Pre-analytic Considerations

Question 1

Begins when a test is ordered and ends when testing begins. This testing process, if not properly adressed, can lead to errors.

Answer 1

Preanalytical or pre-examination phase

Question 2

Results used for comparison become a range of value with high and low limits

Answer 2

reference range or reference interval

Question 3

Refers to the resting metabolic state of the body early in the morning after fasting for approx. 12 hours

Answer 3

Basal State

Question 4

ideal for establishing reference ranges on inpatients because the effects of diet, exercise, and other controllable factors on test results are minimized or eliminated

Answer 4

basal-state specimen

Question 5

Physiological variable that affects values of rbc and wbc as well as kidney function

Answer 5

age

Question 6

A physiological variable that concerns higher elevations and sea level

Answer 6

altitude

Question 7

RBC count that have higher reference ranges at higher elevations

Answer 7

hemoglobin and hematocrit

Question 8

analytes that increase at higher elevations

Answer 8

c-reactive protein and uric acid

Question 9

analytes that decrease in value at increased altitude

Answer 9

urinary creatinine

Question 10

occurs with persistent vomitting or diarrhea that causes hemoconcentration

Answer 10

dehydration

Question 11

a condition in which blood components that cannot easily leave the bloodstream become concentrated in the smaller plasma volume

Answer 11

hemoconcentration

Question 12

a physiological variable where blood analyte composition can be altered by the ingestion of food and drink

Answer 12

diet

Question 13

how many hours are patients typically asked to fast

Answer 13

approx. 8 to 12 hours

Question 14

Analytes that are elevated in patients on high-protein diets

Answer 14

ammonia, urea, and uric acid levels

Question 15

Analytes that increase with the consumption of beverages with caffeine

Answer 15

cortisol and ACTH levels

Question 16

Analytes affected by excessive drinking amounts of water and other fluids

Answer 16

hemoglobin (hgb) levels

Question 17

Analytes that increases with ingestion of food such as butter, cheese, cream, and etc.

Answer 17

lipid levels

Question 18

increased blood lipid content

Answer 18

lipemia

Question 19

specimen containing high levels of lipids

Answer 19

lipemic

Question 20

a physiological variable that includes cariations or fluctuations. Factors would be posture, activity, eating, daylight and darkness, being awake or asleep, and etc.

Answer 20

Diurnal/circadian variation

Question 21

a drug therapy that can cause decrease in blood cells, especially WBCs and platelets

Answer 21

chemotherapy durg

Question 22

a physiological variable that affects number of blood components, raising or lowering levels of others

Answer 22

exercise

Question 23

A physiological variable that affects the levels of a number of hormones

Answer 23

fever

Question 24

a physiological varaible that affects the concentration of a number of blood components

Answer 24

gener

Question 25

a physiological variable that can increase levels of creatine kinase and the skeletal muscle fraction of LDH

Answer 25

intramuscular injection

Question 26

a condition characterized by increased bilirubin (a product of the breakdown of RBCs) in the blood, leading to deposits of yellow bile pigment in the skin, mucous membranes, and sclerae (whites of the eyes), giving the patient a yellow appearance

Answer 26

jaundice or icterus

Question 27

it means relating to or marked by jaundice and is used to describe serum, plasma, or urine specimens that have an abnormal deep yellow to yellow-brown color due to high bilirubin levels

Answer 27

icteric

Question 28

may indicate liver inflammation caused by hepatitis b or c virus

Answer 28

jaundice

Question 29

a physiological variable that can influence specimen composition

Answer 29

body position

Question 30

hardening of veins

Answer 30

sclerosed

Question 31

clotting of veins

Answer 31

thrombosed

Question 32

swelling caused by the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues

Answer 32

edema

Question 33

swelling or mass of blood (often clotted) that can be caused by blood leaking from a blood vessel during or following a venipuncture

Answer 33

hematoma

Question 34

a catheter placed in an artery and used to provide accurate and continuous measurement of a patient's blood pressure

Answer 34

arterial line

Question 35

the permanent surgical connection of an artery and vein by direct fusion, resulting in a bulging vein or with a piece fo vein or tubing that creates a loop under the skin

Answer 35

arteriovenous (AV), fistula, or graft

Question 36

a catheter or cannula connected to a stopcock or a cap with a diaphragm that provides access for administering medication or drawing blood

Answer 36

heparin or saline lock

Question 37

a catheter inserted in a vein to administer fluids

Answer 37

intravenous (IV)

Question 38

consists of tubing inserted into a main vein or artery used for administering fluids, medication, monitoring pressures, and drawing blood

Answer 38

central vascular access device (cvad)

Question 39

a line inserted into a large vein such as the subclavian and advanced into the superior vena cava

Answer 39

central venous catheter (CVC) or central venous line

Question 40

a small chamber attached to an indwelling line that is surgically implanted under the skin and most commonly located in the upper chest or arm

Answer 40

implanted port

Question 41

a line inserted into the peripheral venous system and threaded into the central venous system

Answer 41

peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)

Question 42

loss of consciousness and postural tone resulting from insufficient blood flow to the brain

Answer 42

fainting or syncope

Question 43

sudden faintness or loss of consciousness due to a nervous system reponse to abrupt pain, stress, or trauma

Answer 43

vasovagal

Question 44

tiny nonraised red spots that appear on the patient's skin when a tourniquet is applied. they are an indicated that the venipuncture site may bleed excessively

Answer 44

petechiae

Question 45

caused by blood leaking into the tissues during or following venipuncture and is identified by rapid swelling at or near the venipuncture site

Answer 45

hematoma formation

Question 46

an adjective used to describe an adverse condition brought by the effects of treatment.

Answer 46

iatrogenic

Question 47

blood loss as a result of blood removed for testing

Answer 47

iatrogenic blood loss

Question 48

blood loss to a point where life cannot be sustained

Answer 48

exsanguination

Question 49

most often associatd with deep or blind probing, especially in the area of the basilic vein

Answer 49

inadvertent arterial puncture

Question 50

flowing back of blood into the patient's vein from the collection tube during the venipuncture procedure

Answer 50

reflux

Question 51

stagnation of the normal venous blood flow

Answer 51

venous stasis

Question 52

trapping of blood in an extremity by compression of veins

Answer 52

venostasis

Question 53

results when RBCs are damaged or destroyed and the hemoglobin they contain escapes into the fluid portion of the specimen

Answer 53

hemolysis

Question 54

happens when pressure created by pulling on a syringe plunger is too much for the vein

Answer 54

collapsed vein