Introduction to Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Vocabulary flashcards covering the fundamental terms, definitions, and concepts of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine as presented in the lecture notes.

Laboratory Medicine

The discipline involved in the selection, provision, and interpretation of diagnostic testing that uses primarily samples from patients; it is a synonymous term to Clinical Laboratory.

Analyte

The substance of interest that is being measured, which may be detected qualitatively or described quantitatively.

Accuracy

Refers to how close a measured value is to the true value or the standard of the analyte being measured.

Precision

The consistency and reproducibility of test results when the same sample is analyzed multiple times under identical conditions.

Reliability

The ability of an analytical procedure to maintain its original accuracy, precision, specificity, and sensitivity over an extended period of time.

Clinical Chemistry

A laboratory section that performs qualitative and quantitative analyses of blood, urine, spinal fluid, feces, calculi, and other materials; it is also known as Clinical Biochemistry and Chemical Pathology.

Spectrophotometer

An analytical instrument used to measure the intensity of light absorbed by a sample at specific wavelengths, providing quantitative data about the concentration of substances.

Controls

Standardized samples with known concentrations of analytes used to verify the accuracy and precision of analytical tests.

Standard

A known reference material or substance that is used to calibrate or validate laboratory instruments and assays.

Biochemical Marker

Any biochemical compound that is sufficiently altered in a disease to serve as an aid in diagnosing or predicting susceptibility to the disease.

Specimen (or Sample)

Any material coming from the patient’s human body submitted to the laboratory for processing and testing.

Plasma

The liquid portion of unclotted blood that includes clotting factors such as fibrinogen.

Serum

The liquid component of clotted blood, resulting in the removal of clotting factors like fibrinogen.

Qualitative Determination

Involves assessing the presence or absence of a certain compound in a sample.

Quantitative Determination

Involves measuring the exact amount of a compound present in a sample, providing data on its concentration.

Actual Test Value

The numerical test value included in a laboratory result.

Label

The unit of measurement in a laboratory result that defines physical quantities such as mass, volume, or concentration (e.g., $\text{mg/dL}$ or $\text{g/dL}$).

Diagnosis

The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.

Prognosis

An opinion, based on medical experience, of the likely course of a medical condition or the prediction of its outcome.

Buffy coat

The portion of whole blood where white blood cells and platelets are found.

Fibrinogen

A clotting protein that is present in plasma but remains absent in serum.