Labs Flashcards
Generally, when should you order lab tests?
When it will possibly change the treatment or clinical outcome
(for a reason)
What 2 organ systems would it be considered “too late” when the physical exam reveals an abnormality?
Liver and Kidney
What time should you put on a lab order if you want the results right away?
STAT (always in ER/ICU)
What time should you put on a lab order if you want the results by next shift?
No time
What time should you put on a lab order if you want the results at a specific time?
State the exact time
True or False: when writing a lab order, “now” is mutually acceptable as “STAT”
False
“now” should never be written
Which lab consists of the following items?
WBC, RBC, Hb, Platelets, Differential on WBCs, Indices, and Hct
CBC
This is a listing of the absolute and the percentage of the specific types of WBCs
Differential
What 2 main reasons should you order a CBC?
Detecting Disease
Monitoring disease
What are the 6 WBC types that are found on the differential for a CBC?
Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils
Bands (immature WBCs)
What are “segs”?
Neutrophils (their nucleus is segmented)
What is a “left shift”?
The trend towards less mature WBC’s or towards an increase in neutrophils.
What would infection, inflammation, anoxia, drugs, or stress/pain do to WBC production?
↑ production and release of immature cells
What are thee 6 etiologies for neutrophilia?
Metabolic disorders
Acute infection
Drugs/toxins
Hematological disorders
Acute inflammation
Tissue necrosis
(MAD HAT)
Viral infections, some bacterial infections, chronic inflammatory disorders, and blood diseases will raise which WBC?
Lymphocytes
Bacterial infections, viral infections, hematological disorders, and collagen vascular disease will raise which WBC?
Monocytes
Parasitic diseases, allergic disease, skin disorders, and malignancies will raise which WBC?
Eosinophils
Define the following acronyms:
MCHC MCV MCH RDW
MCHC- mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
MCV- mean corpuscular volume
MCH- mean corpuscular Hb
RDW- RBC distribution width
What are the 3 broad topics that describe a decrease in RBC count?
Microcytic hypochromic anemia
Normocytic normochromic anemia
Macrocytic anemia
What are the 2 broad topics that increase the RBC count?
Polycythemia vera (PV)
Secondary polycythemia
What will a B12 or folate deficiency do to MCV?
increase it
What are the 2 main conditions that cause a ↓ MCV?
Iron deficiency anemia
Hemolytic anemia
Infections or myeloproliferative disorders will cause what change in platelet count?
↑ platelets
What 2 general things can cause a decreased platelet count?
↓ production (marrow depression)
↑ destruction (autoimmune)
What will toxins and drugs do to reticulocyte count?
↓ reticulocytes
What 2 things will ↑ reticulocyte count?
Hemolytic anemia
Acute blood loss
What will anemia, blood loss, fluid retention, or edematous states (CHF) do to [Hb]?
↓ Hb
If a patient has blood loss, anemia, or state or hydration, what measurement can you use to evaluate it?
Hct
Generally, which lab test screens for Renal + Electrolytes?
BMP
What does a BUN:Cr > 20 indicate?
Prerenal azotemia
(Dehydration causes ↑ BUN reabsorption, which ↑ this ratio)
What does a BUN:Cr from 10-15 indicate?
Renal state
(normal)
What does a BUN:Cr <20 indicate?
Postrenal azotemia
(Obstruction ↓ BUN reabsorption, which ↓ this ratio)
What is the difference between azotemia and uremia?
Azotemia- ↑ BUN and Cr in blood (lab Dx)
Uremia- ↑ urine in blood, refers to end-stage kidney disease/renal failure.
(all uremic pts are azotemic, but not all azotemic pts are uremic)
What is the formula to determine creatinine clearance when only the serum creatinine is known? Males and Females
Male: (Kg)*(140-age)/72*(serum Cr)
Female: (Kg)*(140-age)*(0.85)/72*(serum Cr)
What is the main reason to order a serum Cr level?
Assess GFR (renal fxn)
What is a common cause of hypercalcemia based on elevated PTH?
Primary hyperparathyroidism with an adenoma
What is the most common cause of hypocalcemia?
Hypoalbuminemia
What is the eqn to adjust serum Ca under a depressed albumin?
Adjusted Ca = (serum Ca) - (serum albumin) + 4.0
What metabolic state causes decreased CO2?
Metabolic acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis, renal disease (pyelonephritis), severe dehydration, and DI can cause an increase in which ion?
Cl-
What 3 things can cause a loss of Cl-?
Renal loss (loop diuretics)
GI loss
Metabolic alkalosis (vomiting HCl)
Diabetes, Acute pancreatitis, endocrine dysfxn, and drugs can cause what change in [glucose] in the blood?
Hyperglycemia
What mg/dl of fasting blood sugar do you need to be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus?
> 126 mg/dl
What mg/dl of random blood sugar do you need to be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus?
> 200 mg/dl
This is the test for diabetes that uses a specific glucose pill that is given every 30 minutes and recorded as a curve. (not done anymore)
Glucose tolerance test
What are the 4 times in the day that you should check blood sugars with a home glucometer?
6am 11am 4pm 9pm
What is the most important electrolyte to measure?
K+
What 4 things can cause hypokalemia?
GI loss (vomiting, diarrhea)
Move to intracellular (alkalosis, insulin)
Urine loss (diuretics)
Decreased intake
What are the 3 reasons to have hyperkalemia?
