Laboratory Procedures Review

Question 1

anticoagulant

Answer 1

substance that prevents blood from clotting

Question 2

biopsy

Answer 2

removing tissue from patients for microscopic examination to determine the presence of cancer or other abnormalities; may be done surgically or with endoscopes, biopsy punches, or other instruments

Question 3

calibration

Answer 3

a measurement compared with a standard; a method for testing the accuracy of equipment; a quality assurance procedure

Question 4

capillary puncture

Answer 4

dermal puncture of finger, earlobe, or heel in infants to obtain a blood specimen

Question 5

centrifuge

Answer 5

laboratory instrument that spins at high speeds, separating particles in specimens such as blood and urine

Question 6

clinical chemistry

Answer 6

analysis to identify and to measure chemical components in blood, urine, spinal fluid, tissue, and other body fluids

Question 7

complete blood count (CBC)

Answer 7

panel of blood tests that includes hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and differential white blood cells (diff)

Question 8

control

Answer 8

a specimen with known values that serves as a check of test accuracy

Question 9

C-reactive protein (CRP)

Answer 9

protein in the body that rises when inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are present

Question 10

crossmatching

Answer 10

laboratory testing process to determine compatibility of blood donated by one person with the blood of a potential recipient

Question 11

culture

Answer 11

the process of growing pathogens from specimens inoculated into a culture medium and maintained at a designated temperature; the purpose is to identify the microorganisms contained in the specimen

Question 12

cytology

Answer 12

analysis of cells to determine abnormalities

Question 13

evacuated tube (ET)

Answer 13

a tube, sealed to maintain the vacuum, that is used for obtaining blood specimens; it may have additives, depending on the type of blood specimen to be obtained

Question 14

fasting sample

Answer 14

blood collected after the patient has not eaten or drank (except water) for 6 to 8 hours

Question 15

fibrinogen

Answer 15

a protein in blood plasma that assists clotting

Question 16

hematocrit

Answer 16

percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume

Question 17

hematology

Answer 17

study of blood and blood-forming tissue; analysis of blood to determine abnormalities

Question 18

hemoglobin

Answer 18

oxygen-carrying portion of red blood cells

Question 19

hemoglobin A1C

Answer 19

blood test to help diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes and to measure the average blood glucose over a 2- to 3- month period

Question 20

histology

Answer 20

microscopic study of cells, tissues, and organs in association with their functions

Question 21

human chronic gonadotropin (HCG)

Answer 21

hormone present in blood and urine during pregnancy; urine or blood tests are used to determine pregnancy by the presence of HCG

Question 22

immunohematology

Answer 22

specialized immunology dealing with blood, the presence of antibodies/antigens and pathology

Question 23

immunology

Answer 23

study of immunity, sensitivity, and induced sensitivity; the presence of antibodies/antigens and pathology

Question 24

incubation

Answer 24

maintaining a controlled environment to promote growth of microbial or tissue cultures

Question 25

international normalizing ratio (INR)

Answer 25

ratio derived from the prothrombin time to help determine blood clotting; often reported as PT/INR

Question 26

lancet

Answer 26

a sharp, sterile, disposable instrument used to puncture skin for collecting capillary blood

Question 27

microbiology

Answer 27

study of microorganisms; in the laboratory, this division usually determines the presence and the identity of microorganisms found in specimens; examples include tests for tuberculosis, meningitis, and diphtheria

Question 28

microscope (scope)

Answer 28

an instrument used magnify very small objects usually not visible to the naked eye

Question 29

Mohs procedure or surgery

Answer 29

removal of skin tissue which is then prepared and examined while the patient waits to determine the presence of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma and, if present, the amount of tissue to remove for cancer-free edges

Question 30

Papanicolaou (Pap) Smear

Answer 30

to detect cervical cancer

Question 31

parasitology

Answer 31

study of human parasites and ova (eggs)

Question 32

partial thromboplastin time (PTT)

Answer 32

blood test to determine abnormal clotting or to monitor anticoagulation medication

Question 33

phenylketonuria (PKU)

Answer 33

a disease resulting in mental retardation caused by a deficiency in the metabolic process; tested for by using a capillary specimen from an infant's heel, a test required by law in the US

Question 34

phlebotomy

Answer 34

incision or needle puncture into a vein to draw blood

Question 35

plasma

Answer 35

relatively clear yellow liquid portion of blood; composes 55% of whole blood; upper layer in specimen tube

Question 36

plating

Answer 36

process of inoculating agar with a specimen swab and sometimes a sterile inoculating loop

Question 37

point-of-care testing (POCT)

Answer 37

laboratory testing performed at the location where the patient is receiving their health care (usually the medical office) using small, rapid instruments and methods; these tests are Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived

Question 38

polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Answer 38

laboratory test to identify DNA presence of a pathogen

Question 39

prothrombin time (PT)

Answer 39

blood test to determine abnormal clotting or to monitor anticoagulation medication

Question 40

qualitive analysis

Answer 40

the identification of a type of pathogen by its appearance in the specimen

Question 41

quantitative analysis

Answer 41

the method used to determine the number of bacteria present in a specimen

Question 42

reagent

Answer 42

a substance that, when added to a solution of another substance, participates in a chemical reaction; it may be used to identify or to quantify the presence of another substance

Question 43

sensitivity

Answer 43

testing to determine a pathogen's susceptibility to specific antibiotics

Question 44

serum

Answer 44

liquid portion of the blood that remains after clotting factors are removed

Question 45

universal donor

Answer 45

a person who has O-negative blood, which is theoretically able o be transfused into a person with another blood type in an emergency situation

Question 46

urinalysis

Answer 46

the physical, chemical, and microscopic analysis of urine

Question 47

urinometer

Answer 47

a sealed glass float placed in approximately 15mL of urine and that measures specific gravity