Diagnostic Studies/Laboratory tests

Question 1

What labs are in the blood clotting studies

Answer 1

Platelet count

Prothrombin time (PT)

Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)

Question 2

Normal platelets count

Answer 2

150,000 - 400, 000

Question 3

Potential cause of low platelet count

Answer 3

Autoimmune disorders
Cirrhosis
Sepsis
Hypersplenism
Hemorrhage
Leukemia
Cancer chemotherapy
viral infection
some medications

Question 4

Potential cause of high platelet count

Answer 4

malignant disorders
polycythemia vera
rheumatoid arthritis
myeloproliferative disease

Question 5

What are PT/PTT

Answer 5

Used to evaluate how well coagulation factors in coagulation cascade work together

Measure number of seconds it takes for clot to form in a blood sample after reagents are added:

Prolonged results indicate that blood clotting is taking longer than normal

Question 6

Conditions that cause prolonged PT with normal PTT

Answer 6

Liver disease

vitamin K deficiency

chronic low-grade Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Defective factor VII

anticoagulation drug therapy (Warfain)

Question 7

Condition that cause both prolonged PT and PTT

Answer 7

Defective or decreased factor I, II, V, X

severe liver disease

Acute DIC

Warfarin overdose

Question 8

Condition that cause normal PT with prolonged PTT

Answer 8

Decreased/defective factor VIII, IX, XI, XII

Von Willebrand disease

Presence of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) anticoagulant

Question 9

Labs that can be elevated in pregnancy

Answer 9

Total cholesterol
Triglycerides
Creatinine clearance
TSH (upper limits during pregnancy are lower and based on trimester = 2.5-3.5
Total thyroxine (T4)

Question 10

What is BUN

Answer 10

indirect measure of renal and liver function

Question 11

Increased levels of BUN cause

Answer 11

Hypovolemia
Dehydration
Reduced cardiac function
GI bleeding
Starvation
Sepsis
Renal disease

Question 12

low levels of BUN cause

Answer 12

liver failure
malnutrition
nephrotic syndrome

Question 13

What is the role of the HDL

Answer 13

removes cholesterol from peripheral tissues and transports to liver for excretion

Question 14

What are the renal functions tests

Answer 14

BUN
Serum Creatinine
Creatinine clearance
Urine protein/creatinine (PC) ratio

Question 15

Role of the serum creatinine

Answer 15

indirect measure of renal function

Question 16

Increased serum creatinine level cause

Answer 16

renal disorders
dehydration

Question 17

low serum creatinine level cause

Answer 17

debilitation and decreased muscle mass

Question 18

Role of creatinine clearance

Answer 18

Calculated from serum and 24 hour urine creatinine level to determine rate at which kidneys are clearing creatinine from the blood, reflecting glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

Question 19

Increase level of creatinine clearance cause

Answer 19

increased muscle mass
exercise
pregnancy
high dietary meat intake
some medications

Question 20

low level of creatinine clearance causef

Answer 20

impaired renal function
reduced renal blood flow
heart failure
shock
some meds

Question 21

Role of Antithyroid peroxidase antibodies

Answer 21

used in differential diagnosis of thyroid disorders associated with autoimmune disease

Question 22

Positive Antithyroid peroxidase

Answer 22

Graves disease
Hashimotos’ thyroiditis

Question 23

What labs are included in liver function studies

Answer 23

Bilirubin
Albumin
Liver enzymes
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
AST