Chapter 17 Interpreting Clinical and Laboratory Data

These flashcards encapsulate the key clinical and laboratory terms and concepts for understanding and interpreting laboratory data relevant to medical practice.

Critical Value

A result significantly outside reference range that represents a pathophysiologic condition.

Leukocytosis

A condition defined by an elevated white blood cell count.

Leukopenia

A condition defined by a low white blood cell count.

Anemia

A reduction in the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Polycythemia

An abnormal increase in the red blood cell count.

Thrombocytopenia

A condition indicating a low platelet count.

Electrolyte Disturbances

Imbalances of essential ions that can affect respiratory function.

Cardiac Stress Tests

Clinical tests used to identify stress on the heart and myocardial infarction.

Coagulation Disorders

Conditions that affect the blood's ability to clot.

Sputum Gram Stain

A diagnostic test to identify bacterial infections in the lungs.

Acid-Fast Test

A laboratory test to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Xpert MTB/RIF

An advanced test for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Sweat Chloride Test

A test used to diagnose cystic fibrosis based on chloride concentrations.

Reference Range

Established boundaries for analytes expected in healthy individuals.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A test measuring different components of blood including white blood cells.

White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

A measure of the number of white blood cells in the blood.

Neutrophils

A type of white blood cell, usually the most abundant in the bloodstream.

Lymphocytes

A type of white blood cell important in immune response.

Eosinophils

A type of white blood cell involved in allergy and parasitic infections.

Basophils

A type of white blood cell involved in allergic reactions.

Monocytes

A type of white blood cell that engulfs foreign material.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport.

Hematocrit

The ratio of the volume of red blood cells to that of whole blood.

Electrolytes

Ions that influence enzyme function and various biochemical processes.

Hypernatremia

A condition characterized by elevated sodium levels in the blood.

Hyponatremia

A condition characterized by low sodium levels in the blood.

Hyperkalemia

A high potassium concentration in the blood, potentially life-threatening.

Hypokalemia

A low potassium concentration in the blood.

Hypercalcemia

Elevated calcium levels in the blood, often due to various medical conditions.

Hypocalcemia

Low calcium levels in the blood, which can affect multiple body systems.

Lactate

A product of anaerobic metabolism; high levels indicate tissue hypoxia.

Anion Gap

A calculated value used to assess metabolic acidosis.

D-Dimer

A test marker for thrombosis, indicating the dissolution of fibrin clots.

Procalcitonin (PCT)

A marker released in response to bacterial infections.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

A genetic disorder characterized by defective chloride channels.