Clinical 2 test 1

PCV ( packed cell volume)

• is the % of RBCs contained within a specific volume of blood

• the cheapest, quickest and easiest way to measure red blood cells within the blood

• tells us about oxygen carrying capacity of the blood

what does the PCV evaluate

• evaluates the % of red blood cells in blood volume.

• which tells is about the oxygen carrying capacity of blood

• This measurement helps assess anemia, dehydration, or other medical conditions affecting red blood cell levels.

what does a decrease PCV

less RBCs are available for oxygen transport, which can indicate conditions such as anemia or blood loss.

what does an increase PCV mean

• lots of RBCS for oxygen transport, usually indicative of conditions such as dehydration

what are the practical applications of PCV

• check hydration status

• response to fluid therapy

• done prior to surgery

• response to treatment

Normal PCV value for dog

37-55%

Normal PCV values for cats

30-45%

what is the unit for PCV

the unit is percentage (%).

Polycytemia

• a increased or elevated PCV above the normal range, indicating an increase in the number of red blood cells.

• the most common cause is dehydration

• can also be due to an increased circulating RBC or decreased plasma

• can be caused by a bone marrow problem or kidney disease

Anemia

• decreased PCV

• a decrease in circulating RBCS and can result from blood loss, hemolysis, or inadequate production in the bone marrow.

plasma protein Evaluation ( total protein)

the plasma color and transparency may be helpful in determining a diagnosis and should be recorded in your findings

how is a total protein performed

• the concentration is estimated by refractometry

• Plasma is used to determine the tp by breaking a hematocrit tube just above the buffy coat and the plasma interface and place a drop on the refractometer prism.

what are the units for total Protein

G/DL

What can cause a false elevation of the total protein

if the sample is hemolytic, lipemic or icteric

Refractometers

• are used to measure the bending of light through a solution

• the amount of bending of light correlates to the amount of solutes present in the liquid

• should be calibrated daily with distilled water ( sp 1,0000 g/dL)

Blood glucose value

• quick easy value that can be performed on small amount of blood

• can use whole blood, serum, or plasma samples.

• It reflects the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream, important for diabetes management.

• must be performed right away if blood is in a syringe. if contained in an anticoagulant tube it can be performed within 10 minutes

when does Glucose utilization occur once in a blood tube

• it occurs 10% per hour if the serum is left in contact with whole blood or plasma is not separated from RBCS at room temp.

• This process leads to a decrease in glucose concentration in the sample, leading to potential inaccuracies in testing results.

• Glucose utilization will slow with decreased temperatures but for accurate reading serum and plasma should be separated. If any delay is needed

what are the units for BG

Blood glucose levels are typically measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), which indicate the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream.

hyperglycemia ( increased, hyper means too much)

• is a condition characterized by an excess of glucose in the bloodstream, often associated with diabetes. It can lead to symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue.

• can be caused by stress or diabetes mellitus

hypoglycemia

• decrease blood glucose values

• seen with neonates, liver disease, insulinoma, sepsis or inappropriate handing of the sample

  • refrigeration helps to slow glucose utilization

Azostix measurement

• this is a measurement a crude value of the blood urea nitrogen

• a quick crude screening test, should not replace a BUN on a chemistry panel

• tells us how well the kidneys are removing nitrogenous waste from the from the blood.

what could a increased Azostix mean

• kidneys not removing urea waste the value goes up

• This could indicate impaired kidney function or dehydration, as higher Azostix values suggest reduced urea elimination from the bloodstream.

Normal Azostix values

between 8-26 mg/dl

what is the units for the Azostix

is measured in mg/dl.

What does a decreased value of an Azostix mean

can be due to poor nutrition/starvation or liver disease ( decreased in protein intake)

How to accurately perform an Azostix reading

1. be sure to place a big drop of blood onto the test strip pad

2. wait 60 seconds

3. rinse the strip after 60 seconds

4. match a pad to the scale on the bottle immediately after rinsing and record the results

What can be a reason for a BG value of 22mg/dl

What are two reasons or a cat haing a BG of 350 mg/dL

what is the term for a PCV of 66%

why might a canine patient have a PCV of 66%

what is the term for a PCV of 20%

why might a dog have a PCV of 20%