T6: Clinical Pathology Procedures Flashcards
(44 cards)
Why perform clinical pathology tests?
- Detect disease, which may be clinical or subclinical disease
- Aid in diagnosis
- Monitor treatment success/failure and tailor or modify treatment according to response
- Monitor disease progression
- Aid in prognosis
- Post-mortem analysis
What are we actually testing?
- Cells: number and morphology (age, health, activity)
- Fluids: volume, pH, composition
What kind of tests do nurses perform?
- Histology/histopathology tests
- Cytology tests
- Haematology tests
- Fluid analysis
- Biochemistry tests
- Parasitology tests
- Microbiology tests
- Immunology tests
- Endocrinology tests
What is an SST tube?
serum separation tube
This plain tube contains a blob of gel which seals the clot from the serum during centrifuging so you don’t need to remove the serum.
What is an EDTA (pink or purple topped) tube used for?
for most blood tests, especially where red and white blood cells are measured.
what is a Lithium heparin (Green topped tube) used for?
blood biochemistry tests. The tubes are centrifuged to separate blood cells from plasma.
What is a Fluoride oxalate (Yellow or grey) tube used for?
to measure blood glucose levels. The mixture of sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate preserves blood cells so that the red cells can’t use up the glucose.
What do tissue sample jars contain to preserve tissue?
formalin
A sample label should list…?
- Animal’s name or Identification Number
- Owner’s name
- If a production animal, then an owner PIC code must be on the form
- Date and time of collection
- Veterinarian’s name and/or Name of Veterinary Clinic
- Type of specimen and method of preservation
- Test required
A laboratory submission form should contain..?
- sample label details
- details of your veterinary clinic (sometimes with an ID number),
- the site of sample collection,
- and a case history including symptoms, findings, previous lab test results and any medications or treatments.
How should whole blood be stored?
in an appropriate tube, and refrigerated for up to 3 days
How should serum be stored?
Serum can be separated and stored in a separate tube. It can be stored at room temp for up to 24 hours, refrigerated for up to 4 days, frozen for a week or placed in deep freeze for several weeks or months.
How should a urine sample be stored?
Urine should be tested within 30 minutes at room temperature or stored in the refrigerator in a dark container for up to 3 hours.
How should a faeces sample be stored?
at room temperature for up to 3 hours, or stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (in a suitable container!)
How should microbiology samples be stored?
- stored correctly to prevent microbial death or microbial overgrowth.
- Always check with your vet or laboratory technician for specific microbiology testing procedures.
- Bacterial swabs should be stored as transport (trans) swabs which are impregnated with culture media to prevent samples drying out, and stored in the refrigerator before transporting to the laboratory for culture and analysis.
How should you pack a sample for transport?
- the specimen is packed into the first container, with cushioning material to prevent breakage and absorbent material in case of leakage.
- Always ensure the specimen is well sealed.
- this is then placed inside a waterproof container eg a plastic bag, along with the submission form
- the final container is the sturdy transporting container, for example a cardboard box or tube, or a Styrofoam cooler.
The outer transport container of a sample should be labelled with…?
- a biohazard label
- identification of the material being transported
- the name, address and phone number of the receiving laboratory
- the name, address and phone number of your clinic (the sender) and the date
- any additional requirements eg consignment note, or hazardous goods stickers.
clinical pathology in-house testing equipment commonly includes..?
- Microscopes
- Stains
- Centrifuges
- Test kits
- Refractometer
- Glucose meter
- In-house biochemical analysers
- In-house blood cell counting machines
- Incubator
- Bunsen burner
- Refrigerator/freezer
- Sample collection equipment and disposables
Describe how you would set up a microscope
(answer is long explanation -try to simplify if possible)
- Sit comfortably, adjust the inter-ocular adjustments to suit your eyes
- Have the mechanical stage at its lowest position.
- Place the prepared slide onto the stage and lock it into position.
- Check the light is at its lowest power setting before switching it on.
- Make sure the lowest power objective (x4) is in position.
- Switch on the microscope and gradually turn up the light.
- Using the mechanical stage knobs move the slide until you can see light shining up through the condenser and through the object on the slide.
- Slowly raise the stage using the coarse focus knob until the specimen on the slide comes into focus.
- Swing the next power objective (x 10) into position and by using ONLY the fine focus knob turn it gradually until the specimen comes into focus.
- Once the 10X objective is in focus move up to the 40X lens and repeat the procedure only using the fine focus knob.
- Close the iris diaphragm down a bit to cut out some of the light coming up through the slide to make the slide easier to see.
Find a picture of a microscope and label the parts
…. see moodle page
For what focus is immersion oil used with a microscope?
For what focus is immersion oil never used?
- immersion oil is to be used with 100X objective
- NEVER to be used with 40X objective
the course focus knob should only be used with ….. power objectives
low power objectives
When using a microscope, you should always begin with the low power objectives and move up from there.
T or F?
T
high dry magnification (x400) is usually enough to see most specimens clearly, however for blood cell identification and looking at bacteria you will need to use the oil immersion lens.
this is a statement and not a question just need to read :)
meow
