Lab Flashcards
What does the chemistry department do?
Performs tests related to the study of chemical reactions occurring in living organisms.
When a disease process occurs, the chemicals within the body fluid vary from normal. Any variance permits a diagnosis or evaluation of the patient’s health status to be made
What specimens can be analyzed for chemical components?
- blood
- urine
- CSF
- amniotic fluid
- synovial fluid (joint)
- sweat
- stool
- kidney stones
What are some basic chemistry tests (abbreviations) performed on blood and other body fluids?
- Acid Phos
- Alb
- Alk Phos
- Amy
- AST (SGOT, GOT)
- Barb Level
- Bili T&D
- BUN / urea
- Ca / Ca++
- Cl
- Chol
- CK / CPK
- ckmb
- Cr / Creat
- Dig Level
- HbA1c
- HDL Chol
- Fe / TIBC
- LD / LDH
- Drug Levels
- PO / PO4
- K
- Prot
- P Elect
- Na
- Trop / Trop Level
- TSH
- Uric Acid
Acid Phosphatase
Abbreviation – Acid Phos
Used in diagnosing metastatic carcinomas of the prostate gland and breast, among other uses.
Albumin
Abbreviation - alb
albumin is a protein that is formed within the liver. this makes up approximately 60% of the total protein. albumin transports important blood constituents such as drugs, hormones, and enzymes.
Alkaline Phosphatase
Abbreviation – Alk Phos
• used to evaluate bone and liver diseases, among other uses
Amylase
Abbreviation - Amy
this test is used to detect and monitor the clinical course of pancreatitis. it is frequently ordered when a patient presents with acute abdominal pain.
Aspartate Aminotransferase
Abbreviation: Ast (SGOT, GOT)
sometimes used as part of cardiac enzymes.
Barbiturate Level
Abbreviation – Barb Level
to determine the level of barbiturates in the patient’s system.
Bilirubin (Total & Direct)
Abbreviation – Bili T&D
measures liver function
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Abbreviation – BUN/urea
Useful in diagnosing diseases that affect kidney function.
Calcium
Abbreviation – Ca/Ca++
to determine if the level of calcium in blood is at normal levels
Chloride
Abbreviation – CL
this test is performed as a part of multiphase testing for what is usually called “electrolytes”. by itself, this test does not provide much information. however, with interpretation of the other electrolytes, chloride can give an indication of acid-base balance and hydration status.
Cholesterol
Abbreviation – Chol
• it is important that the food cholesterol, or high-density lipoproteins (HDL), be measured in relationship to total cholesterol.
Creatinine Kinase
Abbreviation – CK/CPK
this test is used to support the diagnosis of myocardial muscle injury (infarction). it can also indicate neurologic or skeletal muscle diseases.
Creatinine Kinase M.B.
Abbreviation – ckmb
the MB on the end of CK relates directly to the isoenzyme of the cardiac muscle. this test is an extended cardiac enzyme giving a more definitive diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
Creatinine
Abbreviation – Cr/Creat
often ordered to ensure the kidneys are functioning correctly and monitor the treatment of kidney disease
Digoxin Level
Abbreviation – Dig Level
Measures the body’s use of digoxin. This level must be drawn 6 hours after a regularly scheduled dose.
Glycosylated Hemoglobin (Hemoglobin A1C)
Abbreviation – HbA1c
This test is a reflection of the blood glucose on the red blood cells during the past 3 months
HDL Cholesterol
Abbreviation – HDL Chol
Good cholesterol, often done in conjunction with total cholesterol.
Iron / Total Iron Binding Capacity
Abbreviation – Fe/TIBC
This test is useful in diagnosing anemia, some infections and cirrhosis of the liver.
Lactate-dehydrogenase
Abbreviation – LD/LDH
a component of cardiac enzymes. LDH is an enzyme released into the circulation after tissue damage to heart, liver, kidney, brain, or skeletal muscle
Drug Levels
Many patients are tested for drug levels, based on the type of drug and how long the patient has been taking the drug. Most often the test is done 6hrs. after the last dose of medication. These are not to evaluate how the patient’s body is utilizing the medication.
