Term | Definition |
analyte | a substance that is being identified or measured in a laboratory test |
calibration | a mechanism to check the precision and accuracy of a test system, such as an automated analyzer, to determine if the system is providing accurate results. |
clinical diagnosis | a tentative diagnosis of a patient's condition obtained through evaluation of the health history and the physical examination, without the benefit of laboratory or diagnostic tests. |
control | a solution that is used to monitor a test system to ensure the reliability and accuracy of test results. |
fasting | abstaining from food or fluids (expect water) for a specified amount of time before the collection of a specimen. |
homeostasis | the state in which body systems are functioning normally, and the internal environment of the body is in equilibrium; the body is in a healthy state. |
In vivo | occuring in the living body or organsim |
laboratory test | the clinical analysis and study of materials, fluids, or tissues obtained from patients to assist in diagnosis and treatment of disease. |
nonaived test | a complex laboratory test that does not meet the CLIA criteria for wavier and is subject to the CLIA regulations. |
plasma | the liquid part of the blood, consisting of a clear, yellowish fluid that comprises approximately 55% of the total blood volume. |
product insert | a printed document supplied by the manufacturer with a laboratory test product that contains information on the proper storage and use of the product. |
quality control | the application of methods to ensure that test results are reliable and valid and that errors are detected and eliminated. |
quantitative test | a test that indicates the exact amount of a chemical substance that is present in the body, with the results being reported in measurable units. |
reagent | a substance that produces a reaction with a patient specimen that allows detection or measurement of the substance by the test system. |
reference range | a certain established and acceptable parameter or reference reange within which the laboratory test results of a healthy individual are expected to fall. |
rountine test | a laboratory test performed routinely on apparently healthy patients to assist in the ealry detection of disease. |
serum | the clear; straw-colored part of the blood (plasma) that remains after the soild elements and the clotting factor fibrinogen have been separated out of it. |
specimen | a small sample of something taken to sho the nature of the whole. |
test system | a setup that includes all of the test components required to preform a laboratory test such as testing devices, controls, and testing reagents. |
waived test | a laboratory test that meets the CLIA criteria for being a simple procedure that is easy to preform and has a low risk of erroneous test results. Wavied tests include tetss that have been FDA-approved for use by patients at home. |
profile | an array of laboratory tests for indentifying a disease state or evaluating a particular organ or organ system |
qualitative ttest | a test that indicates whether or not a substance is present int he specimen being tested and aslo provides an approximate indication of the amount of the substance present. |