Types of Special Tests Flashcards
What is required for fasting specimens?
- Patient being in the basal state
- Basal state: Patient fasting, refrained, and strenuous exercise for 12 hours before draw.
What are timed specimens?
- Monitor the lvl of specific substance or condition at specific times.
Why are timed specimens performed?
- Measure blood lvls of substances exhibiting diurnal variation. [Cortisol]
- Determine blood lvls of medications
- Monitor changes in a patient’s condition
What’s the two-hour postprandial test?
- Used to evaluate diabetes mellitus
- Comparing fasting glucose lvl and 2 hours after eating a full meal / measured amount of glucose
What’s Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)?
Used to diagnose diabetes mellitus and eval patients with low blood sugar
What does 3 hour OGTT test?
Hyperglycemia, and diagnose diabetes mellitus
What does 5 hour OGTT test?
Hypoglycemia for disorders of carbohydrate metabolism
When should OGTT’s be scheduled?
Between 7 and 9am
What’s the therapeutic drug monitoring test?
- Monitor blood lvls of certain medication
- Drawn to coincide with trough and peak lvls.
What is therapeutic drug monitoring used for?
- Ensure patient safety and maintain a plasma lvl
Why’re blood cultures ordered?
Ordered to detect presence of microorganisms in blood
What’re the symptoms of patients that require blood cultures?
Chills and fever of unknown origin (sign of pathogenic microorganisms)
At what urgency are blood cultures ordered?
STAT or timed specimen with aseptic techniques
What’s PKU test?
Ordered for infants to detect phenylketonuria (genetic disease that causes retardation and brain damage)
What tests require chilled specimens?
Arterial Blood gases, Ammonia, Lactic Acid, Pyruvate, ACTH, Gastrin and Parathyroid Hormone
