ClinChem by Rodriguez (Definition of Terms) Flashcards
A chronic metabolic condition characterized by gradual, marked enlargement and elongation of the bones of the face, jaw, and extremities due to overproduction of growth hormone.
Acromegaly
A mechanism that requires energy to move ions across cellular membranes
Active transport
A life-threatening condition caused by partial or complete failure of adrenocortical function, often resulting from autoimmune processes, infection, neoplasm, or hemorrhage in the gland
Addison’s disease
This refers to the length of the electronic vector at maximum peal height.
Amplitude
This is a disease in which a waxy, starch-like glycoprotein accumulates in tissues and organs impairing their function
Amyloidosis
The absence of major portion of the brain
Anencephaly
The inert form of angiotensin and is formed from the action of renin on angiotensinogen
Angiotensin I
This is a polypeptide occurring in the blood causing vasoconstriction, stimulating the reabsorption of sodium in the proximal convoluted tubule, increased blood pressure, and the release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex
Angiotensin II
This is a method of measuring iron and lead by plating the metal and then oxidizing
Anodic Stripping Voltammetry
This is a plasminogen-like protein found in a proatherogenic lipoprotein particle called lipoprotein (a)
Apo (a)
The protein portion of the enzyme-cofactor complex subject to denaturation in which the enzyme loses its activity
Apoenzyme
This is a common arterial disorder characterized by thickening, loss of elasticity, and calcification of arterial walls resulting in a decreased blood supply, especially to the cerebrum and lower extremities
Arteriosclerosis
A chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers that results in the development of alveolar, interstitial, and pleural fibrosis
Asbestosis
This is a kind of arteriosclerosis in which deposits of yellowish plaques containing lipid material and lipophages are formed within the intima and inner media of large- and medium-sized arteries
Atherosclerosis
This facilitates the efflux of cholesterol from peripheral cells into HDL. This is also important for uptake of cholesterol by nascent HDL.
ATP-binding cassette protein A-1 (ABCA1)
This is a hormone secreted by the cardiac atria during acute and chronic volume and pressure overload. It enhances salt and water excretion and inhibits aldosterone secretion.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor (ANF)
This is a hormone produced by the ventricles in response to increased blood volume and hydrostatic pressure.
B-type natriuretic peptide
The total range of wavelengths transmitted
Bandpass
This resembles diuretic use except that hyponatremia is not corrected with fluid restriction.
Bartter’s syndrome
This represents the base concentration of whole blood on titration with strong acid to pH 7.4 at pCO2 of 40mmHg at 37°C. This also indicates an excess of HCO3 or relative deficit of non-carbonic acid.
Base excess
This involves analysis of serum samples by dual wavelength system to minimize the effect of interferences (triglyceride, bilirubin) on the substance of interest.
Bichromatic analysis
A fluid secreted by the liver, concentrated in the gall bladder, and helps in the emulsification, absorption and digestion of fat
Bile
The extent to which a drug can be successfully absorbed from the GIT and be therapeutically active
Bioavailability
A special type of sensor in which a biological component capable of interacting with the analyte and producing a signal proportional to the analyte concentration.
Biosensor
The blank contains serum but without the reagent to complete the assay
Blanking technique
Weak acid or base and their related salts which minimizes any changes in hydrogen ion concentration
Buffer
The sum of concentration of buffer anions present in whole blood, principally of bicarbonate, phosphate, hemoglobin, and plasma protein that will titrate hydrogen ions
Buffer base
Light produced as a result of a chemical reaction. This requires no excitation radiation and no monochromators.
Chemiluminescence
An abnormal spasm of the facial muscles elicited by light taps on the facial nerve in patients who are hypocalcemic. This is also a sign of tetany.
Chvostek’s sign
A chronic degenerative disease of the liver in which the lobes are covered with fibrous tissue, the parenchyma degenerates and the lobules are infiltrated with fat.
