Laboratory Tests Flashcards
(75 cards)
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Serum (preferred): red top or serum gel-battier tube; plasma: green top; centrifuge and separate ASAP. 8 to 12 hour fast required; show liver function
Ionized calcium
Serum: serum gel-barrier tube; plasma: green top tube (frozen); centrifuge and refrigerate as is; Indicates bone cancer, nephritis, and multiple myeloma
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Whole blood: Lavender tube; invert gently 6-8 times immediately after draw; Indicates degree of inflammation
Acid phosphatase
Red top or Serum gel-barrier tube; centrifuge, separate and freeze immediately; transport frozen; cancer of prostate
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Serum: red top or serums gel barrier tube; plasma: green top or lavender tube: centrifuge and separate within 45 minutes of collection; Shows hepatic disease
Alcohol (blood) - ETOH
Serum: grey sodium fluoride tube (preferred) or red top. Use nonalcoholic antiseptic to clean site; shows intoxication
Aldosterone
Serum: red top tube; serum gel-barrier tube. Plasma: lavender- top tube. Centrifuge, separate and refrigerate serum. Preferred that patient is upright and mobile 30 minutes before blood draw. Shows overproduction of this hormone.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
Serum - red top or serum gel-battier tube. Avoid hemolysis, can be performed on amniotic fluid; shows fetal abnormalities, adult hepatic carcinoma, Tumor marker
Aluminum (AL)
Serum (preferred): trace-element free plain royal blue top tube, plasma: lavender or heparin. Do not use gel-barrier tube. Avoid external contamination. Shows trace metal contamination, dialysis complication.
Ammonia (NH3)
Plasma: lavender, can use green, no gel. Place immediately in ice slurry. Centrifuge within 15 minutes. Separate plasma and freeze in plastic vial. Evaluates liver function, high levels in the blood lead to hepatic encephalopathy
Amylase
Serum-red top, serum gel-barrier tube; plasma: green or lavender tube. Centrifuge, separate, and refrigerate serum or plasma asap. Shows pancreatitis.
Antibody screen
Whole blood: pink or lavender top; special ID procedures; identifies any atypical antibodies present
Antinuclear antibodies (screen or titer) -ANA
Serum: red top tube, refrigerate serum; shows systemic lupus, erythematosus, and other autoimmune connective tissue diseases.
aspartame Aminotransferase (AST)
Serum (preferred): red top or serum gel-barrier tube; plasma: heparin gel-barrier tube. Centrifuge for complete separation and refrigeration. Shows acute and chronic liver disease.
Bilirubin
Serum: serum gel-barrier tube, wrap in foil to protect from light: spin and separate within 45 min. Refrigerate. Increased with types of jaundice.
Blood culture
Whole blood: inoculate two blood culture bottles; one anaerobic and one aerobic from two sites; do not refrigerate; isolated and identified potentially pathogenic organisms causing bacteremia or septicemia
Blood group (ABO) and Rh type
Whole blood; large lavender to pink top; special ID procedures; detection of ABO and rh antigens on the red blood cells: detects atypical antibodies for prenatal screen or cross match.
Cancer antigen (CA 125)
Serum: red top or serum gel/barrier tube: refrigerate, freeze if testing is delayed. Shows tumor marker primarily for ovarian carcinoma
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
Serum: red top or serum gel-barrier tube. Plasma: green gel-barrier tube. Centrifuge, separate and refrigerate. Monitors patients with diagnosed malignancies, malignant or benign liver disease, indicator of tumors
Chlamydia antibodies
Serum: red top or serum gel-barrier tube; refrigerate serum collected. Centrifuge and separate serum from clot within 4 hours of collection. For trachoma, psittacosis, lymphogranuloma, and pneumonia.
Cholesterol and HCL ratio
Serum (preferred): red top or serum gel-barrier tube. Plasma: sodium hep tube. Separate ASAP and refrigerate serum. Evaluates risk of coronary heart disease.
Complete blood count (CBC)
Whole blood: lavender tube. Invert gently 6-8 times immediately after draw; includes WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct, indices, platelets, and diff. Shows blood diseases.
Copper (Cu level)
Serum: royal blue tube, no additive, metal free. Plasma: Royal blue edta tube. Separate and transfer to plastic tubes immediately. Shows Wilson’s disease or nephritic syndrome.
Cortisol (timed)
Serum: serum gel-barrier tube, refrigerate serum. Clearly note time drawn. Shows Cushing’s syndrome.