hematology- blood plasma

Question 1

What is the percentage of plasma and rbcs in the total blood volume?

Answer 1

plasma = 55%

rbc (hematocrit) = 45%

Question 2

What does plasma consist of?

Answer 2

• amino acids
• nitrogenous waste
• electrolytes / ions
• gases
• amino acids
• nutrients
• proteins(albumin, fibrinogen, globulins)

Question 3

What are the formed elements of whole blood?

Answer 3

• platelets
• erythrocytes
• leukocytes
  (granulocytes: neutrophils, basophils, esinophils)
  (agranulocytes: lymphocytes, monocytes)

Question 4

What is the normal value of sodium (Na+)?

Answer 4

135-145 meq/L

Question 5

What is the normal value of potassium (K+)?

Answer 5

3.5-5.0 meq/L

Question 6

What is the normal value of chloride (Cl-)?

Answer 6

98-107 meq/L

Question 7

What is the normal value of Bicarbonate (HCO3-)?

Answer 7

22-26 meq/L

Question 8

What is the normal value of calcium (Ca2+)?

Answer 8

8.5-10.5 mg/dL

Question 9

What is the normal value of phosphorus?

Answer 9

2.5-4.5 mg/dL

Question 10

What is the normal value of magnesium (Mg2+)?

Answer 10

1.8-3.0 mg/dL

Question 11

What is the normal value of osmolality?

Answer 11

285-295 mosm/kg

Question 12

what is albumin and where is it produced?

Answer 12

• polypeptide chain and most abundant protein (60%) in the blood plasma
• produced in the liver and it exerts about (50%) oncotic pressure
• since it represents 50% of the secreted protein from liver, it can be used as a liver function test.
• its half-life is 20 days, which helps in keeping a steady oncotic pressure

Question 13

What is the function of transferrin protein?

Answer 13

-holds on to iron and transfers it through blood

Question 14

What does fibrinogen do?

Answer 14

• blood clotting

Question 15

What does alpha 1 antitrypsin do?

Answer 15

• Alpha 1 antitrypsin is produced by the liver and it neutralizes infection-fighting agents released by our immune system, therefore protecting our body tissues from our own immune system.

Question 16

What is the function of ceruloplasmin protein?

Answer 16

• transfer copper by binding to copper so the charged metal doesn’t react/cause damage to the phospholipid bi-layer

Question 17

What is the function of haptoglobin?

Answer 17

• binds to hemoglobin to prevent it from traveling to kidney and causing any damage because lone hemoglobin can be toxic to kidney

Question 18

What is the order of plasma proteins from most positive to least positive on the gel electrophoresis?

Answer 18

• Albumin (most positive, huge wave, darkest mark)
• Alpha 1 (second, small, globulin, antitrypsin)
• Alpha 2 (third, small, globulin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin)
• Beta (fourth, small, globulin, transferrin, plasminogen)
• Gamma (least positive, more negative, globulin, antibodies)

Question 19

What is hypoalbuminemia and albuminuria?

Answer 19

• Hypo-albuminemia: lowered plasma albumin conditions associated: malnutrition, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis of liver
• Albuminuria: albumin is excreted into urine
  conditions associated: bladder infection/inflammation, nephrotic syndrome

Question 20

What is the function of plasmin?

Answer 20

• enzyme that breaks down fibrinogen (any blood clots)

Question 21

What immunoglobulin is produced when new pathogen is encountered?

Answer 21

IgM

Question 22

What is the difference between plasma and serum?

Answer 22

• plasma: contains anticoagulants, fibrinogen present, less stable for longer storage
• serum: no anticoagulants, no fibrinogen since blood is clotted before spinning, more stable and considered gold standard for biobanking