Unit 4 Part 1 - Clinical Chemistry Flashcards
study of chemical components of the body in plasma or serum
clinical chemistry
3 groups of clinical chemistry in the lab
- routine chemistry
- routine chemistry urinalysis
- special chemistry
types of specimens in chemistry
blood (serum or plasma) – not RBC except for HgbA1C
urine
feces
CSF
sweat
hair
stones
first department to be automated
chemistry
benefits of automation
reduced medical errors
reduced sample volume
improved safety
faster TAT
step 1 in automated analysis
make sure specimen is properly collected
step 2 in automated analysis
instrument is programed to measure proper amount of specimen and reagent to yield a final conc
most of the automation is based on
photometry
step 3 in automated analysis
chemical reaction causes sample to change color
part of the instrument that measures how much light will pass through the sample
spectrophotometer
a reaction that results in a dark color would allow __ light to pass through, which means __ result
less, higher
a reaction that results in a light color would allow __ light to pass through, which means __ result
more, lower
blood glucose will produce a __ color after chemical reaction with a reagent
blue
dark blue color indicates ___ glucose result
high
medium blue color indicates ___ glucose result
normal
light blue color indicates ___ glucose result
low
step 4 in automated analysis
instrument programmed to measure the absorbance and give result
step 5 in automated analysis
reading results and see if it falls within certain parameters
machines test hundreds - thousands of ___ per hour
tests NOT specimens (1 patient can have more than 1 test done)
testing in this department includes processes used to detect levels of enzymes, suagrs, proteins, and otehr substances in the blood in order to determine conditions
clinical chemistry
formed by hgb breakdown, increased in liver damage
bilirubin
end product of protein metabolism and is excreted by the kidneys, increased in kidney damage
urea
measures the lipids in the body
cholesterol & triglycerides
metabolic waste, increase indicates kidney damage
creatinine
determines the correct dosage of a drug
drug analysis
test for electrolyte imbalance
electrolytes
test for diabetes (FBS, 2 hr PC, 1 hr post load, GTT, HGB A1C)
glucose
simple sugar formed when dietary carbohydrates are digested, absorbed in digestive tract into blood
glucose
the liver removes excess glucose from the blood and stores it as
glycogen
liver converts glycogen back to glucose when glucose is needed for energy by the body cells
this process is called
glycogenolysis
tests to diagnose and monitor diabetes
random glucose
fasting blood sugar
2 hour PC
1 hour post load
OGTT, GTT
Hgb A1C
glucose test taken any time, no requirements
1 blood sample needed
random blood glucose
glucose test where patient fasts for 8-12 hours
nothing to eat or drink during that time, except water
1 blood sample needed
fasting blood sugar (FBS)
normal FBS
3.9-6.1 mmol/L
glucose test taken exactly 2 hours after a meal (usually 1000 hrs, or 1400 hrs)
patient instructed to have substantial meal with good amount of carbs
2 hour postprandial blood glucose test
normal 2-hr PC
3.6-8.8 mmol/L
screening type used for type 2 diabetes
fasting blood sugar
2 types of screening methods for diabetes
non-gestational oral glucose tolerance test (non-pregnancy)
gestational oral glucose tolerance test (pregnancy)
other tests are done to screen diabetes when fasting blood sugar is BETWEEN
6.1-6.9 mmol/L
capillary blood glucose cut-off point for OGTT (non-gestational) with glucometer
if higher than this, test cannot continue
10 mmol/L
when you don’t have a glucometer for OGTT (non-gestational) collect __ to determine glucose level
FBS level
glucose level cut off for OGTT (non-gestational) without glucometer
7 mmol/L
if patient vomits or becomes sick during OGTT, test is __
discontinued
___ and glucometer determines eligibility for administering oral glucose
capillary blood glucose
during OGTT (non-gestational), patient must finish the ___ glucose drink within 5 mins and sit still
75 gm
2 hours after the glucose drink has been consumed, a venous blood sample is collected and labeled ___
2 hr post load
why is lab glucose level cut off lower than glucometer?
glucometer not accurate due to interstitial fluid and other things mixed in with capillary blood
total blood specimens collected during OGTT (non-gestational), assuming test is done throughout, with and without glucometer
with glucometer: (2, excluding capillary)
1 capillary
1 venous FBS
1 venous 2 hr post load
without glucometer: (2)
1 venous FBS
1 venous 2 hr post load
it is recommended that all pregnant women should be screened for diabetes between __
24-28 weeks
screening for gestational diabetes mellitus is a ___ approach
2 step
1st step in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (type 2)
50 gm glucose challenge with a blood glucose level taken after 1 hr
patient does not have to fast in 50 gm glucose challenge (t/f)
true