Cirrhosis
A pattern based on a 24-hour cycle, especially the repetition of certain physiologic event such as sleeping and eating
Circadian rhythm
These are based on the analysis of reference values from several groups of individuals and thus are used for the purpose of differential diagnosis
Clinical decision limits
This is a compound that decreases the release of catecholamines from sympathetic postganglionic neurons
Clonidine
This is a method where the human eye serves as the detector. The user compares the observed color of the unknown sample against a standard or a series of colored standards of known concentrations.
Colorimeter
The range of values described as the mean +/- some number of SD forming the basis of statistical rules for acceptance and rejection of quality control values.
Confidence (SI) interval
This is an abnormal condition that may affect the arteries of the heart as a result of the formation of the plaque made up of lipid. Reduced oxygen flow and nutrient to the myocardium are the important complications.
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
These are chemicals which can cause injury or irritation to the skin or eyes by direct contact or to the tissue of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts if inhaled or ingested
Corrosive chemicals
This disorder is related to repetitive pipetting, keyboard use or resting their wrists/arms on sharp edges
Cumulative trauma disorder
This is also known as pituitary-induced adrenal hyperplasia and is having plasma ACTH at or above the upper reference interval at 9:00 and fail to show the expected fall after midnight.
Cushing’s disease
This is obtained when AST is divided by ALT in the same serum sample; it is used to distinguish various clinical conditions in which both AST and ALT can be elevated to different degrees
De Ritis ratio
A potent glucocorticoid that strongly suppresses normal pituitary ACTH secretion
Dexamethasone
This is an acute, life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus in which urinary loss of water, potassium, ammonium and sodium results in hypovolemia, electrolyte imbalance, extremely high blood glucose levels and the breakdown of free fatty acid causing acidosis often with coma
Diabetic ketoacidosis
This is the passive movement of ions across a membrane. It depends on the size and charge of the ion being transported and on the nature of the membrane through which it is passing
Diffusion
This is the process by which a liquid is vaporized and condensed to purify or concentrate a substance or separate a volatile substance from less volatile substance
Distillation
This is an abnormal congenital condition characterized by progressive symmetric wasting of the leg and pelvic muscles and affects predominantly males
Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy
This is a type of hazard related to the development of musculoskeletal disorders as a result of clinical laboratory work. This is due to repetitive twisting, lifting, or assuming static postures for an extended period of time. It is also due to the functionality of the workplace.
Ergonomic hazard
These are fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by the body: linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids
Essential fatty acids
A process wherein cholesterol combines with an alcohol with elimination of a water molecule forming an ester
Esterification
A group of disorder including renal tubular dysfunction, glycosuria, phosphaturia, and bicarbonate wasting. This condition is often marked by osteomalacia, acidosis, and hypokalemia.
Fanconi’s syndrome
A storage form of iron which is produced by the combination of the remaining iron retained within the cell and the protein apoferritin
Ferritin
This protein is important in assessing the status of the liver, especially in case of shock.
Fibronectin
A type of AAS in which the element is converted to a vapor phase without the use of a flame
Flameless AAS
The temperature at which sufficient vapor is given off to form an ignitable mixture with air
Flash point
This measures light patterns produced as particles pass single file through a laser light beam. This is used to count and sort cells and is also a key component of hematology analyzers and technology used to differentiate white blood cells.
Flow cytometer
This refers to the number of oscillations of the waveform in a second
Frequency (v)
The amount of the unbound, active thyroid hormone, thyroxine-circulating in the blood.
Free thyroxine
This is a rare, familial disorder of fat metabolism caused by an enzyme deficiency
Gaucher’s disease
This is a diffuse inflammatory disease characterized by hematuria, proteinuria, high blood pressure, and edema
Glomerulonephritis
Are sugar containing lipids that consists of a sphingosine molecule that has a fatty acid attached to its amino group and a sugar linked to the primary alcohol group
Glycolipids
A genetic defect of an enzyme WNK disease, called pseudohypoaldosteronism type II, causing increase NaCl transport in the distal convoluted tubule, resulting in hypertension and defect in potassium secretion. It is characterized by low plasma renin and high aldosterone.
Gordon’s syndrome
An epileptic seizure characterized by a generalized involuntary muscular contraction and cessation of respiratory followed by tonic-clonic muscle spasms
Grand mal seizures
This is most common complication of venipuncture that is caused by blood leaking into the tissues during or following venipuncture and is identified by rapid swelling at or near the venipuncture site.
