are hormonal samples taken

Answer 21

In the morning