Laboratory Medicine Flashcards
Anatomical Pathology
Cytopathology
Autopsy
Surgical
Laboratory Medicine
Clinical Pathology- Chemistry Micro Transfusion Heme Cytogenetics
How can Inappropriate use of laboratory medicine negatively affect patient care/outcome?
Delayed Decisions
Prolonged Hospital stays
Missed/delayed diagnoses
Increased cost
Diagnostic Test
Used to determine the presence or absence of disease WHEN A SUBJECT SHOWS SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE
Screening Test
Identifies ASYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS who may have the disease
Reference Material
A sample of the analyze with a precisely known composition
Reference Measurement Procedure (RMP)
The “gold-standard” measurement system for a particular analyte.
Secondary Measurement Procedures
Validated by reference materials and using the RMP.
Usually less sophisticated but more easily implemented.
Pre-Analytic Phase of Diagnostic Testing
Develop a question
Select a laboratory test
Order the test
Collect the specimen
Analytic Phase of Diagnostic Testing
Sample prepared for analysis
Sample is analyzed
Result is Verifired
Post-Analytic Phase
Result is Reported
Test result is interpreted in the context of the clinical case
Action is taken
Patient Care is affected
What phase of Diagnostic Testing accounts for most errors?
Pre-Analytic Phase
Which phase of diagnostic testing has the LEAST amount of errors?
Analytic Phase
Accuracy vs Precision
Accurate means close to true
Precision is consistency
Guassian Distribution
Bell curve, Central 95% is “Normal range”