Episode 2 Common Hematologic Tests

Question 1

What can increase WBC count?

Answer 1

Infections, inflammations, cancer, leukemia

Question 2

What may decrease WBC count?

Answer 2

Medications, bone marrow failure, chemotherapy, congenital marrow aplasia

Question 3

What is leukopenia?

Answer 3

Low WBC count

Question 4

What is the WBC differential count?

Answer 4

% of each of the 5 major types of leukocytes, including immature (band) neutorphils

Question 5

What would increase RBC count?

Answer 5

Fluid loss, diarrhea, dehydration, burns - b/c it is RBCs per volume of blood - if blood volume is down

Question 6

T/F Both Hemoglobin and Hematocrit mirror RBC count results?

Answer 6

True

Question 7

Hemoglobin is what percentage by mass of each RBC?

Answer 7

33% (1/3)

Question 8

What does the Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) measure?

Answer 8

Average size of RBCs

Question 9

Macrocytic RBCs can be caused by what kind of deficiency? Microcytic RBCs?

Answer 9

Vitamin B12 anemia

Iron deficient anemia

Question 10

What effect on volume would ;macrocytic RBCs have?

Answer 10

Increased volume

Question 11

What is the name of a condition where the Hb is abnormally diluted inside RBC? Abnormally concentrated Hb in RBCs?

Answer 11

Hypochromia.

Hyperchromia

Question 12

What does Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) calculate?

Answer 12

Variation in size of RBCs

Question 13

What is the difference between Anisocytosis and Poikilocytosis?

Answer 13

Anisocytosis is the amount of variation in RBC size.
Poikilocytosis is the variation in shape.
Normal reference range is 11-15%

Question 14

What is the difference between Thrombocytosis and Thrombocytopenia?

Answer 14

Thrombocytosis is a too high platelet count.

Thrombocytopenia is a too LOW platelet count.

Question 15

Why is thromobocytosis a problem? Thrombocytopenia?

Answer 15

Increased risk of forming clots even if you don’t need them. Increased risk for spontaneous bleeding.

Question 16

What does an increase in Mean Platelet volume (MPV) indicate?

Answer 16

New platelets are larger and an increased MPV occurs when increased numbers of platelets are being produced

Question 17

What is the comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) test?

Answer 17

A panel of 14 individual blood tests - Na, K, Ca, Cl, CO, Glucose, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Creatinine, Albumin, Total Protein, Total Bilirubin, ALP, AST, ALT

Question 18

T/F Sodium facilitates the absorption of glucose in the small intestine

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Which two ions from the CMP are needed for the generation of nerve impulses and muscle contractions?

Answer 19

Sodium and Potassium

Question 20

Which three ions from the CMP are needed for muscle contraction?

Answer 20

Calcium, Sodium, and Potassium

Question 21

Which two ions from the CMP test are need for acid-base balance

Answer 21

Potassium and Chloride

Question 22

Of Calcium, Sodium, Chloride and Potassium, which one facilitates actions of certain neurotransmitters?

Answer 22

Chloride

Question 23

Which of the four ions from the CMP test are needed for enzyme activation, exocytosis of neurotransmitters, and blood clotting?

Answer 23

Calcium

Question 24

Which is the most prevalent cation and anion in blood?

Answer 24

Na+ and Cl-

Question 25

T/F Albumin competitively binds calcium ions and maintains pH (acting as a buffer)

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Creatinine levels are a reflection of which organ function?

Answer 26

Kidney. Creatinine increases when kidneys fail to filter it.. Kidneys are the only way to eliminate creatinine

Question 27

BUN test is often ordered with which blood test?

Answer 27

Creatinine when kidney problems are suspected

Question 28

Of ALT, AST, and ALP, which one is most specific to liver function?

Answer 28

ALT (alanine aminotransferase)

Question 29

Which enzyme lines the bile ducts?

Answer 29

ALP (alkaline phosphotase)

Question 30

What would an increase in ALP indicate?

Answer 30

Blocked bile ducts (gall stones).

Question 31

ALT, AST, and ALP are released when what happens to the liver cells?

Answer 31

Necrosis of liver cells, can reflect liver damage as these enzymes are released into blood

Question 32

What would the test for total bilirubin indicate?

Answer 32

Reflection of how well your body is degrading old RBCs. Too much bilirubin may indicate that you are breaking down RBCs too fast

Question 33

What three tissues are responsible for removing old RBCs and making bilirubin?

Answer 33

Liver, spleen, and bone marrow

Question 34

Where does all bilirubin get sent to be processed?

Answer 34

Liver

Question 35

What four things does the lipid panel measure?

Answer 35

LDL, HDL, TGs, and total Cholesterol

Question 36

Which enzyme is targeted by statins (Lipitor) to prevent block the production of cholesterol?

Answer 36

HMG-CoA Reductase

Question 37

Which vitamin can help raise HDL, but has side effects of hot flashes?

Answer 37

Niacin (B3)

Question 38

Which is a stronger indication of plaque formation and cardiovascular disease - LDL or TG?

Answer 38

LDL.

Question 39

What does hypertriglyceridemia do to the consistency of blood?

Answer 39

makes it more viscous

Question 40

What is the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) used for detecting?

Answer 40

Acute and chronic inflammation, including infections, cancers, and autoimmune disease. It is non-specific

Question 41

What would make RBCs settle faster to the bottom of a test tube in the ESR test?

Answer 41

During an infection - inflammatory mediators cause RBCs to form stacks called Rouleaux. These stacks settle faster to the bottom of the tube

Question 42

How is the ESR measured?

Answer 42

The amount of RBCs settling to the bottom of a tube in mm/hour.

Question 43

What can the ESR be used for after a diagnosis?

Answer 43

To check on the disease or see how well treatment is working

Question 44

What inflammatory conditions are often associated with elevated ESR?

Answer 44

Temporal arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE,

Question 45

What is A1C indicative of?

Answer 45

Average blood glucose levels over the last 3-4 months

Question 46

Where is C-Reactive Protein (CRP) produced?

Answer 46

In the liver

Question 47

What does the presence of CRP in blood indicate?

Answer 47

CRP is a marker for inflammation, presence indicates a heightened state of inflammation in the body

Question 48

T/F CRP appears to be as predictive of cardiac risk as cholesterol levels

Answer 48

T