Point-of-Care Testing and Phlebotomy Lecture Notes

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Point-of-care testing, Phlebotomy, Laboratory Procedures, and Ethics based on the lecture transcripts.

Point-of-care testing (POCT)

Any analytical test done at the patient’s bedside or nearby rather than in a central laboratory; also known as alternative site testing (AST) or near-patient testing.

CLIA ‘88

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988; a US Federal Law that defines standards and guidelines for laboratory testing based on test complexity.

Waived Tests

Tests cleared by the FDA for home use that are easy to perform with a negligible likelihood of erroneous results or risk of harm to the patient.

Provider-performed microscopy (PPM)

Clinical microscopy procedures performed only by advanced practitioners (physicians, dentists, etc.) in conjunction with waived tests during a patient examination.

Modified Allen Test

A procedure used to evaluate the presence of collateral circulation (specifically the ulnar artery) before performing a radial artery puncture.

Bleeding Time (BT)

The time it takes for a small cut to stop bleeding; it evaluates capillaries for platelet plug formation.

Clotting Time (CT)

The time it takes for blood to coagulate or form fibrin threads.

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

An analyte that increases in the blood with the increasing severity of congestive heart failure (CHF).

Hemoglobin A1c

A test measuring glucose bound to hemoglobin to provide an average blood glucose level for the previous $2-3$ months.

Blood Station (BS)

A blood service facility responsible for the storage, issuance, transport, and distribution of whole blood and packed red blood cells.

Cross-matching

Mixing a patient's plasma or serum with donor red blood cells to determine suitability for transfusion and prevent agglutination.

Autologous Donation

The donation of blood by a patient for their own subsequent use, typically before a scheduled surgery.

Lookback Program

A program ensuring all blood units are traceable to donors and recipients in the event a donor tests positive for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs).

Arteriospasm

An involuntary contraction of an artery that can occur due to needle penetration or patient anxiety.

Arterial Blood Gases (ABG)

Used in the diagnosis and management of respiratory disorders to provide information about oxygenation, ventilation, and acid–base balance.

pH Reference Range

The measure of acidity or alkalinity in blood; the normal reference range is $7.35-7.45$.

Laboratory Computer System

A tool that improves the efficiency of the sample reception area by providing fast access to error-free information and ensuring timely reports.

Retention Period (Clinical Lab Reports)

The standard amount of time a clinical laboratory must keep test reports, which is typically $2$ years.

Hemolysis

The destruction of red blood cells leading to the escape of hemoglobin into the plasma; it is the most common reason for specimen rejection in chemistry.

Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF)

The force applied to a substance being centrifuged, expressed as gravities ($g$), determined by the radius of the rotor and the speed of rotation.

Aliquot

A portion of a specimen that is placed in a separate tube to allow multiple tests to be performed using different machines.

Biobanking

A repository or storage facility where human biological samples are stored, preserved, and cataloged for research purposes.

Pneumatic Tube System (PTS)

An automated transportation system that propels canisters through a network of tubes using compressed air or a vacuum to deliver specimens.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

A glycoprotein hormone produced by the placenta used as the primary analyte for pregnancy testing.

Polyuria

A condition characterized by a daily urine output of greater than $2.5\text{ L/day}$ in adults.

Clean-catch Midstream Urine

A collection method used for urine cultures to obtain a specimen free of genital secretions and bacteria.

Suprapubic Aspiration

The collection of urine by introducing a needle through the abdomen into the bladder to obtain a sample free of contamination.

Sputum

Mucus or phlegm collected from the trachea, bronchi, and lungs used to test for tuberculosis or pneumonia.

Morality

A system of beliefs about right and wrong that often relies on authority like a Divine Being or personal/political drivers.

Ethics

A system of moral principles based on values and reasoning that governs the rightness or wrongness of certain actions.

Tort

A wrongful act, other than breach of contract, committed against a person or property for which the individual is entitled to damages.

Respondeat superior

A Latin phrase meaning 'let the master respond,' indicating that an employer is legally responsible for the actions of an employee.

Negligence

A violation of the duty to exercise reasonable skill and care, resulting in injury or death.

Bacteremia

The presence of bacteria in the blood, which is often transient and asymptomatic.

Septicemia

Often called blood poisoning; a life-threatening condition involving microorganisms or toxins in the blood.

Trough Level

The lowest serum concentration of a drug, measured immediately prior to the administration of the next dose.

Basal State

The resting metabolic state of the body early in the morning after fasting for approximately $12$ hours.

Iatrogenic Anemia

A condition of blood loss brought on by the effects of treatment or repetitive medical blood draws, common in infants.

Vasovagal Syncope

Fainting caused by a nervous system reaction to pain, trauma, or stress.

Fomites

Inanimate objects, such as pens or doorknobs, that can become sources of infectious agents.