QBC Star Flashcards

1
Q

What are the RBC Indices (characteristics)?

A

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

RBC Distribution Width (RDW)

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2
Q

What does a WBC and differential test for?

A

Infection and leukemia

Monitor body’s response to treatments and bone marrow function

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3
Q

What is the normal WBC range?

A

4.5-11.0 x 10^3/mm^3

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4
Q

Critical WBC values

A

Low <2,000/mm^3

High 30,000/mm^3

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5
Q

What is another term for granulocytes?

A

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes

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6
Q

What is the most abundant phagocyte and what does it do?

A

Neutrophil, important in defense against infectious disease

50-70% of WBCs

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7
Q

What type of WBC participates in inflammatory conditions like allergic reactions, asthma, and myocardial diseases?

A

Eosinophils (1-5%)

They destroy helminths by generating potent antioxidants and releasing cationic proteins. They also suppress inflammatory reactions.

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8
Q

What is the least abundant WBC?

A

Basophils (0-1%)

They are abundant with histamine, heparin, chondroitin sulfate, peroxidase, platelet activating factor, and other substances.

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9
Q

What WBC has a varied amount of granules that are numerous enough to partially conceal its nucleus?

A

Basophils

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10
Q

What is the second most abundant WBC?

A

Lymphocytes (20-40%)

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11
Q

A finding of ___ in infants and young kids indicates lymphocytosis.

A

10 x 109/L

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12
Q

A finding of ____ in adults indicates lymphocytosis.

A

4.0 x 109/L

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13
Q

How do you calculate the absolute lymphocyte count?

A

Multiply the percentage of lymphocytes by the total leukocyte count.

Normal reference range is 1.2 - 3.4 x 109/L

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14
Q

What two cells make up the mononuclear phagocyte system (aka the reticuloendothelial system)

A

Blood monocytes and tissue macrophages

This system plays an important role in defense against microorganisms.

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15
Q

Normal M and F RBC ranges.

A

Male: 4.5-5.0 x 10^6 cells/uL

Female: 4.5-5.1 x 10^6 cells/uL

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16
Q

RBC indices are helpful for evaluating what disorders?

A

Anemias

Polycythemia

Nutritional disorders

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17
Q

Mean Corpuscular Volume

A

An estimate of the average volume (size) of RBCs.

It is the most clinically useful RBC indices.

  • An INCREASE is associated with B12 or folate deficiency.
  • A DECREASE implies an abnormality in Hgb synthesis.
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18
Q

Normal MCV range

A

24-32 pg/cell

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19
Q

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin

A

The amount of Hgb per RBC.

An increase is seen in B12 or folate deficiency.

A decrease is seen in iron deficiency.

20
Q

Normal MCH range

A

27-32 pg/cell

21
Q

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration

A

Average concentration of Hgb in a given volume of packed RBCs.

It is calculated from the Hgb concentration and HCT.

22
Q

What is the MCHC formula?

A

Hgb divided by HCT times 100

Hgb/HCT x 100

23
Q

Normal MCHC range

A

30-35 g/dL

24
Q

A hemoglobin molecule is made up of what?

A

Two pairs of polypeptide chains and four prosthetic heme groups, each containing one atom of ferrous iron.

25
Q

Normal and critical value Hgb ranges

A

Males: 14-17.5 g/dL

Females: 12.3-15.3 g/dL

Critical Value: <8 g/dL

26
Q

An average hematocrit is usually how much higher than the hemoglobin?

A

3 times the Hgb.

27
Q

Critical platelet values

A

Low: <20,000/mm3
-Risk of hemorrhage, spontaneous bleeding, considered life threatening

High: >1,000,000/mm3
-Risk of thrombosis

28
Q

Causes of leukopenia

A

LOW WBCs

  • Bone marrow deficiency or failures
  • Collagen-vascular diseases
  • Liver or spleen diseases
  • Radiation
  • Chemo
  • Immune system diseases
29
Q

Causes of leukocytosis

A

HIGH WBCs

  • Anemia
  • Bone marrow tumors
  • Infectious diseases
  • Bacterial infections
  • Inflammations
  • Inflammatory diseases
  • Leukemia
  • Severe emotional stress
  • Tissue damage
  • Trauma
  • Intense exercise
30
Q

During an acute infection, these WBCs are released from bone marrow causing a condition called “X”

A

Neutrophils are released and increase in percentage causing neutrophilia.

Less mature band forms may be released. Their appearance in an infection is called a left shift.

31
Q

What is typically an indication of viral infection?

A

Lymphocytosis

32
Q

Atypical Lymphocytes

A

Malignant appearing cells. They are a benign reactive change in morphological appearance of the lymphocyte, often seen secondary to a viral disease like infectious mononucleosis.

33
Q

Reactive lymphocytes

A

Describe formed or benign lymphocytes.

Occurs in normal patients, but usually accounts for less than 10% of total lymphocytes present.

Other terms: immunocytes, transformed lymphocytes, immunoblast, plasmacytoid lymphocytes, turk cells, downey cells.

34
Q

Causes of reactive lymphocytes

A

Adenovirus, chicken pox, cytomegalovirus, EBV, hepatitis, herpes simplex and zoster, HIV, influenza, paramyxovirus, rubella

Brucellosis, parathion fever, pertussis, TB, typhoid fever

Drug reactions

Acute infectious lymphocytosis, allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases, hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, rickets, syphilis, toxoplasmosis

35
Q

An increase in eosinophils indicates what type of infection?

A

Parasitic

36
Q

Polycythemia

A

HCT value above the maximum reference

37
Q

Hypochromasia

A

Decreased Hgb points, which is a decrease in the O2 carrying capacity.

It is seen in iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia.

38
Q

Causes of thromocytosis

A

Stress or infection

Splenectomy, trauma, iron deficiency anemia, cirrhosis

39
Q

Thrombocytopenia causes

A

TTP or DIC, also seen in leukemia and metastatic cancers

40
Q

What results will a QBC Star produce?

A
HCT
Hgb
MCHC
WBC
Granulocytes
%Granulocytes
Lymph/Mono
%Lymph/Mono
Platelets
41
Q

What must be done to enable loading of paper?

A

Pull the paper release lever forward. That allows the manual advance wheel to be operational.

42
Q

What colors will granulocytes, lymphocyes/monocytes, and platelets appear when centrifuged?

A

Granulocytes: orange-yellow

Lymph/Mono: green

Platelets: yellow-orange

43
Q

What equipment is required for QBC Star testing?

A

Whole blood (EDTA preserved in a purple top tube)

QBC Star collection tube

QBC Star

Printer Paper

44
Q

How many times should you invert the capped purple top tube before filling the QBC Star tube?

A

12-15 times

45
Q

How many times should you rock the QBC Star tube before inserting it into the machine?

A

4 times

46
Q

How soon must you insert the QBC Star tube into the instrument?

A

Within 15 minutes of preparing and capping.

47
Q

What should you use to clean the label surface of the QBC Star?

A

Alcohol swabs