Clinical Biochemistry Flashcards
What is clinical biochemistry?
- Application of laboratory, chemical and biochemical methods in the study of disease
- Aids in diagnosis and tratment
Why are laboratory tests ordered?
- Diagnosis
- Monitor progression of disease, effectiveness of treatment
- Screening
- Identifying complications of treatment
Give some examples of lab tests.
SEE SLIDES
What makes up 50% of hospital tests?
CORE BIOCHEMICAL TESTS
- Testing for electrolyte levels
- Urea and creatinine
- Glucose
- Total protein and albumin
Give some sample fluids used for clinical biochemistry.
Blood
Urine
CSF
Saliva
Peritoneal/synovial fluid
What are characteristics of ideal biomarkers?
- Easily measurable
- Quantity reflective of severity of disease
- Not affected by other biological disturbances
- Very specific e.g Troponin I - indicator of MI. Not very specific - low blood pH (because has multiple causes)
What data do blood tests provide regarding red blood cells?
- Number of red blood cells
- Haemoglobin count
- Haematocrit - % of RBCs in blood volume
- Mean corpuscular volume
- RBC distribution width
What does it mean when there is a large variation in RBC distribution width?
- Deficiencies of iron and vitamin B12
What data do blood tests provide regarding white blood cells?
- Number of white blood cells
- HIGH WBC count - leucocytosis
- Low WBC count - leukopenia
What data do blood tests provide regarding platelets?
- Diagnose thrombocytopenia - low platelet count. Risk of mild bleeding
- Diagnose thrombocytosis - high platelet count. High risk of blood clotting
What does MCV (mean corpuscular volume) refer to?
Average volume of a red blood cell
What are the types of anaemia related to mean corpuscular volume?
- NORMAL MCV - normocytic anaemia
- DECREASED MCV - microcytic anaemia
- INCREASED MCV - macrocytic anaemia
