Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary role of the liver in relation to ammonia?
What is the primary role of the liver in relation to ammonia?
Which of the following factors can interfere with blood ammonia testing?
Which of the following factors can interfere with blood ammonia testing?
In which condition would you most likely expect higher ammonia levels in the blood?
In which condition would you most likely expect higher ammonia levels in the blood?
Which drug is known to increase blood ammonia levels?
Which drug is known to increase blood ammonia levels?
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What is the significance of measuring blood ammonia levels?
What is the significance of measuring blood ammonia levels?
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What is the primary purpose of the albumin test?
What is the primary purpose of the albumin test?
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Which of the following is NOT an interfering factor for the albumin test?
Which of the following is NOT an interfering factor for the albumin test?
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Which lab test is used to assess liver diseases by measuring ammonia levels in the blood?
Which lab test is used to assess liver diseases by measuring ammonia levels in the blood?
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What does a high level of albumin typically indicate?
What does a high level of albumin typically indicate?
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Which of the following tests requires a 24-hour urine collection?
Which of the following tests requires a 24-hour urine collection?
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What is an expected finding if the albumin level is lower than the normal range?
What is an expected finding if the albumin level is lower than the normal range?
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Coagulation studies include which of the following tests?
Coagulation studies include which of the following tests?
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Which of the following chemical components is specifically measured in a diabetes test?
Which of the following chemical components is specifically measured in a diabetes test?
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What is the normal range for albumin levels in g/L?
What is the normal range for albumin levels in g/L?
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Which lab test is indicated for diagnosing severe liver diseases?
Which lab test is indicated for diagnosing severe liver diseases?
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What is the purpose of measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels?
What is the purpose of measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels?
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What type of specimen is most commonly used for chemistry tests?
What type of specimen is most commonly used for chemistry tests?
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Which organ is primarily responsible for converting ammonia into urea?
Which organ is primarily responsible for converting ammonia into urea?
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An elevated albumin level may indicate which of the following?
An elevated albumin level may indicate which of the following?
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What can happen if a patient engages in strenuous exercise before a blood ammonia test?
What can happen if a patient engages in strenuous exercise before a blood ammonia test?
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What does a low albumin level suggest about a patient?
What does a low albumin level suggest about a patient?
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What is one of the purposes of checking ammonia levels in the blood?
What is one of the purposes of checking ammonia levels in the blood?
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Which of the following tests is typically part of coagulation studies?
Which of the following tests is typically part of coagulation studies?
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Which test involves a 24-hour urine collection?
Which test involves a 24-hour urine collection?
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Which of the following drugs is known to decrease blood ammonia levels?
Which of the following drugs is known to decrease blood ammonia levels?
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Elevated ammonia levels in the blood can indicate which of the following conditions?
Elevated ammonia levels in the blood can indicate which of the following conditions?
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Which of the following factors can lower albumin levels?
Which of the following factors can lower albumin levels?
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What is measured in a urinalysis (UA)?
What is measured in a urinalysis (UA)?
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Which dietary habit can influence blood ammonia levels prior to testing?
Which dietary habit can influence blood ammonia levels prior to testing?
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Severe bleeding from the stomach or intestines can lead to which change in blood ammonia levels?
Severe bleeding from the stomach or intestines can lead to which change in blood ammonia levels?
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In the context of liver disease, a higher ammonia level is often associated with which condition?
In the context of liver disease, a higher ammonia level is often associated with which condition?
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What is a potential consequence of using drugs that can increase blood ammonia levels?
What is a potential consequence of using drugs that can increase blood ammonia levels?
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Receiving total parenteral nutrition might require monitoring of which substance in the blood?
Receiving total parenteral nutrition might require monitoring of which substance in the blood?
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Study Notes
Chemistry Tests
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Albumin (AL)
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Normal Range: 35–50 g/L
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Used to diagnose and monitor liver diseases, impaired nutrition, chronic edema, and cancer
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Component of total serum protein
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Made in the liver
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Maintains colloidal osmotic pressure
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Blood Tube: Red
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Urine: 24-hour urine collection
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Purpose: Used to check liver and kidney function, check if diet contains enough protein, and help determine the cause of edema
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Interfering Factors: Drugs that interrupt normal serum electrophoretic patterns (e.g., Aspirin, bicarbonates, corticosteroids, salicylates)
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Results and Significance:
- Lower: Indicative of malnutrition, liver disease, ascites, inflammatory disease, autoimmune disorder, GI malabsorption syndromes, and pregnancy
- Higher: Severe dehydration
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Ammonia (AMM, NH3)
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Normal Range: 6–47 mcmol/L
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Used to diagnose severe liver diseases
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Measures the amount of ammonia in the blood.
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Ammonia is created by the breakdown of protein in the body.
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The liver converts it to urea, which is excreted as urine by the kidneys.
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Blood Tube: Green
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Purpose: Check liver function, check the success of treatment for severe liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis), and check levels in a person receiving total parenteral nutrition
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Interfering Factors: Smoking, eating a high-protein or low-protein diet, drugs that increase blood ammonia (e.g., Loop diuretics, narcotics, thiazides, alcohol), drugs that decrease blood ammonia (e.g., broad spectrum antibiotics, levodopa, potassium salts), and strenuous exercise before the test.
