Intro to Diagnostics Flashcards
(25 cards)
Which blood test tube has no anticoagulants?
The red one
What does the yellow top tube contain and why?
Gel to speed up clots
What does the purple top tube contain and why?
Potassium EDTA (preserves cells) (potassium is purple)
What does the grey top tube contain and why?
Fluoride oxalate (a poison) kills off erythrocytes to stop them from consuming glucose
Which tubes are used to sample U&E? State whether it comes from plasma or serum.
Yellow top
Red top
(U+Es from serum)
Which tube is used to sample glucose? State whether it comes from plasma or serum.
Grey top
plasma
Which tube is used to sample HbA1c? State whether it comes from plasma or serum.
Purple top
plasma
Which tubes are used to sample TFT? State whether it comes from plasma or serum.
Yellow top
Red top
(TFTs from serum)
Which tubes are used to sample LFT?
Yellow top
Red top
What is serum?
Essentially plasma without the clotting factors
List from top to bottom the separation of blood components
Plasma Lymphocyte and monocyte band Density gradient fluid Gel barrier Erythrocytes and neutrophils
Why can serum be removed from the yellow tube?
Because there’s a gel which separates the blood from the serum.
What does the green top have?
Heparin
What do blue tops contain?
Citrate
What do we use blue top tubes for?
To measure clotting (APTT (intrinsic pathway) and PT (extrinsic pathway))
Citrate kills the calcium in order to prevent clotting in the tube.
What could cause low sodium and high potassium?
Adrenal failure
Addisons
Haemolysis
What is urea a maker of?
Total renal function
What is creatinine a marker of?
GFR
What change would dehydration cause to U+Es?
High urea GFR normal (perfusion is normal)
List six liver markers
Alanine amino transferase (ALT) Aspartate amino transferase (AST) Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) Alkaline phosphatase Albumin Bilirubin
What might be causing high ALT?
Viral hepatitis
What might be causing high alkaline phosphatase?
Obstruction e.g. cancer
Why are liver enzymes a measure of liver function?
They leak MORE when the liver is damaged
NOTE: small amounts leak into the blood normally, but this is fine.
List two cardiac enzymes you’d test for to rule out MI
Troponin
Creatinine Kinase
