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Questions and Answers
What is the preferred method for routine laboratory tests?
What is the preferred method for routine laboratory tests?
- Clotted sample
- Venous sample (correct)
- Capillary sample
- Arterial sample
Which type of blood sample is primarily used for arterial blood gases?
Which type of blood sample is primarily used for arterial blood gases?
- Venous sample
- Arterial sample (correct)
- Clotted sample
- Capillary sample
Which method is used to collect a capillary blood sample in adults?
Which method is used to collect a capillary blood sample in adults?
- Blood transfusion
- Dermal puncture of the fingertip (correct)
- Direct arterial puncture
- Puncture of a superficial vein
What is a significant issue with hemolysed samples?
What is a significant issue with hemolysed samples?
In infants, where might blood be taken if typical venous sites are not accessible?
In infants, where might blood be taken if typical venous sites are not accessible?
What must be performed after drawing blood for a plasma sample?
What must be performed after drawing blood for a plasma sample?
Which of the following is NOT a common use for capillary samples?
Which of the following is NOT a common use for capillary samples?
What is the major consequence of using clotted samples in hematological tests?
What is the major consequence of using clotted samples in hematological tests?
What is the primary function of albumin in blood?
What is the primary function of albumin in blood?
Which type of blood corpuscle increases in number during leucocytosis?
Which type of blood corpuscle increases in number during leucocytosis?
What is the concentration of fibrinogen in blood plasma?
What is the concentration of fibrinogen in blood plasma?
Which statement best describes the structure of arteries?
Which statement best describes the structure of arteries?
Which function is not typically associated with blood?
Which function is not typically associated with blood?
What is the typical range for the red blood cell count in a cubic mm of blood?
What is the typical range for the red blood cell count in a cubic mm of blood?
Which component of blood is primarily responsible for defensive function?
Which component of blood is primarily responsible for defensive function?
What is the condition characterized by a decrease in platelets called?
What is the condition characterized by a decrease in platelets called?
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Study Notes
Blood
- Vital fluid tissue that circulates inside blood vessels
- Represents 8% of body weight (5.6 L)
Functions
- Transport
- Defense
- Hemostasis (stopping bleeding)
- Homeostasis (balance)
Plasma Proteins
- Albumin: 4 gm/100 ml plasma
- High Concentration
- Osmotic pressure
- Transport of substances
- Made in the liver
- Globulin: 2.5 gm/100 ml plasma
- Defensive Functions (γ globulins)
- Transport of substances
- Made in reticuloendothelial system (RES) in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow
- Fibrinogen: 0.4 gm/100 ml plasma
- Blood clotting
- Blood viscosity
- Made in the liver
- Prothrombin: 10 mg/100 ml plasma
- Blood clotting
- Made in the liver
Blood Cells
- Red Blood Corpuscles (RBCs)
- 5 million per cubic mm
- Deficiency - anemia
- Excess - polycythemia
- White Blood Corpuscles (WBCs)
- 4000-11000 per cubic mm
- Deficiency - leukopenia
- Excess - leukocytosis
- Platelets
- 250,000 to 500,000 per cubic mm
- Deficiency - thrombocytopenia
- Excess - thrombocytosis
Blood Vessels
Arteries
- Carry blood away from the heart
- Usually positioned deeper within the body
- Thick walls & narrow lumen
- 8 times less distensible
Veins
- Carry blood towards the heart
- Usually closer or beneath the surface of the skin
- Thinner walls & wider lumen
- More distensible
- Can accommodate 0.5 to 1 liters of blood
Blood Sample Types
Venous Sample
- Preferred method for clinical tests
- Method of Collection: Direct puncture of a superficial vein using a needle (venipuncture)
- Common Use: Routine lab tests (hematological & biochemical investigations)
Arterial Sample
- Method of Collection: Direct puncture of an artery (radial or femoral) using a needle
- Common Use: Arterial blood gases & pH
Capillary Sample
- Method of Collection: Dermal puncture of fingertip or heel
- Common Use: Hemoglobin estimation, cell counts, bleeding/coagulation time, blood films, micro chemical tests
- Considerations: Values may be lower due to tissue fluid dilution
- Usages: Elderly patients with fragile veins, infants, young children, severely burned patients
- Risk: Greater risk of contamination
Unsuitable Blood Samples for Hematological Tests
- Clotted samples: Even small clots can negate results
- Hemolysed samples: Red cell damage/rupture during collection or handling releases hemoglobin, rendering the sample unusable.
Collecting Whole Blood or Plasma
- Draw blood from a vein
- Transfer blood to a container with an anticoagulant
- Mix well (without foaming)
- Centrifuge anti-coagulated blood for 20-30 minutes at 2500 rpm to separate plasma
- Collect supernatant plasma with a pipette and transfer to a new container
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