Renal failure
IV therapy
Thrombocytosis/leukocytosis
What are the 2 reasons to cause isotonic hyponatremia?
Hyperproteinemia
Hyperlipidemia
What are the 2 reasons to cause hypertonic hyponatremia?
Hyperglycemia
Medication
What are the 2 reasons to cause hypotonic hyponatremia?
Renal loss with diuretics
Edema with CHF
What is added to the BMP to make a CMP?
Liver markers
This is the test that is a nonspecific indicator of illness over time, where albumin decreases and alpha2globulin increases.
A/G ratio
This is quantitively the most significant protein synthesized by the liver.
Albumin
What can subacute and chronic debilitating diseases, liver disease, malabsorption, and malnutrition do to albumin levels?
↓ albumin
What 4 liver conditions can lead to an elevated serum Alkaline Phosphatase (AP)?
Cholestasis
CHF
Obstructive and Hepatocellular processes
What 2 bone conditions can lead to an elevated serum Alkaline Phosphatase (AP)?
Metastatic malignancy
Hyperthyroidism
What can a late MI or pregnancy do to AP levels?
↑ them
What does ALT and AST stand for?
ALT- alanine aminotransferase
AST- aspartate aminotransferase
What can liver disease, CHF, infectious mononucleosis, and acute pancreatitis do to aminotransferase levels?
↑ aminotransferases
Antibiotics, antiepileptics, statins, NSAIDS, sulfonylureas, substances of abuse, and herbs may increase what “enzymes” in the blood?
Liver enzymes
What is the 1 condition in each of the following areas that may increase AST?
Liver
Heart
Skeletal muscle
RBC’s
Liver- Hepatitis
Heart- acute MI
Skeletal muscle- Trauma
RBC’s- Hemolytic anemia
Liver disease, congenital hyperbilirubinemia, hemolytic anemia, and malnutrition may increase levels of what marker in the blood?
Bilirubin
Chronic infection, dehydration, collagen-autoimmune disease, and hemolysis may increase what marker in the blood?
Proteins
What is the most sensitive marker for acute MI and is independent of renal fxn?
Troponin I
What underlying condition may cause troponin T levels to be inaccurate in the diagnosis of an MI?
Renal insufficiency
What is the newest reason to obtain a total CPK level?
Rhabdomyolysis with statins
What 3 areas is LDH-1 distributed?
Heart
Erythrocytes
Renal Cortex
What 2 conditions can you use LDH-1 to diagnose?
Acute MI
Hemolytic anemia
What 2 areas is LDH-3 distributed?
Lung
Lymphocytes
LDH-3 is good for determining what conditions?
Acute Pulmonary Infarction (PI?)
Lymphocytosis
What 2 areas is LDH-5 distributed?
Liver
Skeletal muscle
LDH-5 is good for determining what conditions?
Hepatitis
SkM injury
What cardiac serum marker exhibits the following characteristics?
Rise- 0.5-2hr
Peak- 5-12hr
Return to normal- 18-30hr
Myoglobin
What cardiac serum marker exhibits the following characteristics?
Rise- 3-8hr
Peak- 9-30hr
Return to normal- 2-3d
CPK-MB
What cardiac serum marker exhibits the following characteristics?
Rise- 3-6hr
Peak- 10-24hr
Return to normal- 5-15d
Troponin I
What cardiac serum marker exhibits the following characteristics?
Rise- 8-18hr
Peak- 2-3d
Return to normal- 6-10d
LDH-1
Who is recommended to have an LDL level <160?
Everyone
Who is recommended to have an LDL level < 130?
Those with > 1 risk factor
Who is recommended to have an LDL level < 100?
Those with identified CAD, DM, any atherosclerotic disease, or multiple CAD risk factors
Who is recommended to have an LDL level < 70?
Those with identified CAD or DM
What is the main reason to get an ESR?
Minor tissue inflmmation
What is the test used to diagnose DM, and estimates the glucose control for the previous 2-3 months?
HbA1c
What is the method to get blood cultures?
2 different sites at 2 different times (15 mins apart)
Out of the 3 following Syphilis tests, which one is confirmatory?
RPR
VDRL
FTA-ABS
FTA-ABS
What condition in each of the following areas causes an increased serum amylase?
Pancreas
Salivary
GI
Liver
Pancreas- pancreatitis
Salivary- Parotitis
GI- Perforated bowel
Liver- hepatitis, alcoholism
What marker is superior to total amylase for specificity and sensitivity for acute pancreatitis?
Lipase
Which lab do you use to monitor warfarin (coumadin) effect?
PT
What drug do you monitor with the PTT?
Heparin
What are the 2 commonly ordered thyroid tests?
TSH, free T4
How often should you order cardiac enzymes/markers for an evolving MI?
Q6 hours x 3
How often should you order liver enzymes for a patient on statins?
After 1 month and then q 3-4 months
With treatment, how often will insurance pay for HbA1c checks?
q 3 months
How often should you obtain HIV RBA viral load and CD4 counts?
q 1-3 months
When should you order PSAs?
Yearly at 50
Yearly with family Hx at age 40
The CEA marker is indicative for what cancer?
Colon CA
The CA125 marker is indicative for what cancer?
Ovarian
The AFP marker is indicative for what cancer?
Hepatocellular CA
Review:
Which panel includes kindey and electrolytes?
BMP
What is the only liver fxn test?
Albumin
Review:
Which panel includes kindey, electrolytes, and liver?
CMP
Review:
Which panel includes only liver markers?
Hepatic Function Panel
Review:
Which panel includes CO2, Cl-, K, and Na?
Electrolyte panel
What does this stick diagram measure?

BMP
Fill in this stick diagram


What does this stick diagram measure?

BMP
Fill in this stick diagram


What does this stick diagram measure?

CBC
Fill in the stick diagram

