Common Lab Tests

Question 1

CBC

Answer 1

includes:1. RBC count2. Hgb3. Hematocrit (Hct)4. RBC indices5. WBC count and differential6. platelet count

Question 2

WBC count

Answer 2

useful for evaluating infection, neoplasm, allergy, and immunosuppression

Question 3

Hct

Answer 3

measure of RBC precent of total blood volume

Question 4

RBC indices

Answer 4

measures size and hgb content of RBCincludes1. MCV2. MCH3. MCHC4. RDW

Question 5

MCV (mean corpuscular volume)

Answer 5

measure of average volume/size of single RBC

Question 6

MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin)

Answer 6

measure of average mass of hgb within a single RBC

Question 7

MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration)

Answer 7

measure of average hgb concentration within a single RBC

Question 8

RDW

Answer 8

red blood cell distribution width-measures variable in RBC size-indicator of degree of anisocytosis

Question 9

Basic metabolic panel

Answer 9

measure electrolytes, chemicals, metabolic end products & substrates1. glucose2. BUN3. Creatinine4. Na5. K6. Cl7. Bicarb8. Ca

Question 10

BUN

Answer 10

-end product of metabolism (produced in liver)-indirect measure of renal fxn & glomerular fxn-measure of liver metabolic fxn

Question 11

Creatinine

Answer 11

-Catabolic product of creatine phosphate (skeletal mm contraction)-excreted by kidneys (direct measure of renal fxn)-minimally affected by liver fxn-elevation occurs slower than BUN

Question 12

Ca2+

Answer 12

-used to evaluate parathyroid fxn & Ca metabolism-used to monitor renal failure, renal transplantation, hyperparathyroidism, various malignancies, & Ca level when giving transfusions

Question 13

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)

Answer 13

includes BMP +1. albumin2. total protein3. ALP4. ALT5. AST6. bilirubin

Question 14

Albumin

Answer 14

-Formed within liver & comprises 60% of total protein in blood-maintains colloidal osmotic pressure & transports blood constituents-measure of hepatic fxn and nutritional state

Question 15

Total protein

Answer 15

prealbumin + albumin + globulins

Question 16

ALP (alk phos)

Answer 16

detect and monitor hepatobiliary disease or bone disease with increased osteoblastic activity

Question 17

ALT

Answer 17

-found primarily in liver-injury/disease to parenchyma –> released into blood-ID & monitor hepatocellular diseases of liver-if jaundiced, implicates liver rather than RBC hemolysis

Question 18

AST

Answer 18

-found in highly metabolic tissue (cardiac and skeletal mm & liver cells)-disease/injury –> lysing of cells and release into blood-elevation proportional to # of cells injured-used for evaluation of suspected coronary artery disease or hepatocellular disease

Question 19

Bilirubin

Answer 19

-end product of RBC metabolism-component of bile-direct (conjugated) and indirect (unconjugated)-used to evaluate liver fxn —hemolytic anemia work up in adults; jaundice in newborns-jaundice occurs when total bilirubin > 2.5 mg/dL