Labs (Blood Work)
What are two blood draws that we as RTs Should be concerned with (mentioned in lecture)?
Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Blood Metabolic Panel (BMP)
What can be determined by elevated WBCs?
Infection
What is the normal value for Sodium (NA)?
135-145 mEq/L
Elevated Sodium levels are indicative of what? (2)
Dehydration; Cushing's Disease
Low levels of Sodium can be caused by what? (3)
Dehydration; kidney Disease; Certain Medications
What Components are measured in a CBC? (6)
White Blood Cells (WBC), Red Blood Cells (RBC), Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), and Platelets.
What can be determined by low WBCs?
Indicative of leukemia
What is the normal Chloride level?
95 - 105 mEq/L
Elevated Chloride levels indicate what? (4)
Dehydration; high sodium intake; some heart and lung conditions
Low levels of Chloride can be caused by what? (3)
Dehydration; Kidney Disease; Acidosis
What Components are measured in a BMP? (8)
Levels of Sodium (NA), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), Calcium (Ca), Bicarbonate (CO2), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Creatinine, and Glucose
Low oxygen-carrying capacity is a result of what?
Low RBCs
What are the normal levels of Bicarbonate (CO2)?
21 - 31 mEq/L
What are the possible causes of elevated levels of CO2? (4)
Dehydration; lung disease; anorexia; adrenal gland problems
Potential causes of low levels of CO2 are_______? (4)
Kidney Disease; Acidosis; Poisoning; Addison's Disease
What are the Components of WBCs? (5)
Neutrophils; Leukocytes; Monocytes; Eosinophils; Basophils
What is the importance of the CBC's Coagulation results?
Determines the Prothrombin Time, the time needed for the patient's blood to clot and stop bleeding
What is the normal value for Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)?
7 - 20 mg/dL
What are some possible causes of elevated BUN levels? (2)
Dehydration; Kidney Disease
Low levels of BUN can indicate? (3)
Excessive Dehydration; Very Low-Protein Diet; Liver Disease
What is the significance of NLMEB?
It aides in identifying the percentage of each component within the WBC in descending order. *Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas (NLMEB)*
Neutrophils 60%
Leukocytes 30%
Monocytes 6%
Eosinophils 3%
Basophils 1%
What kind of problem(s) may arise with a longer PT time?
Hematoma, blood clot, may become fatal
What are the normal values for Creatinine?
0.84 - 1.21 mg/dL
High levels of Creatinine indicates what possible causes?
Dehydration; Kidney Disease; Very High Protein Diet
What possible causes can low Creatinine levels indicate? (4)
Muscle Disorders; Very Low-Protein Diet; Liver Disease; Pregnancy