Lab Values & Interpretation

When trying to interpret some lab values, what information should you take into consideration?

• Disease conditions

• Acute v chronic

• Symtpoms

• Age

• Critical data

• Trends of values

What compounds are looked at in a complete blood count (CBC)?

• White blood cells (leukocytes)

• Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

• Hemoglobin

• Hematocrit

• Platelets (thrombocytes)

What time of day will someone’s WBC count often be higher?

In the late afternoon

What time of day will someone’s WBC count often be lower?

In the early morning

What is the function of WBC?

• ID presence of infection, inflammation, or allergens

What is the function of platelets?

• Stop bleeding by clot formation

What is the function of RBC?

• Transport O2 to tissues in the body and carry CO2 to the lungs

• Carry hemoglobin

What is the function of hemoglobin (Hgb)?

Mesure O2 carrying capacity of RBCs

What is hematocrit (Hct) representative of?

• The percentage of RBCs in the total blood volume

What is the most common WBC?

Neturophils

List all the different WBCs

• Neturophils

• Basophils

• Monocytes

• Lymphocytes

What kind of pattern do immature neturophils have?

Banded pattern

What kind of pattern do mature neturophils have?

Segmented (segs)

What would indicate a rapid production of WBC in response to infection?

A high number of banded neturophils

What is the purpose of basophils?

• Aid in immune response

  • Help in particular with allergies by releasing histamine

What is the purpose of eosinophils?

• Attack parasites

• Help with asthma

• Help with allergies

What is the purpose of monocytes?

Migrate into tissues during injury or infection

Once a monocyte migrates into a tissue, what is its new name?

Macrophage

What do lymphocytes do?

• Produce antibodies

• Fight tumor cells

• Respond to viral infection

What are the different kinds of lymphocytes?

• B cells

• T cells

• Natural killer cells

The suffix -cytosis and -cythemia both mean that something is trending downward. True or false?

False! Both of these suffixes mean that someone is trending in an upward direction (ex. leukocytosis means that there’s an increase in leukocytes)

The suffix -penia and the term anemia mean that something is trending in a downward direction. True or false?

True (ex. leukopenia means that there’s a decrease in leukocytes)

What compounds are looked at in an electrolyte panel?

• Sodium (Na)

• Potassium (K)

• Calcium (Ca)

• Chloride (Cl)

• Phosphate (PO4)

• Magnesium (Mg)

What can happen if potassium levels are either to high or to low?

Heart problems

What clinical implications are similar with hyperkalemia and hypokalemia?

• Increased risk of dysrhythmia

• Increased risk of acute cardiac events

What is the function of Na?

• Determinant of extracellular fluid volume

What is the function of Potassium?

• Important for the function of excitable cells

What is the function of Ca?

• Helps with bone formation

• Helps with cellular division and growth

• Helps with blood coagulation

• Helps with neurotransmitter release

• Helps with muscle contractions

What is the function of chloride?

• Helps with fluid balance

• Helps with acid base status

What is the function of phosphate?

• Necessary for bone formation

• Helps with acid-base balance

• Helps with storage (of what, idk)

• Helps with transfer of energy

What is the function of magnesium?

• BP control

• Bone strength

• Heart rhythm

The prefix hyper- means that something is trending in the upward direction. True or false?

True!

The prefix hypo- means that something is trending in the downward direction. True or false?

True!

How many lab test are included in a basic metabolic panel (BMP)?

8

What lab test are taken for a basic metabolic panel (BMP)?

• Ca

• CO2

• Cl

• Creatinine

• Glucose

• K

• Na

• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

How many lab test are done for a comphrehensive metabolic panel (CMP)?

16

What lab test are done for a comphrehensive metabolic panel (CMP)?

• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

• Bilirubin

• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

• Creatinine

• Na

• K

• CO2

• Cl

• Albumin

• Total protein

• Glucose

• Ca

What are some kidney function tests?

• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

• Serum creatinine

What is the point of a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test?

• Look at the nitrogen portion of urea

• Evaluate the metabolic function of the liver and excretory kidney function of the urea

Serum creatinine is a catabolic product of what?

Creatine phosphokinase

What organ excretes serum creatinine?

Kidneys

Serum creatinine levels are a direct measure of what things?

• Glomerular filtration rate

• Renal function