Clinical Procedures - Hematology Flashcards
8 Parts of the CBC
PCV (%) TP (g/deciliter) Dehydration artificially elevates PCV and TP RBC (# x 10^6/µl) WBC (#x1000/µl) Hgb concentration (g/dl) Differential (# and %) Platelet Estimate (range/µl) Indices
MCV Indicates what?
size (microcytic, macrocytic, normocytic) (femtoliter)
PCV x 10/RBC
MCHC indicates what?
color (hypochromic, normochromic)
HgB x 100/PCV
MCH indicates what?
quality control should correlate with MCV (picogram)
HgB x 10/RBC
Neutrophil appearance
nucleus any size, dark dense nucleus, segmented, cytoplasm clear in most species – dust like granulation
Lymphocytes appearance
Round cells, nucleus will be very blue and round, cytoplasm may be very little and blue
Monocytes appearance
Largest WBC, nucleus any shape and lacy, blue gray may have vacuoles
Eosinophils appearance
any shaped nucleus, cytoplasm has reddish granules, tend to be translucent
Basophils appearance
any shaped nucleus, granules dark and dense – black or blue (except cats)
Platelets appearance
vary in size and color, often pale pink or blue, fragments of megakaryocytes
Reticulocyte Count procedure
make thick slide because anemic, 1:1 ratio of methylene blue dye to blood, let sit 10 minutes and then smear
What species does not have polychromatophils?
Horses
What type of reticulocytes do you count?
Aggregate
When are fibrinogen levels increased?
Inflammation
Kidney enzyme tests?
BUN and Creatinine
BUN measures what?
Blood urea levels, a product from amino acid breakdown in the liver that is normally filtered out at kidneys
Creatinine measures what?
Creatinine breakdown from muscle, kidneys normally filter
Serum Creatine Kinase measures what?
Creatine released from muscle damage
Liver enzyme tests?
ALT, AST, GGT, Alk Phos, Bilirubin
ALT measures liver damage in what species?
Human, Ferret, Rat, Dog, and Cat
Can ALT be used to determine severity of liver disease?
No, it is only a screening test. No correlation is seen in high levels and severity of disease.
Where else is ALT found?
Kidney, heart, skeletal muscle, pancreas
In what species is ALT not liver specific?
Horses, ruminants, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs
What can elevate ALT?
Lipemia or hemolysis
What species has high concentration of ALT in liver but no correlation with disease at all?
Birds
ALT was formerly called?
SGPT
AST was formerly called?
SGOT
Where is AST found?
heart, liver, muscle, kidney, and pancreas
Is AST organ specific?
No. It is released due to cellular damage.
Common causes for AST elevation?
hepatic disease, muscular inflammation or injury, hemolysis
What is used to evaluate large animal liver disease?
AST combined with Creatine Kinase or clinical signs to rule out muscular injury
Unconjucated bilirubin has what properties?
Insoluble in water and measured indirectly
Conjucated bilirubin has what properties?
Soluble in water and measured directly
Increased Conjucated bilirubin indicates what?
hepatocellular damage or bile duct injury, not properly leaving liver
Increased Unconjucated bilirubin indicates what?
excessive RBC destruction or difficulty bringing bilirubin into liver - can be shunt in younger animals
GGT is found where?
liver, kidney, muscle
in plasma it is mostly from liver - its function is unknown
What increases GGT?
liver disease, especially obstructive liver disease.
Steroids or Cushing’s Disease
Colostrum from sheep, cows, and dogs is high in what enzyme?
GGT
Alkaline Phosphatase is present where?
Almost all tissues, particularly osteoblast, chondroblasts, liver
High alk phos in young animals indicates?
Active bone development.
Steroids or Cushing’s Disease
High alk phos in older animals indicates?
Obstructive liver disease, possible bone cancer or injury. Steroids or Cushing’s Disease
Clinical signs of acute pancreatitis?
Inflammation, hemorrhage, necrosis, peritonitis, death
Chronic pancreatitis can cause?
Endocrine pancreatic insufficiency (Diabetes Mellitus)
Pancreatic enzyme tests include
Trypsin, lipase, amylase, blood glucose
Total protein can be affected by what?
Altered hepatic synthesis of protein, dehydration, overhydration
Serum protein measures what?
All protein fractions in blood except fibrinogen
Albumin is what percent of total protein?
30-50%
What things will affect albumin levels?
Liver and renal disease, diet, intestinal malabsorption
What electrolyte must be tested in serum?
Calcium, it binds with EDTA
What function is calcium important for?
Maintaining neuromuscular excitability and tone
What electrolyte is calcium inversely related too?
Phosphorous
What function is phosphorous important for?
Carbohydrate metabolism and energy storage
Sodium’s function in body?
Distribution of water and maintenance of osmotic pressure. pH regulation.
Potassium’s function in body?
Muscular function, respiration, cardiac function
Increased potassium cause and effect?
Acidosis - due to increased acids or loss of bicarbonate
Decreased potassium cause and effect?
Alkalosis - due to excess fluid loss such as vomiting or diarrhea
Magnesium does what?
Activates enzyme systems
Calcium levels are inversely related to what?
Magnesium
Muscular tetany is caused by what?
Inbalance of mg and ca. Seen in cattle and sheep.
Chloride is important to what?
Water retention and osmotic pressure
Chloride is related to what other electrolytes?
Sodium and bicarbonate
Bicarbonate does what?
Acts as a buffer system (pH balance) Kidneys regulate levels.
Aids in the transport of CO2.
