Lab tests

Question 1

Importance of vitamin B12 and folate in red blood cells.

Answer 1

Vit. B12 and folate cause maturation of RBC nucleus, a lack of these may affect size of red cells.

Question 2

Define MCV.

Answer 2

Mean cellular volume, describes the size of RBCs.

Question 3

What does a low Hb suugest?

Answer 3

Anaemia

Question 4

Define microcytic anaemia.

Answer 4

Iron deficiency.

Question 5

Define macrocytic anaemia.

Answer 5

Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. May be due to alcohol excess, liver disease, hypothyroidism.

Question 6

Normocytic anaemia.

Answer 6

Acute blood loss or anaemia of chronic disease (e.g. inflammation, infection).

Question 7

What may a high haemoglobin suggest?

Answer 7

Dehydration, hypoxia, bone marrow disorder.

Question 8

Give examples of leukocytes.

Answer 8

Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils.

Question 9

What might an increase in neutrophils suggest?

Answer 9

Stress, infection, trauma, infarction, inflammation, steroid use.

Question 10

What might increase in eosinophils suggest?

Answer 10

Parasitic infection or allergic/hypersensitivity reaction.

Question 11

What might an increase in basophils suggest?

Answer 11

Hypersensitivity reaction.

Question 12

What might an increase in monocytes suggest?

Answer 12

Chronic infection, malignancy, autoimmune disorders.

Question 13

What might an increase in lymphocytes suggest?

Answer 13

Viral infection.

Question 14

Define haemostasis.

Answer 14

Haemostasis is the arrest of bleeding and the maintenance of vascular patency.

Question 15

What does prothrombin time measure?

Answer 15

Factors II, V, VII and X.

Question 16

What does activated partial thromboplastin time, aPTT measure?

Answer 16

Factors II, V, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII.

Question 17

List the components of blood.

Answer 17

RBC, WBC, Platelets, granulocytes and agranulocytes. Plasma: 90% water, proteins (albumin, Ig, clotting factors and nutrients/salts.

Question 18

Define acidosis

Answer 18

Increased conc. of H+ or a process tending to cause increased conc. of H+.

Question 19

Define alkalosis.

Answer 19

Alkalosis is decreased conc. of H+, or a process tending to cause decreased H+ conc.

Question 20

What is the molecular respiratory component?

Answer 20

pCO2

Question 21

What is the molecular metabolic component?

Answer 21

HCO3-

Question 22

How do respiratory and metabolic acid-base balance differ?

Answer 22

If its a respiratory issue, the primary change is in pCO2.

If its a metabolic issue, the primary change is in HCO3.

Question 23

Describe respiratory acidosis.

Answer 23

Increased H+ conc. due to increased pCO2.

Question 24

Describe respiratory alkalosis.

Answer 24

Decreased H+ conc. due to decreased pCO2.

Question 25

Describe metabolic acidosis.

Answer 25

Increased H+ conc. due to decreased HCO3-.

Question 26

Describe metabolic alkalosis.

Answer 26

Decreased H+ conc. due to increased HCO3-.

Question 27

What are the arterial blood gases?

Answer 27

H+, pCO2, HCO3-, PO2.