Hematoma
This is a disease of iron metabolism, characterized by excess iron deposits throughout the body.
Hemochromatosis
This states that the partial pressure of a gas is the pressure exerted by a particular gas in a mixture
Henry’s Law
This is the unit of frequency, which corresponds to one cycle per second
Hertz (Hz)
A malignant disorder characterized by painless, progressive enlargement of lymphoid tissue, usually first evident in cervical lymph nodes, splenomegaly, and the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells
Hodgkin’s disease
A relative constancy in the internal environment of the body, naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival
Homeostasis
This is an autosomal recessive disease resulting from a deficiency of iduronidase resulting to accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the lysosomes; a mucopolysaccharide storage disease. Excess heparin sulfate is excreted in urine.
Hurler’s syndrome
Increased carbon dioxide accumulation in the bloodstream
Hypercapnia
Abnormally increased pulmonary ventilation, resulting in reduction of CO2 tension, which if prolonged may lead to alkalosis.
Hyperventilation
Is a biorhythm with time periods that are longer than 24 hours
Infradian rhythms
A dye test for hepatic excretory function
Indocyanin green
A process that removes ions to produce mineral-free deionized water. It is achieved by the passing of feed water through columns containing insoluble resin polymers that exchange hydrogen and hydroxyl ions for the impurities present in ionized form in the water.
Ion exchange
A group of 4 standards with the general purpose of promoting principles of quality management and quality assurance into the manufacturing and service industries.
ISO 9000
Absence of the sense of smell because of agenesis of the olfactory bulbs and secondary hypogonadism
Kallman’s syndrome
Involves separation and analysis of individual chromosomes photographed during the metaphase of mitosis. It uses giemsa and quinacrine as reagents.
Karyotyping
A pigmented ring around the iris as a result of accumulation of copper
Kayser-Fleischer ring
Involves measurement of only the final product, with shorter time required and elimination of interferences.
Kinetic analysis
Caused by an extra chromosome (47, XY). It is characterized by small firm testicles, gynecomastia, may also have azoospermia and sterility.
Klinefelter’s syndrome
It refers to the degree of flatness or sharpness in the peak of a set of values having a Gaussian distribution.
Kurtosis
Also known as Kussmaul-Kein respiration, deep respiration. This is to “blow-off” CO2 to remove excess hydrogen ions
Kussmaul breathing
A system of computerized functions for the management of laboratory operations and communication of test results. It is a class of software which receives, processes, and stores information by the laboratory workflow.
Laboratory information system (LIS)
A rare disorder in which the enzyme that converts hypoxanthine and guanine into their respective monophosphate is lacking. It is characterized by mental retardation, self-mutilation of the finger and lips by biting, impaired renal function, and abnormal physical development.
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
This is the lowest amount of analyte accurately detected by a method
Limit of Detection (LoD)
A plot of the reciprocal velocity of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction (ordinate; y-axis) versus the reciprocal substrate concentration (abscissa; x-axis)
Line Weaver-Burk Plot
Also known as lipemia-clearing factor, is an enzyme that “clears” or removes lipids in the blood as it passes through tissues
Lipoprotein lipase
LOINC stands for:
Logical Observation Identifier Names and Codes
This is the universal coding system for deporting laboratory and other clinical observations to facilitate electronic transmission of laboratory data within and between institutions
LOINC System
The creation of a stable preparation of a biological substance by rapid freezing and dehydration of the frozen product under high vacuum
Lymphoma
A condition of persistently elevated serum amylase in the absence of clinical symptoms of pancreatitis
Macroamylasemia
These are enzymes bound to immunoglobulins
Macroenzymes
A condition caused by low caloric insufficiency without protein loss. The serum albumin level remains normal despite loss of body weight
Marasmus
This states that if the wavelength of light is much smaller than the particle diameter (d>0.1λ), then the light scatters forward owing to destructive out-of-phase backscatter.
