Video Notes Vocabulary Flashcards: Phlebotomy and Lab Concepts

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering phlebotomy terms, lab processes, test tubes, and common lab concepts referenced in the video notes.

Tourniquet

A device placed around the upper arm to temporarily restrict blood flow, widening veins for venipuncture.

Vein

A blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart; usually deoxygenated and blueish in appearance.

Artery

A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart; most carry oxygenated blood (pulmonary artery is an exception).

Capillary

The smallest blood vessel where exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste occurs between blood and tissues.

Butterfly needle

A small-gauge needle with plastic wings used for venipuncture on difficult veins.

Straight needle

A regular venipuncture needle without wings used for standard draws.

Midstream urine collection

A clean-catch urine collection method used for testing.

Requisition form

A document listing tests to be performed and carried with the specimen.

Vein finder

A device that helps locate veins for easier venipuncture.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; protects patient health information.

EMR

Electronic Medical Record; digital format of a patient’s medical history and data.

Phlebotomist responsibilities

Identify patient, collect samples with proper technique, label tubes, and ensure proper transport.

Patient identification

Verifying a patient’s identity using name, DOB, and ID metrics.

Label tubes

Attach correct patient information and test details to specimen tubes.

Centrifuge

A machine that spins samples to separate components like serum/plasma from cells.

Requisition upload to EMR

Entering or transmitting test orders to the laboratory information system.

Vital signs

Basic physiological measurements: blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height, weight, and oxygen saturation.

Venipuncture

Puncturing a vein with a needle to draw blood.

Capillary puncture

Fingerstick or heelstick used to collect small blood samples (often for glucose or point-of-care tests).

Anticoagulant

A substance that prevents blood from clotting (e.g., EDTA, heparin, citrate).

Hemolysis

Destruction of red blood cells that can affect test results.

Hematoma

Localized collection of blood outside vessels at or near the draw site.

Serum

The liquid part of clotted blood after centrifugation; lacks clotting factors.

Plasma

The liquid portion of blood containing clotting factors, obtained with anticoagulant.

Erythrocyte

Red blood cell; carries oxygen via hemoglobin.

Leukocyte

White blood cell; part of the immune system.

Thrombocyte

Platelet; cell fragment essential for blood clotting.

Bone marrow

Tissue that produces all blood cells.

Lymphocyte

A white blood cell involved in adaptive immunity (includes T- and B-cells).

Monocyte

A large white blood cell involved in phagocytosis and immunity.

Neutrophil

A granulocyte that increases in bacterial infections.

Eosinophil

A white blood cell associated with allergic responses and parasitic infections.

Basophil

A white blood cell involved in allergic responses and inflammation.

Agranulocyte

White blood cells without granules (lymphocytes and monocytes).

Antigen

A foreign substance that elicits an immune response.

Antibody

A protein produced by B-cells that binds to specific antigens.

Platelets/Thrombocytes

Cell fragments that form clots to stop bleeding.

Clotting factors

Proteins (often numbered 1-13) that participate in blood coagulation.

Fibrinogen

A soluble plasma protein converted to fibrin during clot formation.

Hematocrit

The percentage of blood composed of red blood cells.

Serum Separator Tube (SST)

A serum-separating tube (often gold/red) used for serum chemistry tests.

Lavender top tube

EDTA tube used for complete blood counts (CBC) and hematology tests.

Light blue top tube

Sodium citrate tube used for coagulation tests (PT, PTT).

Red top / Tiger top tube

Serum separator tube without anticoagulant; used for serum chemistry.

Gray top tube

Tube containing sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate; used for glucose testing and OGTT.

Yellow top tube

Tube containing SPS (for blood culture) or ACD (for DNA tests and special studies).

OC: OGTT

Oral glucose tolerance test; assesses glucose metabolism (diabetes risk).

Hgb/HgbA1c

Hemoglobin and Hemoglobin A1c; measures current and long-term glucose control.

BNP

Brain natriuretic peptide; marker used to assess heart failure.

Troponin I

Cardiac biomarker indicating myocardial injury.

CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid; tested for meningitis and other CNS conditions.

Airborne isolation

Isolation precautions for diseases transmitted via airborne droplets (e.g., tuberculosis).

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment (gown, mask, goggles, gloves) and correct donning/doffing order.

Syncope

Fainting or temporary loss of consciousness due to reduced cerebral blood flow.

Vein sclerosis

Hard, “rock-like” veins that are difficult to puncture.

Peristalsis

Coordinated wave-like contractions that move contents through the GI tract.

Oxygen transport terms

Arteries carry oxygenated blood (except pulmonary artery); veins carry deoxygenated blood (except pulmonary veins).

PT and PTT

Laboratory tests of blood coagulation; PT evaluates the extrinsic pathway, PTT evaluates the intrinsic pathway.

PPE donning order

Typically gown, mask, eye protection, gloves; doffing in reverse order.

Basal state

A fasting, resting metabolic state (12 hours without exercise).