Needle gauge
Gauge = diameter; smaller gauge = fatter needle
sterile
Without contamination by microorganisms
waived tests
lowest level of lab tests according to the Clinical Lab Improvement Amendment
clotting factors
13 major an many minor proteins in the blood that help a patient clot (help coagulation occur)
hemolysis
The “lysis” or bursting of red blood cells. Ruins potassium tests
centrifuge
An instrument that spins samples to separate cells from liquid
iodine
An antiseptic sometimes used in drawing blood cultures
septicemia
Infection in the blood
bacteremia
bacteria in the blood
glucosuria
glucose in the urine
anemia
literally means “without blood” but refers to a condition when red blood cells aren’t able to deliver enough oxygen to the tissues
hematocrit
A calculation of the % RBC per whole volume of blood
basilic
A vessel of the forearm sometimes used for venipucture
diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which sugars can’t be broken down due to an insulin problem
antibody
A substance that can be made in the blood in response to exposure to an antigen
patient’s bill of rights
An extension of the American Hospital Associations pledge to protect patients when under medical care
fasting
not eating or drinking
malpractice
Intentional wrongdoing
venule
the name for the smallest veins
hemoglobin
the chemical inside RBC’s that carries oxygen to tissues
time dependent
A test that is time dependent must be drawn at specified times, i.e. after a drug is administered, or at certain times of the day.
hyponatremia
low levels of sodium in the blood
hypernatremia
high levels of sodium in the blood
median cubital
The vein most commonly accessed in the adult arm for venipuncture
vaccination
An injection ( or oral) that provides protection from infection with microorganisms
evacuated drawing tubes
Vacutainers or blood collection tubes
tourniquet
A stretchy band that is tied on the arm of a patient before blood collection by venipuncture to allow blood to pool in the veins of the arm
electrolytes
The cations and anions that are found in the blood; K, Na, CO2, Cl and more
hematuria
the presence of blood in urine
medical ethics
The study of right and wrong action in a medical issue
palpate
to tap with light pressure. i.e. locating a good vein for venipuncture
desinfectant
A chemical that can be used on a surface to kill or remove pathogenic (disease causing) organisms
hemostasis
Blood stoppage
inflammation
Collection of WBCs that forms redness or oozing, usually indicating infection
infection
Collection of microorganisms that cause disease
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy and found in both urine and blood
hypokalemia
low levels of potassium in the blood
hyperkalemia
high levels of potassium in the blood
outpatient
Patients who are not admitted to hospitals for overnight stays but are treated and released
systolic pressure
The working pressure
capillary
The smallest vessels that connect the arteriole to the venous system
arteriole
The smallest type of artery
antibiotic
medicine that can be used to fight infection with bacteria
coagulation
A phase in the blood clotting sequence in which factors are released and interact to form a clot
cholesterol
A type of fat or lipid in the bloodstream
artery
A vessel that moves blood away from the heart
aseptic
Litteraly “without sepsis” or without infection
inpatient
A patient who stays overnight in a hospital
bilirubin
A normal by-product of RBC aging that can cause problems if abnormally high. When collected, it should be kept from light as it breaks down.
vein
A vessel that moves blood to the heart
negligence
A legal term referring to the failure to act or perform duties according to the standards of the profession
differential smear
A drop of whole blood that is spread along a glass slide to produce a field of cells that is one cell thick, so that the cells can be observed and counted after staining.
jugular
prominent vein in the neck
microorganisms
Any living organisms that are microscopic in size, i.e. you need a microscope to see them (bacteria, fungi, virus etc.)
nosocomial infectins
An infection that a patient acquires while in a hospital setting
diastolic pressure
The resting, or second, blood pressure reading
blood culture
A method for growing an infectious microorganism found in patient blood, to determine its identity
isolation
the complete separation from others of a person suffering from contagious or infectious disease
