Laboratory Procedures Review Flashcards
anticoagulant
substance that prevents blood from clotting
biopsy
removing tissue from patients for microscopic examination to determine the presence of cancer or other abnormalities; may be done surgically or with endoscopes, biopsy punches, or other instruments
calibration
a measurement compared with a standard; a method for testing the accuracy of equipment; a quality assurance procedure
capillary puncture
dermal puncture of finger, earlobe, or heel in infants to obtain a blood specimen
centrifuge
laboratory instrument that spins at high speeds, separating particles in specimens such as blood and urine
clinical chemistry
analysis to identify and to measure chemical components in blood, urine, spinal fluid, tissue, and other body fluids
complete blood count (CBC)
panel of blood tests that includes hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and differential white blood cells (diff)
control
a specimen with known values that serves as a check of test accuracy
C-reactive protein (CRP)
protein in the body that rises when inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are present
crossmatching
laboratory testing process to determine compatibility of blood donated by one person with the blood of a potential recipient
culture
the process of growing pathogens from specimens inoculated into a culture medium and maintained at a designated temperature; the purpose is to identify the microorganisms contained in the specimen
cytology
analysis of cells to determine abnormalities
evacuated tube (ET)
a tube, sealed to maintain the vacuum, that is used for obtaining blood specimens; it may have additives, depending on the type of blood specimen to be obtained
fasting sample
blood collected after the patient has not eaten or drank (except water) for 6 to 8 hours
fibrinogen
a protein in blood plasma that assists clotting
hematocrit
percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume
hematology
study of blood and blood-forming tissue; analysis of blood to determine abnormalities
hemoglobin
oxygen-carrying portion of red blood cells
hemoglobin A1C
blood test to help diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes and to measure the average blood glucose over a 2- to 3- month period
histology
microscopic study of cells, tissues, and organs in association with their functions
human chronic gonadotropin (HCG)
hormone present in blood and urine during pregnancy; urine or blood tests are used to determine pregnancy by the presence of HCG
immunohematology
specialized immunology dealing with blood, the presence of antibodies/antigens and pathology
immunology
study of immunity, sensitivity, and induced sensitivity; the presence of antibodies/antigens and pathology
incubation
maintaining a controlled environment to promote growth of microbial or tissue cultures
international normalizing ratio (INR)
ratio derived from the prothrombin time to help determine blood clotting; often reported as PT/INR
lancet
a sharp, sterile, disposable instrument used to puncture skin for collecting capillary blood
microbiology
study of microorganisms; in the laboratory, this division usually determines the presence and the identity of microorganisms found in specimens; examples include tests for tuberculosis, meningitis, and diphtheria
microscope (scope)
an instrument used magnify very small objects usually not visible to the naked eye
Mohs procedure or surgery
removal of skin tissue which is then prepared and examined while the patient waits to determine the presence of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma and, if present, the amount of tissue to remove for cancer-free edges
Papanicolaou (Pap) Smear
to detect cervical cancer
parasitology
study of human parasites and ova (eggs)
partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
blood test to determine abnormal clotting or to monitor anticoagulation medication
phenylketonuria (PKU)
a disease resulting in mental retardation caused by a deficiency in the metabolic process; tested for by using a capillary specimen from an infant’s heel, a test required by law in the US
phlebotomy
incision or needle puncture into a vein to draw blood
plasma
relatively clear yellow liquid portion of blood; composes 55% of whole blood; upper layer in specimen tube
plating
process of inoculating agar with a specimen swab and sometimes a sterile inoculating loop
point-of-care testing (POCT)
laboratory testing performed at the location where the patient is receiving their health care (usually the medical office) using small, rapid instruments and methods; these tests are Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
laboratory test to identify DNA presence of a pathogen
prothrombin time (PT)
blood test to determine abnormal clotting or to monitor anticoagulation medication
qualitive analysis
the identification of a type of pathogen by its appearance in the specimen
quantitative analysis
the method used to determine the number of bacteria present in a specimen
reagent
a substance that, when added to a solution of another substance, participates in a chemical reaction; it may be used to identify or to quantify the presence of another substance
sensitivity
testing to determine a pathogen’s susceptibility to specific antibiotics
serum
liquid portion of the blood that remains after clotting factors are removed
universal donor
a person who has O-negative blood, which is theoretically able o be transfused into a person with another blood type in an emergency situation
urinalysis
the physical, chemical, and microscopic analysis of urine
urinometer
a sealed glass float placed in approximately 15mL of urine and that measures specific gravity
