Term | Definition |
hematology | study of blood and tissues that produce it |
Role of the MA (4) | 1. Collect and process the specimen
2. Perform lab tests within scope of practice
3. Educate the patient
4. Know normal values and recognize critical situations |
OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
CLIA | Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments |
Functions of Blood (4) | 1.Blood takes oxygen and nutrients to body and removes CO2
2. It takes wastes to lungs, liver, kidneys, and skin for elimination
3. Blood carries WBCs to fight off infection and contains platelets to begin healing
4. Assists in regulating body temp. |
plasma | the liquid component of blood |
hematopoiesis | formation of blood cells |
erythrocytes | red blood cells |
leukocytes | white blood cells |
Types of White Blood Cells (5) | -neutrophil
-eosinophil
-basophil
-lymphocyte
-monocyte |
Blood tests | Can be ordered individually or in groups called panels, profiles, or counts. |
hemoglobin (Hgb) | vital protein molecule found in RBCs |
functions of Hemoglobin (2) | 1.Carries oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body-oxyhemoglobin
2. Carries CO2 from the body back to the lungs where it is expelled - carboxyhemoglobin |
RBC count values | male: 4.5-6 million / mm3
female: 4-5.5 million / mm3
pregnancy: decreased |
anemia | a condition where blood has a lower than normal level of hemoglobin within RBCs. |
Hemoglobin values | male: 14-18 g / dL
female: 12-16 g / dL |
hematocrit (hct) | % of packed RBCs in the total volume of blood |
hematocrit layers (3) | -plasma floats to the top
-Middle buffy layer contains WBCs and platelets
-RBCs sink to the bottom |
hematocrit values | male: 40-50%
female: 35-45% |
microhematocrit | "crit" performed on an extremely small sample of blood, usually in the office |
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) | -determines the rate at which RBCs settle at the bottom of a tube.
-It's related to the condition of the RBCs and the amount of fibrinogen in the plasma |
WBC count values | -adult: 4.5-11,000 / mm3
-low level indicates viral infection or autoimmune deficiency
-elevated indicates infection
-grossly elevated indicates leukemia |
WBC w diff | determines the % of leukocytes in a given sample |
basophils | produce heparin, a substance that prevents clotting |
platelets | -smallest cells found in the blood
-live for 10 days
-continually reproduce
-assist in clotting
-assist in healing |
Protime / PT / INR | -coagulation test that measures the amount of time it takes to form a clot
-used in anti-coagulation (heparin) therapy |
PTT | -test that determines the length of time it takes for a fibrin clot to form.
-It can also determine which specific clotting factors are affected |
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) | -used to measure amount of Nitrogen in blood
-indicates renal function |
Cholesterol (CH, Chol) | Total count: <200 mg / dL
LDL < 130 mg / dL
HDH > 35 mg / dL |
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) | Assessment of thyroid function |
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) | -determines how quickly the body filters glucose
-helps to diagnose diabetes
-used to determine pregnancy-related diabetes |
glycosylated hemoglobin (HbgA1C) | tests the long-term (usually 3 months) control of diabetes |
Phenylketonuria (PKU) | -congenital disease caused by defect in metabolism of amino acid phenylalanine
-tested for at birth |
Mononucleosis | -Epstein-Barr virus |