Mie theory
A familial disorder affecting normal absorption of copper from the intestine, characterized by the growth of sparse, kinky hair. This may lead to retarded growth, cerebral degeneration, and early death
Menkes kinky hair syndrome (Menkes disease)
The albumin concentrations in the urine that are greater than normal but not detectable with urine dipstick assay.
Microalbuminuria
A condition of alkalosis caused by excessive ingestion of milk, antacid medications containing calcium or other alkaline substances.
Milk-alkali syndrome
Congenital malformation or absence of the fallopian tubes, uterus, or vagina, but the FSH, LH, estradiol, and testosterone are generally normal
Mullerian agenesis
A malignant neoplasm of the bone marrow that is the turnover composed of plasma cells, destroys osseous tissues, especially in flat bones causing pain, fractures, and skeletal deformities.
Multiple myeloma
Progressive demyelination of nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord
Multiple sclerosis
Lesions are present in the glomerular membrane which allows protein to escape, characterized by hyperlipidemia and heavy proteinuria.
Nephrotic syndrome
Various illnesses that do not directly involve the thyroid gland but involves abnormal thyroid function tests.
Nonthyroidal illness (NTI) or Euthyroid Sick Syndrome
Involuntary, rhythmic, movement of the eyes
Nystagmus
Is exposure of skin, eye, mucous membranes, or percutaneous contact with blood or other potentially infections materials that may result from the performance of an employee’s duties
Occupational exposure
A process by which CSF IgG is distributed, following electrophoresis, in discrete bands
Oligoclonal banding
This is produced by genes that are active during fetal development but minimally active after birth except in malignant tissues
Oncofetal antigen
The difference between the measured osmolality and the calculated osmolality
Osmolal gap
Refers to the number of moles of solute in a kg of water
Osmolality
Refers to the number of moles of solute in a kg of water
Osmolality
Refers to the number of moles of solute in a kg of water
Osmolality
Refers to the number of moles of solute in a liter of solution
Osmolarity
It is the measurement of the osmolality of an aqueous solution such as serum, plasma, or urine. It is based on measuring changes in the colligative properties of solution in particle concentration.
Osmometry
It is the pressure the allows solvent to flow through a semipermeable membrane to establish equilibrium between compartments of different osmolality.
Osmotic pressure
This is an abnormal condition of a lamellar bone, characterized by a loss of calcification of the matrix resulting in softening of the bone accompanied by weakness, fracture pain, anorexia, and weight loss
Osteomalacia
This represents the ratio of oxygen that is bound to the carrier protein, hemoglobin, compared with the total amount of hemoglobin capable of binding oxygen.
Oxygen saturation (SO2)
This is a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 17 and produces a protein that down-regulates the cell cycle. This is used to determine the risk of developing cancer.
p53 gene
This is a common nonmetabolic disease of bone of unknown cause, usually affecting middle-aged & elderly people characterized by excessive bone destruction and unorganized bone repair.
Paget’s disease
Commonly results from a pituitary tumor (adenoma) or from ischemia
Panhypopituitarism
Sometimes referred to as critical laboratory value. It is a test result that represent a pathophysiologic state or life-threatening cases.
Panic value
It is an apparent displacement of an observed object due to a change in the position of the observer.
Parallax error
Also known as mycoplasma components (MCs), may be polymers, monomers, or fragments of immunoglobulin molecules.
Paraproteins
This is the ratio of the amount of light transmitted through the sample to the amount of light transmitted din the absence of the sample (e.g., buffer or solvent without the sample).
Percent transmittance
An epileptic seizure characterized by a sudden, momentary loss of consciousness occasionally accompanied by minor myoclonus of the neck or upper extremities, slight symmetric twitching of the face or a loss of muscle tone.
Petit mal seizure
This is also known as the external quality assurance test, a method used to validate a particular measurement process. Results of the test are compared with other external laboratories to give an objective indication of test accuracy.
Proficiency test
This is a peptide produced by many tissues that is normally present in the blood at a very low level.
