Laboratory Assistant Skills Flashcards
Antibody screen
Test that checks for antibodies in the blood prior to transfusion
Agar plate
Lab dish with agar jelly like extract of red algae used to provide nourishment for the growth of organisms
Anticoagulant
Substance that prevents clotting of the blood
Antigen
Substance that causes the body to produce antibodies; may be introduced to the body or formed in the body
Anuria
Without urine; producing no urine
Blood smear
Drop of blood spread thinly on a slide for microscopic examination
Culture specimen
Sample of microorganism a or tissue cells taken from an area of the body for examination.
Differential count
Blood test that determines the percent of each kind of leukocyte (white blood cell)
Direct smear
A culture specimen placed on a slide for microscopic examination
Erythrocyte counts
Blood test that counts the number of red blood cells (normally 4 to 6 million per cubic millimeter of blood)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Blood test that determines the rate at which red blood cells settle out of the blood
Fasting blood sugar (FBS)
Blood test that measures blood serum levels of glucose (sugar) after a person has had nothing to eat or drink for a period of time
Glucose
Most common type of sugar in the body
Glycosuria
Presence of sugar in the urine
Gram’s Stain
Technique of staining organisms to identify specific types of bacteria identified
Hemacytometer
Specially calibrated instrument with a measured and lined area for counting blood cells
Hematocrit
Blood test that measures the percent of red blood cells per given unit of blood
Hematuria
Blood in the urine
Hemoglobin
The iron-containing protein of the red blood cells; carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues
Hemolysis
Disintegration of red blood cells, causing cells to dissolve or go into solution
Hyperglycemia
Presence of sugar in the blood; high blood sugar
Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar
Leukocyte counts
Blood test that counts the total number of white blood cells (normally 5,000 to 10,000 cells per cubic millimeters of blood)
Microscope
Instrument used to magnify objects for viewing
Oliguria
Decreased or less-than-normal amounts of urine secretion
Polyuria
Increased production and discharge of urine; excessive urination
Reagent strips
special test strip containing chemical substances that react to the presence of certain substances in urine or blood
Refractometer
Instrument used to measure the specific gravity of urine
Resistant
Able to oppose; organisms that remain unaffected by harmful substances in the environment
Sensitive
Susceptible to a substance or affected by an antibiotic in a culture and sensitivity study
Skin puncture
Small puncture made in skin to obtain capillary blood
Specific gravity
Weight/ mass of a substance compared with an equal amount of another substance that is used as a standard
Typing and crosshatch
determination of blood types and antigens prior to a blood transfusion
Urinalysis
Examination of urine by physical, chemical, or microscopic testing
Urinary sediment
Solid material suspended in urine
Urinometer
Calibrated device used to measure specific gravity of urine
Venipuncture
Surgical puncture of a vein; inserting a needle into a vein
