Labratory Flashcards
Blood Culture Sample Sizes:
- Cats/Small Dogs
- Med Dogs
- Large Dogs
1) Cats/sm dogs - 5ml
2) Med dogs - 10ml
3) Large dogs - 20ml
How long is plasma good for once separated at room temp? In the fridge?
What 2 values can be affected if not separated?
Room temp - 8 hours
Fridge - 48 hours
increased ammonia
decreased BG
What two lab values can be affected by hemolysis?
Increased K+
Increased lactate
If using a blue top tube for platelet estimate, what factor do you multiply it by in order to account for dilution?
Multiply by 1.1
Four possible reasons for an elevated PCV?
- Dehydration
- Splenic contraction
- HGE
- Chronic hypoxia
Hemoglobin is approximately how much of a PCV?
Hemoglobin is approx 1/3 of PCV
MCV
Volume (size)
MCH
average HGB per cell - mass
MCHC
HGB concentration
how full of color it is!
RDW
red cell width (size)
Two main changes in stress leukogram (metabolic stress… not physical!)
Stress Leukogram:
- Increased Neuts
- Low Lymphs
Name that fluid type
- TP < 2.5g/dl
- Low cell count (<1k)
- Colorless/clear
Transudate
Five potential causes of a transudate
- Elevated hydrostatic pressure/dec. osmolality
- Low albumin
- Portal hypertension
- PSS
- Right sided heart failure
Name that fluid type!
- TP > 3.0g/dl
- High cell count (>7k)
- Sepsis, sterile peritonitis
exudate
Name that fluid!
- TP 2.5-7.5 g/dl
- Cells 1k-7k
modified transudate
Three modified transudate examples/causes
- Heart failure
- Cancer
- Inflammation
Three common causes of pericardial effusion
- Coagulopathy
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Chemodectoma
Joint tap reveals
- TP <2.5g/dl
- <3k cells
Normal or abnormal?
normal! :)
Joint tap reveals:
5-10k cells, mostly degenerative neuts
What do you think?
Septic joint!
Joint tap reveals:
- 1k-10k normal neuts
Septic or not?
NOT septic. rule outs:
- Lyme
- immune mediated
- lupus
Best LNs for diagnostics? Best to avoid submandibular - why?
Best: prescap and popliteal
Submandibular: increased inflammation d/t mouth
Lactate urine threshold
6-10mmol/L
Lactate mostly from what four areas?
- Skeletal
- Skin
- Brain
- Erythrocytes
Lactate Metabolized by what? (1st and 2nd)
1st Liver
2nd Kidneys
Type A lactate production (two groups)
1) increased O2 demand (tremors, exercise, Sz, shivering)
2) decreased DO2 (dec. perfusion, anemia)
Type B lactate production (three groups)
B1) dz process (sepsis, cancer, liver dz, pheo, beetus)
B2) drugs/toxins
B3) metabolic errors
If lactate does not begin to correct in _________ hours, prognosis is poor
24-48 hours
Rule of thumb for lactate - should decrease by _______ every ______ hours with fluid resuscitation
should decrease by HALF every 1 - 2 hours with fluid resuscitation
How long can it take to see regeneration of RBCS on film?
three days
Acanthocytes are suggestive of ______ dz
Liver
Increased nRBCS but no polychromatophils is indicative of what? What are two causes?
Bone marrow damage
- Lead poisoning (dogs usually)
- Feline leukemia
schistocytes are caused by mechanical hemolysis - two examples
turbulent vessels
- DIC
- hemangio
retics >80,000 indicative of what?
regeneration
retics > 200,000 consider what?
consider hemolysis
lymphocytes have how long life?
long life - like a year
lymphocytes T-cells come from where and activate what?
thymus - cytokines
lymphocytes B-cells come from where and deal with what?
bone marrow - antibodies
