Lab tests Flashcards
Importance of vitamin B12 and folate in red blood cells.
Vit. B12 and folate cause maturation of RBC nucleus, a lack of these may affect size of red cells.
Define MCV.
Mean cellular volume, describes the size of RBCs.
What does a low Hb suugest?
Anaemia
Define microcytic anaemia.
Iron deficiency.
Define macrocytic anaemia.
Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. May be due to alcohol excess, liver disease, hypothyroidism.
Normocytic anaemia.
Acute blood loss or anaemia of chronic disease (e.g. inflammation, infection).
What may a high haemoglobin suggest?
Dehydration, hypoxia, bone marrow disorder.
Give examples of leukocytes.
Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils.
What might an increase in neutrophils suggest?
Stress, infection, trauma, infarction, inflammation, steroid use.
What might increase in eosinophils suggest?
Parasitic infection or allergic/hypersensitivity reaction.
What might an increase in basophils suggest?
Hypersensitivity reaction.
What might an increase in monocytes suggest?
Chronic infection, malignancy, autoimmune disorders.
What might an increase in lymphocytes suggest?
Viral infection.
Define haemostasis.
Haemostasis is the arrest of bleeding and the maintenance of vascular patency.
What does prothrombin time measure?
Factors II, V, VII and X.
What does activated partial thromboplastin time, aPTT measure?
Factors II, V, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII.
List the components of blood.
RBC, WBC, Platelets, granulocytes and agranulocytes. Plasma: 90% water, proteins (albumin, Ig, clotting factors and nutrients/salts.
Define acidosis
Increased conc. of H+ or a process tending to cause increased conc. of H+.
Define alkalosis.
Alkalosis is decreased conc. of H+, or a process tending to cause decreased H+ conc.
What is the molecular respiratory component?
pCO2
What is the molecular metabolic component?
HCO3-
How do respiratory and metabolic acid-base balance differ?
If its a respiratory issue, the primary change is in pCO2.
If its a metabolic issue, the primary change is in HCO3.
Describe respiratory acidosis.
Increased H+ conc. due to increased pCO2.
Describe respiratory alkalosis.
Decreased H+ conc. due to decreased pCO2.
