Diagnostics

Question 1

What does a WBC differential tell you more about?

Answer 1

Inflammation and infection

Question 2

In what instances would you want to know someone’s RBC count, Hb, and HCT?

Answer 2

Dehydration, anemia, hemorrhagic conditions

Question 3

If someone was receiving dalteparin as prophylaxis of DVT which labs would you want to look at?

Answer 3

Platelets

Question 4

What do neutrophils tell us?

Answer 4

Whether or not a bacterial infection is present

Question 5

What do lymphocytes tell us?

Answer 5

Whether or not a viral infection is present

Question 6

When would levels of basophils be increased or decreased in the blood?

Answer 6

Increased in leukaemia and decrease in allergic reactions

Question 7

When would eosinophils be increased in the blood?

Answer 7

In allergic disorders or parasitic infections

Question 8

When would monocyte levels be increased in the blood?

Answer 8

Severe infection signalling phagocytosis

Question 9

What is another name for a band cell?

Answer 9

Neutrophil

Question 10

What is the lifespan of RBCs

Answer 10

120 days

Question 11

What does a decrease in HCT signify?

Answer 11

Possible decrease in RBC production or hemorrhage

Question 12

What is polycythemia?

Answer 12

Increased RBC levels

Question 13

When is polycythemia seen?

Answer 13

Dehydration, high altitude, COPD, and bone marrow disease

Question 14

When is anemia seen?

Answer 14

Leukaemia, chronic inflammation, acute or chronic blood loss and inadequate RBC production

Question 15

What are platelets essential for?

Answer 15

Clot formation and hemostasis

Question 16

When would you monitor someone’s PTT?

Answer 16

When someone is on heparin

Question 17

When would you monitor someone’s PT INR?

Answer 17

When on warfarin

Question 18

When are increased levels of sodium seen?

Answer 18

Dehydration, excessive sweating, GI losses

Question 19

When are decreased levels of sodium seen?

Answer 19

Congestive heart failure, Addison’s disease

Question 20

When are increased levels of potassium seen?

Answer 20

Kidney failure

Question 21

When are decreased potassium levels seen?

Answer 21

Diuretic use that do not spare potassium

Question 22

When would Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels be increased?

Answer 22

Kidney failure, liver failure, and dehydration

Question 23

When would creatinine be increased?

Answer 23

Kidney failure

Question 24

What two types of diagnostics are there?

Answer 24

Laboratory tests and radiography

Question 25

What is informed consent?

Answer 25

When the individual is fully aware of all aspects regarding a procedure

Question 26

What three elements are necessary for informed consent?

Answer 26

Disclosure, capacity and voluntariness

Question 27

What is sodium responsible for?

Answer 27

Acid-base balance, chemical reactions, transmembrane potential

Question 28

Why is potassium important?

Answer 28

Transmembrane potential, acid-base balance, intracellular enzyme reactions

Question 29

What affects GFR?

Answer 29

Age, gender, creatinine, weight

Question 30

What does the BUN test for?

Answer 30

Kidney function

Question 31

What do creatinine levels tell us?

Answer 31

Kidney function

Question 32

What does the fecal occult blood test for?

Answer 32

Testing for blood because of benign or malignant growths, hemorrhoids, GI bleed etc

Question 33

How does an XRay work?

Answer 33

Use electrons to illuminate dense areas

Question 34

How does an ultrasound work?

Answer 34

Uses high frequency sound waves to get a real time image

Question 35

How does a CT scan work?

Answer 35

Uses ionizing X-rays and contrast agents to highlight tissues, organs and blood vessels

Question 36

What does routine &; microscopic urinalysis look at?

Answer 36

Protein, glucose, pH, specific gravity, bacteria

Question 37

What is the significance of a culture & sensitivity?

Answer 37

Tells us what type of bacteria is growing and what antibiotic it is sensitive to

Question 38

What do procalcitonin levels tell us?

Answer 38

It is a marker for infection and it can determine how severe the infection is

Question 39

What is the significance of CRP?

Answer 39

It is a marker for inflammation, increased levels mean more severe inflammation

Question 40

What is the "triad"?

Answer 40

HCT Hgb RBC

Question 41

What is leukocytosis?

Answer 41

Increased WBC

Question 42

What is leukopenia?

Answer 42

Decreased WBC

Question 43

What is a shift to the left?

Answer 43

A high amount of young, immature WBCs commonly means there is infection/inflm and the bone marrow is making more WBC and releasing the before they are fully mature

Question 44

When is the triad useful?

Answer 44

Only if hydration is normal

Question 45

What does anemia look like?

Answer 45

Fatigue, pale, SOB, dizzy

Question 46

What does the PTT tell us?

Answer 46

Actual or potential bleeding and response to anticoagulant therapy

Question 47

What is the therapeutic range for heparin?

Answer 47

2x the normal

Question 48

What is the therapeutic range for warfarin?

Answer 48

2.5x the normal

Question 49

If your patient had nausea, vomiting and diarrhea for five days which labs would you assess?

Answer 49

Electrolytes (Na, K) CBC & differential Stool culture

Question 50

If your patient was on diuretic therapy what lab values would you assess?

Answer 50

Renal fx tests (BUN, creatinine) | Electrolytes (Na, K)

Question 51

If your patient had a post surgical bleed from his abdominal incision what labs would you assess?

Answer 51

Hgb HCT RBC

Question 52

If your patient has a respiratory infection which lab values would you assess?

Answer 52

Sputum culture | WBC and differential