Clin Path 1 Flashcards
What is an aerosol?
Airborne drops of liquid
Aerosols can include various substances, such as medications or pollutants.
What are universal precautions?
Safety equipment and PPE, e.g., OSHA requirements
Universal precautions are designed to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
What does HEPA stand for?
High-efficiency particulate air
HEPA filters are used to trap particles that are 0.3 microns or larger.
What is negative pressure?
Less air pressure than exterior
Negative pressure environments are used in laboratories to prevent contamination.
What is an autoclave?
An instrument that uses moist heat at greater than atmospheric pressure to sterilize equipment
Commonly used to sterilize surgical instruments.
What does CHP stand for? (clin path safety)
Chemical Hygiene Plan
A CHP outlines procedures for safely handling chemicals in the laboratory.
What are the points of equivalence in temperature?
Absolute zero K = −273° C = −459.4° F, −40° C = −40° F, 0° C = 32° F
These points are critical for understanding temperature scales.
What is polycythemia?
An increase in the number of circulating red blood cells
This condition can lead to increased blood viscosity.
What does OSHA stand for?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA sets and enforces standards to ensure workplace safety.
What is spectrophotometry?
Light of a specific wavelength is passed through the sample
Used to measure the concentration of solutes in a solution.
Define accuracy in clinical pathology.
The ability of a test to approximate the actual value
Accuracy is crucial for ensuring reliable test results.
Define precision in clinical pathology.
The reproducibility of a test result
Precision indicates the consistency of test outcomes.
What is anemia?
A decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, usually due to decreased numbers of circulating RBCs
Anemia can result from various factors, including nutritional deficiencies.
What does MCV stand for?
Mean corpuscular volume
MCV is used to classify anemias based on red blood cell size.
What does PCV stand for?
Packed cell volume, also known as hematocrit
PCV measures the proportion of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.
What is RDW?
Red cell distribution width
RDW indicates the variation in red blood cell size and is useful in diagnosing different types of anemia.
What is an International Unit?
The amount of enzyme that will catalyze the conversion of 1 micromole of substrate per minute under specific assay conditions
It standardizes enzyme activity measurements.
What are controls in clinical pathology?
Biological materials used in quality assurance programs and nonbiological materials used to calibrate equipment
Controls ensure the accuracy and reliability of laboratory tests.
How is pH defined?
The negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion (H+) concentration of a solution
A lower pH indicates higher acidity, while a higher pH indicates alkalinity.
What is the ideal airflow direction in laboratories?
Air should move from lower to higher risk areas.
What is the recommended pressure condition for laboratories?
Laboratories should be under negative pressure and not recirculated.
What personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended for laboratory work?
Coats, masks, no contacts unless safety goggles.
What solutions can be used for decontaminating surfaces?
- 70% ethanol
- 0.5% solution of sodium hypochlorite (dilute bleach)
How long should surfaces be decontaminated?
Minimum of 10 minutes.