Electrolytes/Blood Test Results

Question 1

What is the main function of sodium?

Answer 1

Sodium helps with electrical signals in the body, allowing muscles to fire and the brain to work.

Question 2

What is the function of potassium?

Answer 2

Potassium is both an electrolyte and a mineral. It helps retain fluid and maintain electrolyte balance. It is also important in the function of nerves.

Question 3

What is the function of chloride?

Answer 3

Chloride helps to maintain intracellular and extracellular fluid balance, and maintain blood volume, blood pressure, and pH of body fluids.

Question 4

What is the function of bicarbonate?

Answer 4

Bicarbonate is a negatively charged, having a role in acid-base (pH) balance and maintaining cellular electrical neutrality

Question 5

What is the anion gap a measurement of?

Answer 5

The difference between the negatively charged and positively charged electrolytes.

Question 6

What may anion gap abnormalities suggest?

Answer 6

This may indicate a disorder the lungs, kidneys, or other organ systems.

Question 7

What is the reference range for sodium?

Answer 7

135 to 145 mmol/L

Question 8

What is the reference range for potassium?

Answer 8

3.5 to 5.2 mmol/L

Question 9

What is the reference range for chloride?

Answer 9

95-110 mmol/L

Question 10

What is the reference range for bicarbonate?

Answer 10

22-32 mmol/L

Question 11

What is the reference range for anion gap?

Answer 11

7 to 17 mmol/L

Question 12

Hypocalcaemia

Answer 12

TBC

Question 13

What is the difference between iron and ferritin?

Answer 13

Iron is free iron, ferritin is iron stores

Question 14

What is the maximum dose of ferric carboxymaltose?

Answer 14

You can give a maximum of 1,000 mg of ferric carboxymaltose at once and you must separate doses by at least a week

Question 15

What is the role of transferrin?

Answer 15

Iron is bound to transferrin in the plasma.

Question 16

What is the difference between iron polymaltose and ferric carboxymaltose?

Answer 16

Iron polymaltose is cheap but takes hours to infuse, so it is given to inpatients. Ferric carboxymaltose is experience but can be infused in 15 minutes with a 30 minute observation time, so it is given on discharge.

Question 17

At what stage does iron deficiency lead to anaemia?

Answer 17

The body will only become anaemic in iron deficiency if it cannot compensate through other mechanisms.

Question 18

Does iron deficiency always cause anaemia?

Answer 18

No

Question 19

How are transferrin and ferritin levels influenced by inflammation?

Answer 19

Transferrin levels are reduced in inflammation, while inflammation may cause an overload of ferritin.

Question 20

Magnesium

Answer 20

TBC

Question 21

Biotin

Answer 21

TBC

Question 22

Vitamin B6 toxicity

Answer 22

TBC

Question 23

What is the first thing you should check when reviewing an iron infusion dose?

Answer 23

You should check their iron studies first (not haemoglobin) as even if the patient is anaemic, this is not necessarily due to iron deficiency.

Question 24

What is the standard practice for iron infusions at FMC for patients who have had a bleed but are not iron deficient?

Answer 24

Patients are typically given one infusion of 1000 mg ferric carboxymaltose regardless of their iron studies if they have had a bleed.

Question 25

Are phosphate and phosphorus interchangeable?

Answer 25

Yes

Question 26

Can you look at urea in place of urate/uric acid?

Answer 26

Yes

Question 27

What level should you always check in patients with suspected demyelinating disease?

Answer 27

Vitamin D3