Term
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Definition
| A battery of tests looking at the cells present in the blood. WBCs relate to infection, Hemoglobin reveals anemia for any reason, Platelets assure enough clotting cells are present, MCV (mean cell volume) tells us something about a variety of medical conditions. |
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Definition
| A general screen of all the materials present in the blood other than cells. It screens for status of liver, kidneys, heart, pancreas, and a rough look at acid base status. See specific tests for details. |
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Term
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Definition
| Measures sugar level in blood. Looks for diabetes or hypoglycemia (most often caused by diabetes medications). Ordered routinely for altered LOC. |
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Term
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Definition
| Measures this specific protein in the blood. It is the significant factor affecting osmolality of SERUM (blood minus the cells). Low albumin has many causes, especially liver and kidney disease, and causes edema. |
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Term
| Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, CO2 |
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Definition
| These are the main electrolytes of the blood. The levels affect serum osmolality, acid base balance, cellular function, nerve conduction, muscle contraction, heart arrhythmias, and in the case of Na, level of consciousness. CO2 is a proxy for HCO3. Routinely ordered in all ill patients. |
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Term
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Definition
| Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine are the primary screening tests for renal function and state of hydration. The ratio of the two may also help determine hydration. Routinely ordered in all sick patients. |
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Term
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Definition
| "Alk Phos" is measured primarily as a liver function test, specifically looking for obstruction of drainage from the liver and gall bladder. |
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Term
ALT/SGPT
AST/SGOT
"Liver function tests" |
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Definition
| Also called "transaminases", these are the primary liver function tests. Different patterns of high/lows of these tests also point to the cause of the liver problems. Routinely orders as part of chemistry panel. |
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Term
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Definition
| A breakdown product of red blood cells created in and excreted by the liver. Help interpret other liver function abnormalities. Two forms "conjugated" and "unconjugated". Also produced when blood cells are rapidly breaking down (e.g. newborns). The color in "jaundice" |
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Term
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Definition
| Beta-type natriuretic Peptide: released by heart muscle under strain. Used to support diagnosis of CHF. |
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Term
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Definition
| Measures pancreatic function. Elevated in pancreatitis and a few other conditions. |
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Term
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Definition
| A very non-specific marker of pancreas and bowel. Not very useful but part of rountine chemistry panels. Largely replaced by lipase. |
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Term
CPK
Creatinine phosphokinase |
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Definition
| Released from muscles, increased in severe muscle breakdown or necrosis. Used to detect rhabdomyolysis. |
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Term
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Definition
| Primary tests used to detect heart muscle death (=myocardial infarction). Rise ONLY with death of myocardium but go up after a variable delay. |
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Term
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Definition
| Measured usually from arterial blood (ABG) and indicates anaerobic metabolism which produces it. Mostly used as a marker for sepsis, a severe infection. |
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Term
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Definition
| Chemical and microsopic evaluation of urine. Screens for infection, kidney stones and other kidney diseases. Often suggests other systemic diseases and dehydration. |
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Term
Urine Toxicology screen
"U-tox" |
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Definition
| A battery of tests to detect roughly 6 to 8 common drugs that are either illegal or used in suicide. attempts. |
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Term
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Definition
| A bedside urine test that is either positive or negative. May miss very early pregnancy. |
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Term
Serum HCG
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin |
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Definition
| A sensitive detection of the hormone of pregnancy. Used to prove pregnancy and detect ectopic pregnancy. |
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Term
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Definition
| Measures overall level of clotting factors in the blood. Increased by coumadin (widely used anticlotting drug) and hemophilia. |
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Term
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Definition
| Only a handful are commonly available: acetominophen, aspirin, anticonvulsants, digoxin, lithium. Useful in overdose or for monitoring. |
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Term
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Definition
| Used to detect gout, a crystal induced arthritis and sometimes a cause of kidney stones. |
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Term
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Definition
| Obtained by Lumbar Puncture, results indicate bleeding, infection, inflammation. Complex interpretaion. |
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Term
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Definition
| Two separate tests for STDs, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Results not available immediately. |
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Term
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
"Sed rate" |
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Definition
| A non-specific screen for unusual degree or type of inflammation from any cause. Roughly corresponds to level of all immunoglobulins in the blood. |
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Term
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Definition
| A non-specific inflammatory marker, similar to Sed Rate |
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Term
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Definition
| Blood drawn from artery, not vein. Determines acid base balance and status of respiratory efforts and oxygen in blood. |
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Term
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Definition
| A minor blood antigen important to detect in pregnancy. Rh negative mothers need special care. |
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Term
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Definition
| A screen for clots breaking down used to detect a blood clot in the leg or lung in a selected population of patients. |
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Term
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Definition
| A bedside test to detect blood in stool even if amount is small. Indicate gastrointestinal bleeding is present. |
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Term
Rapid Strep Screen
Mono spot test |
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Definition
| A throat swab rapid test and a blood test to help delineate the cause of a throat infection. |
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Term
Cultures
(blood, wound, nasal, stool, sputum) |
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Definition
| Swabs taken and "plated" on culture media to see what bacteria is growing. Takes two days to get results. |
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