Clinical Biochemistry 1

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key concepts from the Clinical Biochemistry lecture, including laboratory workflow, analytical techniques, quality control, and common sources of error.

Clinical Biochemistry supports patient care by providing __ information for diagnosis and treatment.

laboratory

The three parts of the specimen pathway are Pre-analytical, __, and Post-analytical phases.

Analytical

In the NHSCT laboratory, an urgent request has a target turnaround time of __ hour(s).

1

Routine inpatient samples should be reported within __ hours.

4

Before testing, most blood samples are centrifuged for __ minutes to separate serum/plasma.

7

Samples are prioritised into urgent, inpatient, and __ categories.

routine

Checking that patient details match on both form and tube is called meeting the __ Acceptance Criteria.

Minimum

Using the wrong sample container is an example of a __-analytical error.

pre

Ion-Selective Electrodes on the Cobas analyser measure sodium, potassium, and __.

chloride

The ISE method applies an adapted __ Equation to calculate ion concentrations.

Nernst

Because the analyser dilutes specimens 1:31, ISE provides an __ measurement (not direct).

indirect

Excess protein or triglyceride causing falsely low electrolytes is known as the __ exclusion effect.

electrolyte

Photometry relies on Beer-Lambert Law, which states absorbance is proportional to __.

concentration

A calibration curve is set using two points: water (zero) and a __ of known value.

calibrator

Measuring two wavelengths to subtract interference defines __ analysis.

bichromatic

Visible hemolysis, icterus, or lipemia are flagged by automated __ indices.

serum

Electrochemiluminescence generates light when a voltage drives a chemical reaction involving __ complexes.

ruthenium-TPA

ECL assays exploit the strong binding between biotin and __.

streptavidin

Large analytes such as TSH are measured by a __ assay format.

sandwich

Small analytes like free T4 are typically measured by a __ assay format.

competitive

The freezing-point depression method is used to determine __ of serum or urine.

osmolality

Calculated serum osmolality = 2(Na) + __ + glucose.

urea

Capillary Zone Electrophoresis is employed to quantify __ for diabetes monitoring.

HbA1c

Detection of monoclonal proteins in myeloma can be done by capillary or gel __.

electrophoresis

Finding bilirubin in CSF by multi-wavelength spectrophotometry helps diagnose __ haemorrhage.

subarachnoid

A reference range usually includes values within ±__ standard deviations of the mean.

2

Results that exceed a defined critical threshold trigger a laboratory __-out.

phone

A __ check compares a patient’s current value to their previous result for large unexpected changes.

delta

Variation caused by patient factors such as age, sex, or time of day is called __ variation.

biological

Mechanical problems, reagent issues, or calibration faults produce __ errors during analysis.

analytical

Internal Quality Control material comes from a __ party rather than the analyser manufacturer.

third

IQC results are acceptable when they fall within ±__ SD of the target mean.

2

Westgard rules are applied to judge acceptance of daily __ data.

IQC

On a Levy-Jennings chart, a sudden consistent jump above the mean is called a __.

shift

A gradual drift on a Levy-Jennings plot is termed a __.

trend

Accuracy describes closeness to the true value, whereas __ describes repeatability of results.

precision

Bubbles in reagent or a damaged probe can produce __ (lack of repeatability).

imprecision

EQA schemes like __ send unknown samples so labs can compare results externally.

NEQAS

EQA assessment is __, meaning problems are identified after patient results are issued.

retrospective

Middleware such as Roche Infinity blocks results that violate preset __ rules.

technical

Potentiometry, photometry, and electrochemiluminescence are core analytical __ on the Roche c8000.

techniques

Most primary samples travel from pre-analytical equipment to analysers via an automated __ system.

tracking

Without laboratory automation, manual methods would increase turnaround time and risk of __.

error

A wrong result can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed or incorrect treatment, and unnecessary __.

testing

An osmolar __ exists when measured osmolality exceeds the calculated value, suggesting unmeasured solutes.

gap