Phosphate / Phosphorus
Abbreviation – PO/PO4
to evaluate the level of phosphorus in your blood and to aid in the diagnosis of conditions known to cause abnormally high or low levels
Potassium
Abbreviation – K
to determine whether your potassium concentration is within normal limits and to help evaluate an electrolyte imbalance; to monitor chronic or acute hyperkalemia or hypokalemia
Protein Total
Abbreviation – Prot
ordered to determine your nutritional status or to screen for certain liver and kidney disorders as well as other diseases
Protein Electrophoresis
Abbreviation – P Elect
To help diagnose and monitor multiple myeloma and a variety of other conditions that affect protein absorption, production, and loss as seen in severe organ disease and altered nutritional states
Sodium
Abbreviation – Na
to determine whether your sodium concentration is within normal limits and to help evaluate electrolyte balance and kidney function.
Troponin
Abbreviation – Trop / Trop level
A chemistry test used to diagnose a myocardial infarct (both before & after the event).
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Abbreviation – TSH
to screen for and help diagnose thyroid disorders; to monitor treatment of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
Uric Acid
to detect high levels of uric acid, which could be a sign of the condition gout, or to monitor uric acid levels when undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment
LFT’s or Liver Profile
- ALT – Alanine Aminotransferase
- AST – Aspartate Aminotransferase
- ALP (or Alk Phos) – Alkaline Phosphatase
- GGT – Gamma Glutamic Transpeptidase
- Bili T& D – Bilirubin Total and Direct
- Alb. - Albumin
Cardiac Enzymes
- ALT
- AST
- LD
- CK
- TROPIN
Lytes
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Total Co2 (Bicard, HCO3)
Lipid Profile
- Total cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- HDL cholesterol
- LDL cholesterol
What are the 11 steps of the Biochemistry check list?
- Scan the Physicians order and previous order
- Fax order to Pharmacy if there are meds
- Check and double check patient’s name
- Transcribe the order onto the Kardex. Symbolize the PO - K
- Complete the requisition from the Physician’s order and include the following:
- Addressograph / label
- room and bed #
- date to be done
- time to be done
- diagnosis
- ordered by
- test name
- any miscellaneous information prn
- is pt. on anticoagulants – yes/no
- tick off appropriate test with S or R
- use the Other Tests area of the req. for those tests that are not listed ex. FSP, PT etc.
- fasting blood work is to be done on a separate requisition
- complete Daily Blood work Card prn - Symbolize the PO - RMO
- If it is a STAT order call the Lab (accessioning). Symbolize the PO – Dept Aware. STAT biochemistry orders are not transcribed to the Kardex.
- Fax requisition to Lab. Fax stamp the req. and include date and time.
- Sign Off
- Stuff chart prn
- Flag chart for RN
What is a fasting blood test?
Some hematology and chemistry tests require that the patient be fasting for a certain period of time prior to the sample being drawn.
When can fasting bloodwork be ordered for?
Always be done the following day unless the patient is already NPO, then it can be drawn the same day as it is ordered.
Refer to Sharon’s notes.
What should you write on the Kardex in the Nutrition Section for:
a) an 8 hour fast
b) a 10 hour fast
c) a 12 hour fast
a) NPO 2300 (FBW)
b) NPO 2100 (FBW)
c) NPO 1900 (FBW)
What should you write on the Kardex in the Lab Section for any fasting blood work?
a) FBS for (date)
b) Lipid Profile for (date)
What are 4 tests that require an 8 hour fast?
- Cryoglobulins
- Glucose fasting (FBS)
- Fasting Phosphate, P, PO4 (test must be designated fasting or will be a routine test for PO4)
- Viscosity
What are 2 tests that require a 10 hour fast?
- Gastrin
2. Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
What are 4 tests that require a 12 hour fast?
- Cholesterol
- HDL Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- LDL
What are the 11 steps of the Fasting Bloodwork check list?
- Scan the Physicians order and previous order
- Fax order to Pharmacy if there are meds
- Check and double check patient’s name
- Transcribe the order onto the Kardex. Symbolize the PO - K
ex: FBS for _____________ (date)
Lipid Profile for ____________(date)
- Transcribe FBW in the Diet/Nutrition section of Kardex like this:
- for an 8 hour fast. - NPO > 2300 (FBW)
- for a 10 hour fast - NPO > 2100 (FBW)
- for a 12 hour fast - NPO > 1900 (FBW)
- Complete the requisition from the Physician’s order and include the following:
- addressograph/label
- room and bed #
- date to be done
- time to be done
- diagnosis
- ordered by
- test name
- any miscellaneous information prn
- Symbolize the PO – RMO, I/C (to hold tray until FBW is done)
- Fax requisition to Lab. Fax stamp the req. and include date and time.
- Sign Off
- Stuff chart prn
- Flag chart for RN
