Blood Collection Tubes and Laboratory Tests

A comprehensive vocabulary review of blood test abbreviations, panels, and diagnostic meanings categorized across various blood tube types.

Blood Culture

Detects bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream

Aerobic Blood Culture

Detects organisms that grow in the presence of oxygen

Anaerobic Blood Culture

Detects organisms that grow without oxygen

Fungal Blood Culture

Detects fungi or yeast in the bloodstream

PT/INR

Measures how long blood takes to clot; used for warfarin monitoring

aPTT/PTT

Measures how long blood takes to clot; commonly used for heparin monitoring

D-Dimer

Helps evaluate abnormal blood clot formation and breakdown

Fibrinogen

Measures a protein needed to form blood clots

Anti-Xa

Measures the effect of certain heparin therapies

Thrombin Time (TT)

Measures how long fibrinogen takes to form fibrin

Factor Assays

Measures individual clotting factors

Protein C

Measures a protein that helps prevent excessive clotting

Protein S

Measures a protein that helps prevent excessive clotting

Antithrombin

Measures a protein that helps control blood clotting

Lupus Anticoagulant

Looks for antibodies associated with abnormal clotting

CBC

Measures red cells, white cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets

CBC with Differential

CBC plus the different types of white blood cells

WBC

Measures white blood cells; helps evaluate infection and immune activity

RBC

Measures the number of red blood cells

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

Measures the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells

Hematocrit (Hct)

Measures the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells

Platelet Count

Measures platelets involved in blood clotting

HbA1c

Shows average blood sugar over about 2 to 3 months

Reticulocyte Count

Measures young red blood cells; evaluates RBC production

Peripheral Smear

Examines the appearance, size, and shape of blood cells

Sickle Cell Screen

Screens for sickling hemoglobin

BMP

Checks blood sugar, electrolytes, and kidney function

CMP

Checks blood sugar, electrolytes, kidney function, liver function, and proteins

Lipid Panel

Measures cholesterol and triglycerides

Hepatic Function Panel

Checks liver-related enzymes, proteins, and bilirubin

TSH

Checks thyroid regulation

T3

Measures thyroid hormone

T4

Measures thyroid hormone

hCG

Detects and monitors pregnancy hormone

Vitamin D

Measures vitamin D level

Vitamin B12

Measures vitamin B12 level

Folate

Measures folate level

Iron

Measures circulating iron

Ferritin

Measures stored iron

TIBC

Measures the blood’s ability to bind and carry iron

Cortisol

Measures an adrenal hormone involved in the stress response and metabolism

PSA

Measures a protein produced by the prostate

HIV Ag/Ab

Screens for HIV antigen and antibodies

Hepatitis Panel

Checks for markers of hepatitis infection or immunity

Syphilis Test

Screens for antibodies associated with syphilis

Troponin

Detects heart muscle injury

Electrolyte Panel

Measures sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate

Magnesium

Measures magnesium level

Phosphorus

Measures phosphorus level

Ammonia

Measures ammonia; often used when evaluating liver dysfunction

CK

Measures an enzyme released when muscle is damaged

CK-MB

Measures a form of CK associated with heart muscle injury

ABO/Rh

Determines blood type and Rh status

Type and Screen

Determines blood type and checks for unexpected RBC antibodies

Crossmatch

Checks whether donor blood is compatible with the patient

Antibody Screen

Looks for unexpected red blood cell antibodies

Antibody Identification

Identifies which specific red blood cell antibody is present

DAT (Direct Antiglobulin Test)

Detects antibodies or complement attached to red blood cells

Glucose

Measures blood sugar

Fasting Glucose

Measures blood sugar after fasting

GTT

Measures how the body processes a glucose load

Lactate

Measures lactic acid; helps evaluate increased anaerobic metabolism or poor tissue perfusion

Ethanol

Measures alcohol concentration in blood

ESR

Measures inflammation indirectly by how quickly red blood cells settle

Lead Level

Measures lead exposure in the blood

Zinc

Measures zinc level

Copper

Measures copper level

Selenium

Measures selenium level

Chromium

Measures chromium level

Mercury

Measures mercury exposure

Arsenic

Measures arsenic exposure

HLA Typing

Identifies immune-system markers used for transplant matching

DNA Testing

Analyzes genetic material

Paternity Testing

Compares DNA to determine biological relationship

HIV Viral Load

Measures the amount of HIV genetic material in blood

Hepatitis Viral Load

Measures the amount of hepatitis virus genetic material in blood

PCR Testing

Detects specific genetic material