PTH-releasing protein
Also known as partial carbon dioxide, is an index of efficiency of gas exchange in the lungs and not a measure of the carbon dioxide in the blood.
pCO2
A quantitative measure of the acidity and alkalinity of a solution with reference to pure water. It is expressed as negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.
pH
A vascular tumor of the chromaffin tissue of the adrenal medulla characterized by hypersecretion of the catecholamines
Pheochromocytoma
Removal of a blood sample from a vein
Phlebotomy (Venipuncture)
Removal of a blood sample from a vein
Phlebotomy (Venipuncture)
This is hemorrhage or shock in a pregnant female at the time of delivery (Sheehan’s syndrome)
Pituitary ischemia
A protein that promotes clot lysis
Plasminogen
The pH at which the associated and disassociated forms of an acid will exist in equal concentrations. It is also known as the dissociation constant.
pK
This is arbitrarily defined as urine volume in excess of 2.5L/day
Polyuria
Also known as the partial oxygen which reflects the ability of the gas in blood but not its content
pO2
The inactive precursor of enzymes
Proenzymes
A forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disorder
Prognosis
This is a serine protease responsible for liquefaction of seminal fluid. It is a tumor marker for prostate cancer.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA)
This is a non-polypeptide structure that is bound tightly to a protein and required for the activity of an enzyme or other protein.
Prosthetic group
An enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of proteins
Protease
The investigation of the protein products encoded by the genes
Proteomics
Defined as an increase in potassium concentration only in the local blood vessel or in vitro, and has no physiologic consequences
Pseudohyperkalemia
This inflammatory disease caused by an infectious organism that have ascended the urinary tract and invaded kidney tissues
Pyelonephritis
This involves absorption of photons producing vibrational excitation. Emission or scatter occurs at longer wavelengths. It always varies from the excitation energy constant by a constant energy difference.
Raman Scattering
This states that when the incident wavelength is much longer than the particle diameter, there is maximum backscatter and minimum right-angle scatter
Rayleigh’s Law
This is the scattering by molecules or aggregates of molecules with dimensions significantly smaller than the wavelength of the radiation.
Rayleigh scattering
This states that if the wavelength of light is approximately the same as the particle size, more light scatters in the forward direction than in other directions.
Rayleigh-Debye theory
This is an electrode without a constant voltage.
Reference electrode
Are materials or substances with physical or chemical properties that are established sufficiently for use as calibrators or the verification of materials.
Reference materials
A group of disorders in which the renal excretion of acid is reduced far more than the GFR
Renal Tubular Acidosis
An enzyme produced by the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidneys, that converts angiotensinogen forming angiotensin I, and then becomes angiotensin II. It also plays a vital role in controlling blood pressure and fluid balance.
Renin
It is a process by which water is forced through a semipermeable membrane that acts as a molecular filter. It removes 96-99% of organic compounds, bacteria, and other particulate matter, and 90-97% of all ionized and dissolved mineral but fewer of the gaseous impurities.
Reverse osmosis
A combination of acute encephalopathy and fatty infiltration of the liver that may follow acute viral infections
Reye’s syndrome
A disorder that results in hypoxia, acidemia, and vascular protein transudation into alveolar air spaces (hyaline membrane disease)
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
Disintegration of striated muscle fibers with excretion of myoglobin in urine
Rhabdomyolysis
A condition caused by the deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, and usually phosphorus, seen primarily in infancy and childhood and characterized by abnormal bone formation.
Rickets
A chronic disorder of unknown origin characterized by the formation of tubercles of non-necrotizing epithelioid tissue in the lungs, spleen, liver, skin, mucous membrane, lacrimal, and salivary glands
Sarcoidosis
Binds HDL on cell surface. It may also help in HDL development and clearance of cholesterol ester from HDL in liver
Scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SCARB1)
Refers to the increase in voltage across the opposite ends of a thermocouple caused by decreasing temperature
Seebeck effect
Measures the abundance of few principal ions that together provide sufficient specificity to eliminate potential interfering substances and greater quantitative sensitivity.
