chapter 9 vocab

Laboratory information system (LIS)

A computer system integrating every part of the laboratory testing process, from orders through analysis and reports

Asession number

A number printed on all specimen labels and documents associated with a particular requisition

Antecubital fossa

The area inside the elbow

Median cubital vein

A well-anchored vein in the middle of the antecubital fossa; first priority site for venipuncture

Cephalic vein

One of the veins present in the antecubital fossa; may be used for venipuncture

Basilic vein

One of the veins present in the antecubital area; may be used for venipuncture, but considered to be the vein of last resort due to its proximity to nerves and an artery

Median cephalic vein

One of the veins present in the antecubital area

Hematoma

Injury caused by leaked blood beneath the skin

Iatrogenic anemia

A type of anemia caused by excessive removal of a patient’s blood (e.g., by phlebotomy); especially common in infants and patients in intensive care wards

Phobia

A strong fear, usually inexplicable or illogical

Lymphedema

A condition caused by faulty lymphatic draining; a risk if phlebotomy is performed on an arm on the same side as a previous mastectomy

Arteriovenous (AV) fistula

A connection between a vein and an artery

Graft

A place where a person’s vein has been redirected to a surgically implanted vein

Phlebitis

Inflammation of superficial veins

Petechiae

A condition in which small, flat red or purple dots appear on the skin as a result of leaking capillaries

Integrity

Having high quality and reliability

Microclotting

Formation of small clots within a blood specimen

QNS

An abbreviation for quantity not sufficient; indicates a specimen that is too small to allow ordered tests to be performed

Aerobic bottle

In phlebotomy, a receptacle for the portion of a blood culture specimen to be tested for aerobic (oxygen-requiring) microorganism

Anaerobic bottle

In phlebotomy, a receptacle for the portion of a blood culture specimen to be tested for anaerobic (non-oxygen-requiring) microorganism

glucose challenge test

An initial form of glucose testing performed in pregnant women to screen for gestational diabetes; patients whose results are high take the full glucose tolerance test