Clinical Chemistry and the Geriatric Patient

Question 1

High blood ammonia levels result in
a. Respiratory acidosis
b. Metabolic acidosis
c. Metabolic alkalosis
d. Respiratory alkalosis

Answer 1

b. Metabolic acidosis

Question 2

Point-of-care testing is helpful when
a. Results are needed quickly
b. Only small sample sizes are available
c. The device can be linked to the hospital LIS
d. Quality control samples are not needed

Answer 2

a. Results are needed quickly
b. Only small sample sizes are available
c. The device can be linked to the hospital LIS

Question 3

The pituitary secretes which of the following hormones (more than one
answer is possible)?
a. Growth hormone
b. Testosterone
c. Insulin-like growth factor
d. Thyroid-stimulating hormone

Answer 3

a. Growth hormone
d. Thyroid-stimulating hormone

Question 4

Aminoglycoside drug levels, such as gentamicin, should be measured
a. 30 minutes after a dose
b. 3 hours after a dose
c. At steady state
d. At any time

Answer 4

c. At steady state

Question 5

Which condition is least likely to be associated with increased alkaline
phosphatase levels?
a. Osteoporosis
b. Paget’s disease
c. Hyperparathyroidism
d. Osteomalacia

Answer 5

a. Osteoporosis

Question 6

. Which could account for drug toxicity following a normally prescribed dose?
a. All of these
b. Decreased renal clearance by the kidney
c. Altered serum protein binding
d. Liver impairment

Answer 6

a. All of these

Question 7

Hearing loss is common among the elderly and may cause embarrassment.
What should be done to facilitate the specimen collection process?
a. Adjust your position to speak into the ear with the best hearing.
b. Speak very loud and forcefully.
c. Don’t speak at all. Just give the patient printed instructions.
d. Use a microphone

Answer 7

a. Adjust your position to speak into the ear with the best hearing.

Question 8

Given the following information, calculate the creatinine clearance using the
Cockcroft-Gault formula:Age = 85; weight = 70 kg; sex = maleSerum
creatinine = 1.0 mg/dL
a. 53
b. 72
c. 47
d. 35

Answer 8

a. 53

Question 9

Glucose intolerance, abnormal cholesterol level, high blood pressure, and
upper body obesity are characteristics of
a. Insulin resistance
b. Chronic inflammatory disease
c. Coronary heart disease
d. Cerebrovascular disease

Answer 9

a. Insulin resistance