Veterinary Laboratory Procedures Flashcards
The variety of sophisticated laboratory equipment in a veterinary practice will depend largely on the _ and _ of the practice itself.
Laboratory Equipment
- size and scope
purpose is used to review fecal, urine, blood, and cytology samples on a daily basis.
microscope
numerous type exist for different purposes, such as those for microhematocrit, fecal, urine, and blood samples.
centrifuge
Types of Centrifuge
- Microhematocrit Centrifuge
- Clinical centrifuge
- StatSpin
This process is used for determining a patient’s PCV (packed cell volume) or can also provide a _ sample for protein analysis.
Microhematocrit Centrifuge
- plasma
Clinical centrifuge are available in two main types:
variable angle centrifuge
fixed angle centrifuge
These qualities could be beneficial in a small animal or exotic veterinary practice.
StatSpin
purpose in veterinary laboratories is to measure urine specific gravity and plasma total protein.
refractometer
- Most use the principles of photometry to quantify analytes, such as enzymes, proteins, and other constituents in the blood.
- ___ are used to analyze ionic com- pounds such as electrolytes.
Chemistry Analyzers
- Electrochemical methods
- Examples of the technologies used are__, __ and __
- An analyzer may use one, or a combination of these technologies to detect and enumerate the cells present in the sample
Hematology Analyzers
- impedance, laser-based, and optical fluorescence
In-house coagulation testing is available to screen for coagulation disorders and measure fibrinogen levels.
Coagulation Analyzers
- Proper blood collection and handling techniques:
- Blood can be collected from many sites on animals; the most common for mammals is the ______, ______, and _______ and _____________.
- ________, _________, and _________ have different locations for blood collection specific to the species.
- Blood Analysis
- Hematology
- jugular, cephalic and lateral and medial saphenous veins
- Reptilian, amphibian and avian species
Common tubes used in Veterinary Medicine
- Purple top
- Green top
- Red top
- Gray and red top (tiger top, marble top)
- Blue top
Purple top
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulant for a:
- complete blood count (CBC) (not all machines)
- mammalian blood smear
- plasma for specific tests,
- blood typing
Green top
- Sodium or lithium heparin anticoagulant
—for CBC (not all machines), avian/reptilian/amphibian blood smear - plasma for specific tests.
— for clotting a blood sample but does not separate the clot from the serum. Serum is used to run chemistries. Red tops are often used for _ and _
red top (plain)
- sterile urine collection and other bodily fluids
—for clotting a blood sample; separates the clot from the serum. Used for most tests requiring serum. Some tests require no gel separator during centrifugation and transportation. Use a_ in these cases.
Gray and red top (tiger top, marble top)
- Plain with silicone gel separator
- plain red top
Blue top
- Sodium citrate—for coagulation profiles on any species
cells can be easily counted and their morphological characteristics evaluated accurately.
Peripheral Blood Smears
They can give insight to the size and hemoglobin concentration of the average RBC in the patient’s sample.
Red Blood Cell Indices
should be performed on every anemic patient (except for _, which do not release reticulocytes into circulation)
Reticulocyte Count
- horses
This can provide useful diagnostic information in cases of inflammation, infection, and antigenic responses.
White Blood Cell Differential
Normal species variation of leukocytes/
Canine leukocyte morphology
- canine neutrophil
- canine basophil
- canine monocyte
- canine eosinophil
- canine lymphocyte
Normal species variation of leukocytes/
Feline leukocyte morphology
- Feline neutrophil
- Feline basophil
- Feline monocyte
- Feline eosinophil
- Feline lymphocyte
Normal species variation of leukocytes/
Equine leukocyte morphology
- Equine neutrophil
- Equine basophil
- Equine monocyte
- Equine eosinophil
- Equine lymphocyte
Normal species variation of leukocytesBovine leukocyte morphology
- Bovine neutrophil
- Bovine basophil
- Bovine monocyte
- Bovine eosinophil
- Bovine lymphocyte
Normal species variation of leukocytesOvine leukocyte morphology
- Ovine neutrophil
- Ovine basophil
- Ovine monocyte
- Ovine eosinophil
- Ovine lymphocyte
Neutrophil Maturation
- Metamyelocyte
- Band neutrophil
- Hypersegmented neutrophil
Small animal hemoparasites in Erythrocytes
- Babesia canis, Babesia gibsoni
- Cytauxzoan organism
- Mycoplasma haemofelis
present on a canine blood film
Babesia canis, Babesia gibsoni
- on a feline blood film
Cytauxzoan organism
- Organisms can be found on the surface or the edge of erythrocytes.
Mycoplasma haemofelis
To evaluate the function of most body systems, serum and/or plasma is evaluated for certain chemicals, enzymes, and compounds to show how the organs are performing.
Clinical Chemistries
Required for every cell in body energy source
Glucose (Glu,BG)
Kidney
Urea nitrogen (BUN)
Kidney (waste product produced by the muscle)
Creatinine (Creat)
Proteins in luid portion of blood albumin, globulin and others
Total protein (TP,TS)
Protein in blood produced by the liver
Albumin (Alb)
Protein in blood associated with the immune system
Globulin (Gb,Glb)
Liver (waste product from breakdown of RBC)
Bilirubin, total (TBil, Total Bili, TB)
Liver and Bone
Alkaline phosphatase (Alk phos, ALP)
Liver (also found in heart)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, SGOT)
Most commonly associated with the liver (also found in kidney)
Alanine aminostransferase (ALT, SGPT)
Mineral for muscles, nerves, heart, clotting and bones
Calcium (Ca, Ca²+)
Kidney, liver and bone
Phosphorus (Phos, P, Ph)
Electrolyte for normal processes in cells
Sodium (Na, Na+)
Electrolyte for metabolism in cells
Potassium (K, K+)
Electrolyte for acid-base balance in cells
- Chloride (Cl, Cl -)
- Bicarbonate (CO2)
Pancreas
Amylase (Amyl, Amy)
Pancreas and upper Gl
Lipase (Lip)
Enzyme for heart, brain and skeletal muscle
Creatine phospokinase (CK, CPK)
Thyroid function
Thyroid panel (T4, Free T4, TSH)
In certain situations, animals require it to determine if the clotting factors and platelets are working properly.
Coagulation Testing
—for activated clotting times.
Gray top:
* Diatomaceous earth or kaolin
—urine preservative. Preserves cellular material in urine, but you must run a dip-stick prior to placing urine in this tube
Gray top:
* Boric acid
