NBRC Laboratory Testing Flashcards
What is the normal level for WBC’s?
5-10 thousand
If the WBC count is increasing, the patient has a (bacterial/viral) infection.
Bacterial
If the WBC’s are decreasing, the patient has a (bacterial/viral) infection.
Viral
What type of WBC will you see increased in an allergic reaction?
Eosinophils
In general malaise, what should you check?
Especially ___. The normal level is ___.
Electrolytes (Especially potassium)
3.5-4.5
Any patient who is in metabolic alkalosis: Give ___.
Potassium
Hypokalemia is associated with what type of blood gas?
Metabolic Alkalosis
Hyperkalemia is associated with what type of blood gas?
Metabolic Acidosis
What is the normal level for sodium?
135-145 mEq/L
Chloride is a follower. When potassium goes down, chloride will go (up or down?)
Down
What is the normal level of chloride?
80-100 (Same as normal PaO2)
What is another name for total CO2?
Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
If your patient has increased CO2 content, then that means ___ is rising.
How would you treat it?
Bicarb (HCO3) is rising. (Not PaCO2)
Metabolic alkalsosis
Give potassium
___ is a specific indicator of damage to the heart muscle.
If levels are greater than ___, then the patient is having an MI.
Troponin
0.1 ng/mg
___ is secreted by the cardiac muscle when heart failure develops or worsens.
Normal value is ___
Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
Less than 100 pg/mL
A good way to determine of a patient’s symptoms are the result of CHF or COPD is by checking this lab result:
Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
Elevated levels above 100 pg/mL indicate CHF
What do lactate levels indicate?
What is the normal lactate level?
Overall oxygen delivery to tissues.
4.5-20 mg/dL
If lactate levels are falling, this indicates ___.
Falling: treatment is working.
If lactate levels are rising, this indicates ___.
Answer is physiologic in nature
Rising: inadequate oxygen supply to tissue.
What is the normal platelet count?
150 thousand to 400 thousand
150,000 - 400,000
What is the normal APTT?
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
24-32 seconds
What is APTT used for?
Monitors heparin therapy.
Heparin is used for short-term anticoagulation
What is Prothrombin Time (PT) used for?
Monitors warfarin (Coumadin) therapy. (Coumadin is used for long-term anticoagulation.)
What is the normal Prothrombin Time (PT)?
12-15 seconds. (>30 sec may cause spontaneous bleeding)
What is the normal value for International Normalized Ratio (INR)?
What is the normal INR if the patient is on warfarin?
Normal: 0.8-1.2
On warfarin: 2-3
To identify what specific organism is causing an infection, what test should you use?
How long does it take to do this test?
Culture and sensitivity.
It will take 48-72 hours.
To identify weather a bacteria is gram positive or gram negative, what type of test should be done?
How long will it take to do this test?
Gram Staining
10 minutes
(If the test asks for the best test to QUICKLY determine the cause of an infection, this is the answer.
When would you do an Acid-Fast Staining test?
To test for tuberculosis.
What is the normal Carboxyhemoglobin level in a non-smoker?
What is it in a smoker?
What is it in CO poisoning?
Non-smoker: 3% or less.
Smoker: 10% (A heavy smoker can get 15%)
CO poisoning: 20%.
Name two renal lab results and their normal levels.
Which one is more specific for renal function?
Creatinine (Less than 1.3 mg/dL)
is more specific than
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) (Less than 20 mg/dL).
Any time reported lab values do not match the patient’s physical condition, consider these three things:
Was the sample obtained correctly?
Was the sample processed correctly & promptly?
Were the results reported verbally?
What is the normal value for CBC’s?
What’s the normal value for hemoglobin?
What’s the normal value for hematocrit?
Around 5 Million/mm3
Around 15 g/100 ml
Around 45%
In acidosis, potassium will (rise/fall).
Potassium will rise.
In alkalosis, potassium will (rise/fall).
Potassium will fall.
Hypokalemia is associated with (acidosis/alkalosis)
Alkalosis
Hyperkalemia is associated with (acidosis/alkalosis)
Acidosis
Thrombocytopenia is characterized by a platelet count of less than ___.
50,000
Thrombocytosis (high platelet count) is characterized by a platelet count of ___.
Greater than 1 million
