Clinical Chemistry (Introduction to CC LAB)

A set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering the fundamental concepts of clinical chemistry, laboratory workflow, analytes, and metabolic panels based on the provided lecture notes.

Clinical Chemistry

The study of biochemical processes and qualitative and quantitative analyses of constituents in the body fluids or tissues to facilitate the diagnosis and the treatment of disease.

Chemistry profiles

Groups of tests used to evaluate a particular organ, body system, or the general health of a patient.

STAT test

A laboratory test that requires standard turn-around time reduction, typically generated within $1$ hour.

TAT

Turn-around time; the time from receiving a sample to the generation of the result.

Plasma

The no-coagulation or liquid portion of anti-coagulant blood.

Serum

The liquid portion of blood resulted after a clot is activated and centrifugation is performed.

Liver profile

A group of tests including Bilirubin, ALT, and APR to evaluate hepatic function.

APR

Acute Phase Reactants; indicators that increase during inflammation caused by bacteria.

ALT

Alanine Aminotransferase; an enzyme specific to liver cell assessment.

Hyperkalemia

A condition of high potassium that can lead to cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, or AKI.

Analyte

A molecule to be detected or measured in a laboratory workflow.

Routine test

Tests with a turn-around time usually between $1$ to $24$ hours.

CRITICAL VALUE

A laboratory result that requires immediate attention.

Reagent

Chemical solutions used for diagnostic tests, which can be liquid, lyophilized, or frozen.

Lyophilized

A state of being freeze-dried.

Frozen reagents

Reagents stored at $-20^\text{o}C$.

Quality control

The process of loading a known analyte onto an analyzer to measure how precisely the analyzer can identify or quantify it.

Reference intervals

The normal range of values expected for a healthy person.

Calibration

The process of loading a known analyte to teach the machine to recognize specific values.

Control

Reagents with a known quantity and quality that the analyzer must meet as a standard.

Myoglobin

A protein released during tissue degradation or myocardial damage.

Troponin I

A specific protein that increases in the event of Myocardial Infarction ($M.I.$).

Hemolysis

The rupture of red blood cells which causes a false increase in potassium results.

EDTA

Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid; an anticoagulant additive used in blood collection tubes.

Sodium Citrate

An anticoagulant additive found in specific blood collection tubes.

Gold top tube

A tube containing a clot activator used to collect serum.

Red plastic top tube

A collection tube that contains a clot activator additive.

Glass tubes

Tubes where the glass itself acts as the activator for clotting.

Unconjugated Bilirubin

A level measured to assess liver function and hemoglobin breakdown.

Spectrophotometer

An instrument used to measure the concentration of an analyte for precision and reliability.

Electrolytes

Small organic molecules or ions like potassium and sodium used to assess body balance.

Metabolites

Substances like glucose, urea, and creatinine that result from metabolic processes.

Toxicology

The study of toxic substances such as alcohol, salicylates, and heavy metals.

Transport proteins

Proteins like Albumin and Transferrin that move substances through the blood.

Potassium ($K^+$)

A major intracellular cation measured in clinical chemistry.

Sodium ($Na^+$)

A major extracellular cation.

Magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$)

A major intracellular cation.

Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$)

A major extracellular cation.

Chloride ($Cl^-$)

A major extracellular anion.

Bicarbonate

A major extracellular anion, often measured as $CO_2$.

Phosphorus ($PO_4$)

A major intracellular anion.

Ammonia

A toxic small organic molecule measured in the laboratory.

Cystatin C

A metabolite used to assess kidney health.

Lactic Acid

A metabolite produced during anaerobic metabolism.

Ferritin

A transport protein involved in iron storage.

Haptoglobin

A transport protein that binds free hemoglobin.

HDL

High density Lipoproteins; often called "good cholesterol."

LDL

Low density lipoprotein.

Lipoprotein (a)

A specific type of lipoprotein measured in lipid profiles.

HbA1C

Glycated hemoglobin; used to assess sugar status for the past $3$ months.

FBS

Fasting Blood Sugar; an assessment of carbohydrate metabolism requiring fasting.

RBS

Random Blood Sugar; a glucose test that does not require fasting.

Enzymes

Cellular proteins like Amylase and Lipase that leak into the blood during cellular damage.

AST

Aspartate Aminotransferase (also known as SGOT).

ALKP

Alkaline phosphatase; an enzyme used to monitor hepatic or bone function.

CK

Creatinine Kinase; an enzyme associated with muscle and heart function.

LDH

Lactate Dehydrogenase; a general enzyme marker for tissue damage.

CRP

C-reactive protein; a specific protein used to monitor inflammation.

Complement C3/C4

Specific proteins involved in the immune response.

Trace metals

Minerals found in small amounts such as Iron, Zinc, and Copper.

Therapeutic Drugs

Medications like Digoxin and Theophylline that require monitoring.

Vancomycin

An antibiotic therapeutic drug that is monitored for concentration.

Phenytoin

A therapeutic drug used for seizure management that is monitored via laboratory testing.

Valproic Acid

A therapeutic drug used to treat various conditions, monitored in chemistry.

Drugs of abuse

A category of toxicology testing including cocaine, opiates, and cannabinoids.

Cocaine

A drug of abuse tested in clinical toxicology.

Barbiturates

A class of drugs of abuse that act as central nervous system depressants.

Amphetamines

Stimulant drugs categorized under drugs of abuse in toxicity screens.

Opiates

Narcotic drugs of abuse derived from opium.

Cannabinoids

Active compounds in marijuana tested in drugs of abuse panels.

Basic Metabolic Panel

A common clinical chemistry profile used to screen general health.

NPNs

Non-protein nitrogenous compounds used to evaluate kidney function.

BUN

Blood Urea Nitrogen; a measure of kidney function.

BUA

Blood Uric Acid.

Creatinine

A nitrogenous waste product excreted by the kidneys used to assess renal function.

Triglycerides

A type of fat (lipid) found in the blood included in lipid profiles.

Lipid profile

A group of tests including Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and Triglycerides.

Acid Base Balance

The evaluation of blood pH, $CO_2$, and Bicarbonate levels.

Total protein test (TP)

A test used to evaluate nutritional and immune status.

Albumin

The most abundant protein in human blood, reflecting nutritional status.

Urine

A common biologic specimen used for clinical chemistry testing.

CSF

Cerebrospinal Fluid; a specialized biologic specimen.

Synovial fluid

Fluid found in joints used as a biologic specimen for analysis.

Pleural fluid

Fluid from the thoracic cavity used as a specimen.

Pericardial fluid

Fluid surrounding the heart analyzed in clinical chemistry.

Peritoneal fluid

Fluid from the abdominal cavity used as a specimen.

Amniotic fluid

Fluid surrounding a fetus used for specialized testing.

FBS Fasting

Requires the patient to fast for $8$ hours.

Lipid Profile Fasting

Requires the patient to fast for $10$ hours.

OGTT

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test; used to assess how the body processes sugar.

Major intracellular cations

Potassium and Magnesium.

Major extracellular cations

Sodium and Calcium.

Major extracellular anions

Chloride and Bicarbonate.

Specific proteins

Include markers like CRP, Complement C3, and Complement C4.

Toxic heavy metals

Metals like Lead that cause toxicity.

Diabetes Marker

Tests like HbA1C that identify or monitor sugar levels over time.

Creatinine kinase (CK)

An enzyme test used for monitoring muscle and cardiac function.

Amylase

An enzyme measured in clinical chemistry, often related to pancreatic function.

Lipase

A digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas often measured in chemistry panels.