Selective ion monitoring
This is a medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, pheochromocytoma, and parathyroid adenoma
Sipple’s syndrome (MEN II)
Refers to the exclusion of water and small molecules in the aqueous phase when more volume within a specimen is occupied by protein or lipid that excludes water
Solvent exclusion effect
A polypeptide hormone produced by the liver and other tissues; mediates growth hormone activity and glucose metabolism
Somatomedin C
An expression of the number of milligrams of glucose released in 30 minutes at 37°C under specific assay conditions
Somogyi units
This is the range of wavelengths above one-half peak transmittance. It is sometimes called the half power point or full width at half peak maximum (FWHM).
Spectral bandwidth
An instrument that provides information about the intensity of radiation as a function of wavelength or frequency.
Spectrometer
An optical instrument used for visual identification of atomic emission lines
Spectroscope
Are derivatives of long chains, unsaturated amino alcohol called sphingosine. Sphingomyelin, cerebrosides, and gangliosides are examples of this.
Sphingolipids
A chronic disorder resulting from malabsorption of nutrients from the small intestine and characterized by diarrhea, weakness, weight loss, poor appetite, and bone pain
Sprue
This is mild hirsutism with normal menses, to excessive hirsutism with amenorrhea. The patient may be overweight.
Stein-Leventhal syndrome
This is the difference between the maximum wavelengths, excitation, and emitted fluorescence.
Stokes shift
Substances acted upon by the enzyme which are specific for each of their particular enzyme.
Substrate
A mucoprotein produced in the renal tubules, normally found in urine but not in serum. This is also the major component of urinary casts.
Tamm-Horsfall protein
An inherited neurodegenerative disorder of lipid metabolism characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme hexosaminidase A, which results in the accumulation of sphingolipids in the brain
Tay-Sachs disease
Substances that affect cellular development of a fetus or embryo
Teratogens
A cofactor needed for the enzymatic hydroxylation of the aromatic amino acids’ phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan.
Tetrahydrobiopterin
A life-threatening complication, also known as thyroid crisis. This can occur in any patient with uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis.
Thyroid storm
A calculus, containing sodium urate deposits that develops in periarticular fibrous tissue, typically in patients with gout.
Tophi
A test for latent tetany in which carpal spasm is induced by inflating a sphygmomanometer cuff on the upper arm to a pressure exceeding systolic blood pressure for 3 minutes.
Trousseau’s sign
Occurs with particles of colloidal dimensions and can be seen with the naked eye. This is also pertained to as the effect of light scattering in colloidal dispersion while showing no light in a true solution.
Tyndall effect
A biorhythm that occurs frequently than once a day
Ultradian rhythm
Describes the relationships between the velocity of mobile phase to column efficiency in gas chromatography
Van Deemter Equation
Temporary blockage of return blood flow to the heart through the application of pressure, usually using a tourniquet
Venous occlusion
It is the presence off very high molecular mass protein that increases the viscosity of the blood
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia
Characterized by excretion of a large volume of dilute urine. The polyuria is caused by reduced reabsorption of water in the collecting duct.
Water diuresis
The linear distance between any two equivalent points on a successive wave
Wavelength
Condition involving tumors of the pancreatic islets
Wermer’s syndrome
This is a method used to separate, detect, and identify one or more proteins in a complex mixture
Western blotting (Immunoblotting)
A rare inherited disorder of copper metabolism, in which copper accumulates slowly in the liver, brain, kidney, and is then released and taken up in other parts of the body.
Wilson’s Disease
Inhibition of thyroid hormone synthesis due to large doses of iodine
Wolff-Chaikoff effect
A disorder of atrioventricular conduction, characterized by 2 AV conduction pathway
Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome
A soft, yellow spot or plaque usually occurring in groups on the eyelids
Xanthelasma
A benign, fatty fibrous, yellowish plaque, nodule, or tumor that develops in the subcutaneous layer of the skin, often around tendons.
Xanthoma
NOTE:
Eruptive xanthoma is a skin disorder associated with elevated TAG levels in the blood. Erythematous or pale-raised papules appear in large numbers.
Are substances that are normally found within human systems and are capable of entering biochemical pathways intended for endogenous substances.
Xenobiotics
A shift in wavelength under AAS due to the presence of an intense magnetic field.
Zeeman effect
