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