General Lab Principles
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulates all laboratory testing (except research) performed on humans in the U.S. through this agency.
What is the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)?
This blood test measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.
What is a CBC?
The universal donor for red blood cell transfusion is this blood type.
What is O-negative?
What anemia presents with Low MCV, Low iron, Low Ferritin, High TIBC, High Transferrin?
What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Screens for diabetes and hypoglycemia.
What is Glucose test?
The ability of a test to correctly identify those without the disease (true negative rate).
What is Specificity?
This component of the CBC provides a direct indication of the blood's oxygen transport capacity.
What is Hemoglobin?
LIFE THREATENING. 5% MORTALITY. Considered whenever a transfusion recipient experiences acute respiratory insufficiency or x-ray films show findings consistent with pulmonary edema without evidence of cardiac failure.
What is the Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury?
Concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red blood cells; indicates cell hypochromia or hyperchromia
What is MCHC?
It results from ABO incompatibility, and the recipient’s antibodies recognize and induce hemolysis in the donor’s transfused cells. Patients will develop an acute onset of fevers and chills, low back pain, flushing, dyspnea as well as becoming tachycardic and going into shock.
What is Fatal Hemolysis?
The ability of a test to correctly identify those with the disease (true positive rate).
What is Sensitivity?
A high reticulocyte count suggests this physiological response
What is increased red blood cell production (e.g., in response to anemia or blood loss)?
This apheresis technique removes excess white blood cells in conditions such as leukostasis in acute leukemia.
What is leukapheresis?
What help us to determine etiology of anemia
• MCV (Mean Corpuscular (Cell) Volume)
• RDW (RBC Distribution Width)
• MCH (Mean Cell Hemoglobin)
• MCHC (Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration)
What are RBC Indices?
Measures albumin + globulin; low in liver disease or malnutrition
What is Total protein?
This administration assures safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.
What is OSHA?
A patient presents with microcytic anemia. Name two possible causes.
What are iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia?
In blood transfusions, what is the key difference between a Type & Screen and a Type & Cross?
What is Type & Screen determines blood type and antibody presence, while Type & Cross ensures compatibility with a specific donor unit?
The only anemia in which the MCHC is routinely low.
What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Measures nitrogen waste; elevated in kidney dysfunction and dehydration
What is BUN?
Microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease (e.g., HIV, HBV, HCV)
What is Blood-Borne Pathogens?
In lead poisoning, this characteristic feature can be observed in red blood cells on a peripheral blood smear.
What is basophilic stippling?
A patient receives an incompatible blood transfusion and develops fever, chills, back pain, tachycardia, and hypotension. What is the likely diagnosis and initial treatment?
What is an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, and the treatment includes stopping the transfusion, providing IV fluids, and maintaining urine output?
The % difference between the largest and smallest RBCs. As this value increases, so does the variability in the size (width) of RBCs.
What is RDW? (normal percentage is 11-16%)
More specific marker for kidney function; high levels suggest renal impairment
What is creatinine?