Lab Tests

Question 1

What are the two types of lab tests?

Answer 1

Screening vs confirmatory

Question 2

What are the four lab values for a CBC?

Answer 2

Hbg, Platelets, WBC, hematocrit

Question 3

What is a BMP? CMP? What markers do you look for?

Answer 3

Basic/complete metabolic panel

-Na, Cl, K, HCO3/CO2, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Glucose, and creatinine (BMP)

—> CMP includes AST/ALT, Bilurubin, albumin, calcium, and phosphate

Question 4

What can a BMP/CMP be ordered for?

Answer 4

Kidney function or electrolyte issues

Question 5

When do you order a coagulation panel?

Answer 5

Blood thinner or bleeding disorder

Question 6

What does a coagulation panel measure?

Answer 6

Prothrombin (PT)

Partial thromboplastin (PTT)

International normalized ratio (INR)

Question 7

What does the INR monitor?

Answer 7

Coumadin and warfarin levels

Question 8

How many blood cultures do you order almost always?

Answer 8

2 sets due to contamination of the skin (possibly)

Question 9

What can a urinalysis measure?

Answer 9

Sugar, pH, ketone, nitrites, blood, etc (dipstick)

Microbes, RBC, WBC, crystals (microscopic urine exam()

Question 10

What conditions would prompt a CBC?

Answer 10

Anemia, cancer, infection, inflammation

Question 11

What conditions warrant a CMP?

Answer 11

Liver disease, renal disease, electrolytes

Question 12

What conditions warrant a BMP?

Answer 12

Renal disease and electrolytes

Question 13

What conditions warrant a coagulation panel?

Answer 13

Bleeding disorders, monitoring anticoagulation

Question 14

What conditions warrant a urinalysis?

Answer 14

Infection, kidney stones, diabetes, proteinuria

Question 15

What conditions warrant a blood culture?

Answer 15

Bacteremia, fungal infections

Question 16

Where can capillary blood samples be collected?

Answer 16

Fingerstick or subq prick

Question 17

Why would an arterial blood sample be warranted?

Answer 17

Difficulty breathing, any time O2 content is questioned

——riskier, less common, requires special training

Question 18

Why do colored top tubes matter with blood drawing?

Answer 18

Different reagents are in the tubes that let us make plasma, serum, or impact various other tests

Question 19

What does a “red” blood draw cap indicate?

Answer 19

“Type and screen” (blood types); for toxicology, alcohol, etc

Question 20

What does a lavender or pink blood draw cap indicate?

Answer 20

Has an anticoagulant to preserve RBC, and keep blood unclot

Anemia, infections, etc

Question 21

What does a “light blue” blood draw cap indicate?

Answer 21

Coagulation panel (w/ anticoagulant)

Question 22

What are the three categories of erroneous results?

Answer 22

Preanalytic- name wrong, label wrong, etc

Analytic- incorrect storage, assay interference, etc

Post analytic- wrong person notified, delay in communication, misinterpretation of results

Question 23

What is the most common mistake in blood drawing?

Answer 23

Hemolysis (too much turbulance lyses the cell, potassium escapes into the fluid)

Question 24

What are the three most common prescriptions to test blood levels on (according to the lecture)?

Answer 24

Digoxin, vancomycin, coumadin