Clinical Chemistry
Sodium, potassium, and chloride are examples of these charged particles measured in blood.
What are electrolytes?
These are the most numerous cells in the blood and are responsible for oxygen transport.
What are red blood cells?
These single-celled prokaryotic organisms can cause a wide range of infections.
What are bacteria?
This initial step in preparing tissue samples for microscopic examination involves fixation, dehydration, and embedding in paraffin wax.
What is tissue processing?
This double-stranded nucleic acid carries the genetic information of most living organisms.
What is DNA?
This common test measures the level of sugar in the blood.
What is a glucose test?
This common blood test provides information about the different types and quantities of blood cells.
What is a complete blood count (CBC)?
This test involves growing microorganisms from a patient sample and then determining which antibiotics are effective against them.
What is a culture and sensitivity test?
This precision instrument is used to cut very thin slices of tissue for microscopic examination.
What is a microtome?
This technique amplifies specific DNA sequences, allowing for the detection of even small amounts of genetic material.
What is PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)?
This type of test measures the activity of proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions in the body.
What is an enzyme assay?
This involves spreading a thin layer of blood on a slide and staining it to examine the morphology of blood cells under a microscope.
What is a blood smear?
This differential staining procedure helps classify bacteria into two main groups based on their cell wall structure.
What is a Gram stain?
This common staining method uses hematoxylin and eosin to visualize different cellular components in tissue sections.
What is H&E staining?
This process determines the precise order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule
What is DNA sequencing?
This automated piece of equipment performs a wide variety of chemical analyses on patient samples.
What is an automated analyzer?
This set of tests evaluates the blood's ability to form clots and includes tests like PT and PTT.
What is coagulation testing?
This test quantifies the amount of a specific virus present in a patient's blood, often used in monitoring HIV or hepatitis.
What is a viral load test?
This technique uses antibodies to detect specific proteins in tissue sections, aiding in diagnosis and understanding disease mechanisms.
What is immunohistochemistry (IHC)?
This cytogenetic technique uses fluorescent probes to detect specific DNA sequences on chromosomes, often used to identify chromosomal abnormalities.
What is FISH (Fluorescence in situ Hybridization)?
This technique separates proteins based on their charge and size and is used to identify abnormal protein patterns in conditions like multiple myeloma.
What is electrophoresis?
This technique analyzes cell populations based on their physical and chemical characteristics as they flow through a laser beam, often used for immunophenotyping of blood cells.
What is flow cytometry?
This process determines the effectiveness of different antimicrobial agents against a specific microorganism isolated from a patient.
What is antimicrobial susceptibility testing?
This rapid technique involves freezing a tissue sample and cutting thin sections for immediate microscopic examination, often used during surgery.
What is frozen section analysis?
This high-throughput sequencing technology allows for the simultaneous analysis of millions of DNA fragments, used for comprehensive genomic profiling.
What is next-generation sequencing (NGS)?