common lab panels

Question 1

CBC

Answer 1

(complete blood count)
-WBC
     *monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, neutrophils
-RBC
-Hgb ( hemoglobin)
-Hct ( hematocrit )
-RBC indices
     MCV
     MCH (hemoglobin)
     MCHC
     RDW
-platelet

Question 2

BMP

Answer 2

(basic metabolic panel)
Glucose
Sodium
Potassium
Chloride
CO2
Creatinine
BUN (nitrogen)
Calcium

Question 3

Hepatic Function

Answer 3

ALT
ALT
Albumin
Alkaline Phosphatase
Bilirubin
GGT
Total protein
Prothrombin time

Question 4

CMP

Answer 4

(comprehensive metabolic panel)
BMP +
-Albumin
-AST
-ALT
-Bilirubin
-Total protein

Question 5

Lipid panel

Answer 5

Total cholesterol
HDL
LDL
Triglyceride level
VLDL

Question 6

normal RBC levels

Answer 6

in peripheral venous blood
male 4.7-6.1
female 4.2-5.4
anemic (>10% below normal)

Question 7

erythocytosis

Answer 7

excess RBC

Question 8

normal hematocrit

Answer 8

male 42-52%
female 37-47%
critical 60%

Question 9

normal hemoglobin

Answer 9

male 14-18g/dL
female 12-16 g/dL
pregnant female >11 g/dL

Question 10

Rule of three

Answer 10

Hgb = 3x RBC
Hct = 3x Hgb

Question 11

normal MCV values

Answer 11

80-95 normocytic

95 macrocytic

Question 12

MCV =

Answer 12

(Hct x 10) / RBC

Question 13

MCH =

Answer 13

Hgb/RBC (amount of Hgb per RBC)

Question 14

MCHC=

Answer 14

Hgb/Hct (conc of Hgb in an RBC)

Question 15

normal MCHC values

Answer 15

32-36 % normochromic

<32% hypochromic

Question 16

RDW

Answer 16

indicates cell size variability

normal 11-14.5%

Question 17

anisocytosis

Answer 17

elevated RDW (high variation in cell size)
may indicate sickle cell

Question 18

poikilocytosis

Answer 18

abnormal shapes of cells/staining patterns

Question 19

target cells

Answer 19

look like bull’s eyes

• hemoglobinopathies
• thalassemia

Question 20

burr cells

Answer 20

look like burrs

• uremia
• liver disease
• post splenectomy

Question 21

spherocytes

Answer 21

look like spheres instead of oval

• hereditary spherocytosis
• acquired immunohemolytic anemia

Question 22

Heinz bodies

Answer 22

dark spot stains along periphery of cell

• G6PD deficiency
• alpha thallasemia

Question 23

Howell-jolly bodies

Answer 23

dark spot stains inside of cell

• myelodysplasia
• post splenectomy
• Sjorgen syndrome antibody

Question 24

basophilic stippling

Answer 24

looks like granules of basophils

-lead poisoning

Question 25

schistocytes (helmet cells)

Answer 25

look like half of a cell

• artificial valve
• disseminated intravascular coagulation
• thrombotic thromocytopenic purpura
• hemolytic uremic syndrome

Question 26

normal reticulocyte values

Answer 26

0.5-2.0%

Question 27

aplastic anemia

Answer 27

low retic count

marrow can’t make new cells

Question 28

low retic count may indicate

Answer 28

no new cell production because of lack of bone marrow response or lack of materials (Fe, folate, B12)

Question 29

Reticulocyte index

Answer 29

% of total RBCs
retic % x (pts hematocrit/normal hematocrit)
>1.0 is good response

Question 30

normal ESR

Answer 30

male 15mm/hr

female 20 mm/hr

Question 31

elevated ESR indicates

Answer 31

chronic or acute inflammation
occult neoplasms
necrotic diseases
renal failure

Question 32

neutrophils

Answer 32

granulocytes
1st responders during infections and inflammation
2-5 lobe nucleus

Question 33

lymphocytes

Answer 33

agranulocytes

B and T cells work together to destroy foreign bodies

Question 34

plasma cell

Answer 34

B-lymphocyte memory cell

Question 35

eosinophils

Answer 35

granulocyte stains pink w/2 lobes of nucleus

present in parasitic attacks and allergic reactions

Question 36

basophil

Answer 36

granulocyte stains purple

store histamine and heparin

Question 37

monocytes

Answer 37

agranulocyte
present in chronic infections, chronic inflammatory disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS preleukemia) and myeloid leukemia

Question 38

absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

Answer 38

<1000 indicates severe immunocompromised

Question 39

reasons why WBC may be increased

Answer 39

eating, physical activity, stress
pregnancy
PM hours
newborns and infants

Question 40

leukocytosis

Answer 40

increased WBC

Question 41

leukocytosis indicates

Answer 41

infection
leukemic neoplasia
malignancy
trauma, stress, hemorrhage
tissue necrosis
inflammation
dehydration (hemoconcentration)
thyroid storm
steroid use

Question 42

leukopenia indicates

Answer 42

drug toxicity (chemo)
bone marrow failure
overwhelming infections (body gives up)
dietary deficiency
congenital marrow aplasia
bone marrow infiltration
autoimmune disease
hypersplenism

Question 43

what is the correct order for performing lab tests?

Answer 43

1. non-contrast (Xray, CT as is)
2. iodinated (thyroid test)
3. barium (common GI test)

Question 44

what kind of test tube do you use clot blood?

Answer 44

red top tube

Question 45

what kind of test tube do you use to separate serum?

Answer 45

tiger or green top tube (contains heparin)

Question 46

what kind of test tube do you use to prevent clotting for CBC, PT and INR?

Answer 46

purple top tube (contains EDTA)

Question 47

What kind of test do you use to prevent clotting for plasma testing?

Answer 47

blue top tube

Question 48

what order do you collect blood?

Answer 48

1. blood cultures
2. red top
3. blue top
4. green top
5. purple

Question 49

where is erythropoeitin manufactured?

Answer 49

kidney

Question 50

what could cause the RBC count to be high?

Answer 50

severe dehydration