IGNORE LAB TESTS Flashcards
4 parts of basic understanding of lab test
- Values
- Variations
- Interpretation
- Implications for therapy
3 purposes of lab tests
- Screening
- Diagnosis
- Monitoring
2 categories of blood test counts
Hematology and chemistry
Provides info about blood cells - WBC, hematocrit, platelets
Hematology
Data about plasma - cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, BUN, glucose, thyroid level
Chemistry (blood test component)
One of the most commonly ordered tests - does not test cell function
CBC complete blood count
Determines the actual number of blood elements in relation to volume
CBC
4 main components of CBC
Red cell count
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
White cell count
These function to carry O2 from the lungs to tissues and transfer CO2 from tissues to lungs
RBCs
% of whole blood occupied by RBCs
Hematocrit
Indicator of the severity of anemia or polycythemia and monitors response to treatment
Hgb levels in CBC
Volume of hgb in each RBC
MCV mean corpuscular volume
Weight of hgb in each RBC
MCH; mean corpuscular hgb
Proportion of hgb contained in each RBC
MCHC mean corp hgb concentration
Inflammatory marker
Sed rate
Inflammation makes RBCs _____________
Heavier
Used as an index of MS dysfunction
Sed rate
Seen in pregnancy due to increased plasma volume
Relative anemia
Increase in the number of RBC
Polycythemia
Polycythemia is a response to a decrease in the ___________; commonly seen in pts with _________
PaO2
COPD
Polycythemia pts are at increased risk of this. Why?
Stroke and thrombosis; increased viscosity of blood
Function in the immune response
Leukocytes (WBCs)
Markers of inflammatory process
WBCs
2 ways to measure WBCs
Total number
Differential count
Too many WBCs causes
Autoimmune response, inflammation
Term for increased WBCs
Leukocytosis
Term for decreased WBCs
Leukopenia
