Lab Values and Diagnostics Flashcards
Divisions of Clinical Lab
Chemistry
Hematology
Microbiology
Blood Bank
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
Hematology
WBC Count
Hemoglobin
Platelets
BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)
Chemistry
Sodium, Potassium, Creatinine, Glucose
CMP (Complete Metabolic Panel)
Chemistry
Sodium, Potassium, Creatinine, Glucose
Microbiology
Sputum gram stain
Sputum Culture and Sensitivity
Pleural Fluid culture and sensitivity
Blood Bank
Blood Typing and storage
WBC/Leukocyte Life Span, Norma and Critical Values, Action
Life Span: 13-20 days
Normal Values: 5,000-10,000
Critical Values: <2,000 or >40,000mm3
Fight infections through phagocytosis
Granulocytes (WBC)
Neutrophils: 55-70%
-Bands: 3-5%
Eosinophils: 1-4%
Basophil: .5-1%
Agranulocytes (WBC)
Lymphocytes: 20-40%
Monocytes: 2-8%
Bands
Immature Neutrophils. Make up < 5% of circulating neutrophils normally
What is a “left shift”?
Increase in number of bands. Common with acute infection.
What is the function of neutrophils?
Locate, Ingest, and kill bacteria
High WBC count term and causes
Leukocytosis/Neutrophilia
Causes: Infection, trauma, stress, inflammation, tissue necrosis, leukemia
Low WBC count term and causes
Leukopenia/Neutropenic
Drug toxicity, chemo, bone marrow failure, infection, dietary or immunodeficiency
Interpreting CBC
- What is total WBC?
- If elevated over 11,000, what type of WBC is the culprit?
- Marked leukocytosis is usually due to neutrophils or lymphocytes
- If neutrophils are causing leukocytosis, compare neutrophil % to WBC
- The % of neutrophil indicates the severity of infection. The total WBC reflects the quality of the immune system.
RBC normal values in MEN
4.7-6.1 million mm3
Hemoglobin: 14-18
Hematocrit: 42-52%
RBC normal values in WOMEN
4.2-5.4 million mm3
Hemoglobin: 12-16
Hematocrit: 37-47%
High RBC count (term and define, causes)
Polycythemia
Thick blood
Living at high altitudes, chronic lung disease with hypoxia, some drugs.
May lead to dehydration, excessive exercise, anxiety, pain
Low RBC count (term and causes)
Anemia
Pregnancy, decreased bone marrow production, over hydration, some drugs
Rule of Three
Useful to detect error in HBG, HCT, and RBC count GOLD STANDARD: RBC 5 million HGB 15 gm HCT 45%
Normal Platelet Count, Life span
150,000-400,000 mm3
Life span is 10 days
What is Thrombocytopenia?
Low platelet count can cause excessive bleeding. Common with use of heparin(HIT- heparin induced thrombocytopenia, bone marrow disease, liver failure, and sepsis
What is Thrombocythemia? Causes of it?
High platelet count.
Causes: iron deficiency, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis
What med is regulated by Prothrombin time (PT)?
Coumadin.
Normal findings depend on reagents used
11.0-12.5 seconds
What med is regulated by Partial Thromboplastin time (PTT)?
Assessing the intrinsic system
Normal Findings 30-40 seconds
Patient receives anticoagulant therapy 1.5-2.5 times the control value in seconds.
Describe INR (international normalized ratio)
Measure the time it takes for blood to clot and compares it to an average
Healthy People= 0.8-1.1
On anticoagulants: 2.0-3.0
Atrial fibrillation/ Mechanical Heart Valves: 3.0-4.0
Sodium* Value
136-145 mEq/L
Potassium* Value
3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Blood Sugar(Glucose)* Value
70-110 mg/dl
Chloride Value
98-106 mEq/L
Hemoglobin A1C
4-5.9%
BUN
10-20 mg/dl
Creatinine(serum)
0.5-1.1 mg/dl
Albumin
3.5-5.0 mEq/dl
Calcium (serum)
9.0-10.5 Total
Phosphorus
2.7-4.6 mg/dl
Magnesium
1.3-2.1 mEq/L
Amylase
60-120 u/dl
