NBRC Laboratory Testing

Question 1

What is the normal level for WBC’s?

Answer 1

5-10 thousand

Question 2

If the WBC count is increasing, the patient has a (bacterial/viral) infection.

Answer 2

Bacterial

Question 3

If the WBC’s are decreasing, the patient has a (bacterial/viral) infection.

Answer 3

Viral

Question 4

What type of WBC will you see increased in an allergic reaction?

Answer 4

Eosinophils

Question 5

In general malaise, what should you check?

Especially ___. The normal level is ___.

Answer 5

Electrolytes (Especially potassium)

3.5-4.5

Question 6

Any patient who is in metabolic alkalosis: Give ___.

Answer 6

Potassium

Question 7

Hypokalemia is associated with what type of blood gas?

Answer 7

Metabolic Alkalosis

Question 8

Hyperkalemia is associated with what type of blood gas?

Answer 8

Metabolic Acidosis

Question 9

What is the normal level for sodium?

Answer 9

135-145 mEq/L

Question 10

Chloride is a follower. When potassium goes down, chloride will go (up or down?)

Answer 10

Down

Question 11

What is the normal level of chloride?

Answer 11

80-100 (Same as normal PaO2)

Question 12

What is another name for total CO2?

Answer 12

Bicarbonate (HCO3-)

Question 13

If your patient has increased CO2 content, then that means ___ is rising.
How would you treat it?

Answer 13

Bicarb (HCO3) is rising. (Not PaCO2)
Metabolic alkalsosis
Give potassium

Question 14

___ is a specific indicator of damage to the heart muscle.

If levels are greater than ___, then the patient is having an MI.

Answer 14

Troponin

0.1 ng/mg

Question 15

___ is secreted by the cardiac muscle when heart failure develops or worsens.
Normal value is ___

Answer 15

Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

Less than 100 pg/mL

Question 16

A good way to determine of a patient’s symptoms are the result of CHF or COPD is by checking this lab result:

Answer 16

Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

Elevated levels above 100 pg/mL indicate CHF

Question 17

What do lactate levels indicate?

What is the normal lactate level?

Answer 17

Overall oxygen delivery to tissues.

4.5-20 mg/dL

Question 18

If lactate levels are falling, this indicates ___.

Answer 18

Falling: treatment is working.

Question 19

If lactate levels are rising, this indicates ___.

Answer is physiologic in nature

Answer 19

Rising: inadequate oxygen supply to tissue.

Question 20

What is the normal platelet count?

Answer 20

150 thousand to 400 thousand

150,000 - 400,000

Question 21

What is the normal APTT?

Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time

Answer 21

24-32 seconds

Question 22

What is APTT used for?

Answer 22

Monitors heparin therapy.

Heparin is used for short-term anticoagulation

Question 23

What is Prothrombin Time (PT) used for?

Answer 23

Monitors warfarin (Coumadin) therapy.
(Coumadin is used for long-term anticoagulation.)

Question 24

What is the normal Prothrombin Time (PT)?

Answer 24

12-15 seconds. (>30 sec may cause spontaneous bleeding)

Question 25

What is the normal value for International Normalized Ratio (INR)? What is the normal INR if the patient is on warfarin?

Answer 25

Normal: 0.8-1.2 | On warfarin: 2-3

Question 26

To identify what specific organism is causing an infection, what test should you use? How long does it take to do this test?

Answer 26

Culture and sensitivity. | It will take 48-72 hours.

Question 27

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?

Answer 27

Gram Staining 10 minutes (If the test asks for the best test to QUICKLY determine the cause of an infection, this is the answer.

Question 28

When would you do an Acid-Fast Staining test?

Answer 28

To test for tuberculosis.

Question 29

What is the normal Carboxyhemoglobin level in a non-smoker? What is it in a smoker? What is it in CO poisoning?

Answer 29

Non-smoker: 3% or less. Smoker: 10% (A heavy smoker can get 15%) CO poisoning: 20%.

Question 30

Name two renal lab results and their normal levels. | Which one is more specific for renal function?

Answer 30

Creatinine (Less than 1.3 mg/dL) is more specific than Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) (Less than 20 mg/dL).

Question 31

Any time reported lab values do not match the patient's physical condition, consider these three things:

Answer 31

Was the sample obtained correctly? Was the sample processed correctly & promptly? Were the results reported verbally?

Question 32

What is the normal value for CBC's? What's the normal value for hemoglobin? What's the normal value for hematocrit?

Answer 32

Around 5 Million/mm3 Around 15 g/100 ml Around 45%

Question 33

In acidosis, potassium will (rise/fall).

Answer 33

Potassium will rise.

Question 34

In alkalosis, potassium will (rise/fall).

Answer 34

Potassium will fall.

Question 35

Hypokalemia is associated with (acidosis/alkalosis)

Answer 35

Alkalosis

Question 36

Hyperkalemia is associated with (acidosis/alkalosis)

Answer 36

Acidosis

Question 37

Thrombocytopenia is characterized by a platelet count of less than ___.

Answer 37

50,000

Question 38

Thrombocytosis (high platelet count) is characterized by a platelet count of ___.

Answer 38

Greater than 1 million