What We Need to Know for McMichael and Lab

How do you differentiate between blood loss and destruction on a CBC?

TOTAL SOLIDS

What would a CBC show in a patient experiencing blood loss?

Low PCV and low TS

What would a CBC show in a patient experiencing RBC destruction?

Low PCV and normal TS

What is the most common cause of RBC destruction in a diseased animal?

IMHA

What should you look for in a young animal with severe anemia that is completely curable once addressed?

Zinc

What is the progression of a pancytopenia? (3)

Decreased neutrophils (5-6 days)

Decreased platelets (8-10 days)

Decreased RBCs (120 days)

What is the endpoint of the Coombs, blood type, and crossmatch?

Agglutination

Why can you not rely on any clotting test with autoagglutination?

If you are already destroying cells, you cannot differentiate what is causing what

Name the TWO ways O2 is carried in the blood and how it is measured.

1. Dissolved in plasma (PaO2)

2. Bound to hemoglobin (SpO2)

What is the worst cat blood reaction?

Type A blood to B cat

Do you have to type and cross-match a dog for its first blood transfusion?

No. They get a freebie, but they must be typed and cross-matched thereafter.

T/F: Cats must always be typed before a transfusion.

True!

What is the best blood component to give to a patient destroying their RBCs?

What about a patient with rodenticide?

Packed cell

Plasma

What should you avoid when collecting urine in a dog with a clotting problem?

Cysto

What substance prevents platelets making unnecessary clots and making the patient hypertensive?

Nitric oxide

When can PCV be normal to high?

Acute bleeding and/or splenic contraction

T/F: Differentials are NOT the same as the problem list.

True!

T/F: FFP (fresh frozen plasma) is a good source of platelets.

False → FFP is NOT a good source of platelets.

What is the major anticoagulant in a blood bag?

Citrate

What device should you avoid in dogs? Why?

Hemo-Nate, damage RBC and diminish transfusion success (too small + high pressure)

What is the most important step of treating an anemic patient?

Aftercare

What is the difference between a major and minor crossmatch?

Major: recip plasma and donor RBCs

Minor: recip RBCs and donor plasma