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Results and Significance:
- Lower: Essential or malignant hypertension
- Higher: Liver disease (cirrhosis or hepatitis), Reye syndrome, heart failure, kidney failure, severe bleeding from the stomach or intestines
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Amylase (AMY)
- Normal Range: Serum Amylase
Chemistry Tests
- Chemistry tests measure chemical components in body fluids and tissues to detect abnormalities.
- Blood and urine are the most common specimens used.
- Albumin (AL) is a protein made by the liver that maintains colloidal osmotic pressure.
- Normal Range: 35–50 g/L
- Used to diagnose and monitor liver disease, malnutrition, chronic edema and cancer.
- Lower levels may indicate malnutrition, liver disease, ascites, inflammatory disease, autoimmune disorders, GI malabsorption syndromes, and pregnancy.
- Higher levels may indicate severe dehydration.
- Ammonia (AMM, NH3) is created by the breakdown of protein and converted by the liver into urea.
- Normal Range: 6–47 mcmol/L
- Measures the amount of ammonia in the blood.
- Used to diagnose severe liver diseases.
- Lower levels may indicate essential or malignant hypertension.
- Higher levels may indicate liver disease, Reye syndrome, heart failure, kidney failure, or severe bleeding from the stomach and intestines.
- Amylase (AMY) is an enzyme that breaks down starches.
- Normal Range: 25-129 IU/L
- Used to diagnose and monitor pancreatitis, salivary gland disorders, and other diseases.
- Lower levels may indicate chronic pancreatitis or other inflammatory conditions.
- Higher levels may indicate acute pancreatitis, salivary gland disorders, or macroamylasemia.
- Aspartate transaminase (AST) is an enzyme found in the liver, heart, and skeletal muscles.
- Normal Range: 8-48 IU/L
- Used to diagnose and monitor liver disease, heart attack, and muscle damage.
- Lower levels are not typically a concern.
- Higher levels may indicate liver damage, heart attack, muscle injury, or certain types of cancer.
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a product of protein breakdown.
- Normal Range: 6-20 mg/dL
- Used to diagnose and monitor kidney function, dehydration, and other diseases.
- Lower levels are not typically a concern.
- Higher levels may indicate kidney problems, dehydration, high-protein diet, or heart failure.
- Chloride (Cl) is an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance.
- Normal Range: 98-107 mmol/L
- Used to diagnose and monitor electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and other diseases.
- Lower levels may indicate dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, or low levels of sodium.
- Higher levels may indicate dehydration or kidney problems.
- Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme found in the heart, skeletal muscles, and brain.
- Normal Range: 25-200 IU/L
- Used to diagnose and monitor muscle damage, heart attack, and other diseases.
- Lower levels are not typically a concern.
- Higher levels may indicate muscle injury, heart attack, or certain types of muscular dystrophy.
- Creatinine (Cr) is a waste product produced by muscle breakdown.
- Normal Range: 0.7-1.3 mg/dL
- Used to diagnose and monitor kidney function.
- Lower levels may indicate malnutrition or muscle wasting.
- Higher levels may indicate kidney problems, muscle injury, or dehydration.
- D-dimer (DDIMER) is a protein fragment that is produced when a blood clot breaks down.
- Normal Range: Less than 0.5 mcg/mL
- Used to diagnose and monitor deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and other blood clots.
- Lower levels are not typically a concern.
- Higher levels may indicate a blood clot.
- Glucose (GLU) is a sugar that is the body's primary source of energy.
- Normal Range: 70-100 mg/dL (fasting)
- Used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and other diseases.
- Lower levels may indicate hypoglycemia.
- Higher levels may indicate diabetes, prediabetes, or other conditions.
- Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a protein that is altered by low oxygen levels.
- Normal Range: Less than 1.0
- Used to diagnose and monitor heart tissue damage and other conditions.
- Lower levels are not typically a concern.
- Higher levels may indicate heart damage, heart failure, or stroke.
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in many tissues, including the heart, liver, blood, skeletal muscle, and kidneys.
- Normal Range: 120-240 IU/L
- Used to diagnose and monitor heart attack, liver damage, anemia, and other diseases.
- Lower levels are not typically a concern.
- Higher levels may indicate tissue damage or disease.
- Potassium (K) is an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and nerve function.
- Normal Range: 3.5-5.0 mmol/L
- Used to diagnose and monitor electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and other diseases.
- Lower levels may indicate dehydration or a lack of potassium in the diet.
- Higher levels may indicate kidney disease, heart problems, or medications.
- Sodium (Na) is an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and blood pressure.
- Normal Range: 135-145 mmol/L
- Used to diagnose and monitor electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and other diseases.
- Lower levels may indicate dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, or low sodium intake.
- Higher levels may indicate dehydration, kidney disease, or heart problems.
- Troponins (cTnT & cTnI) are proteins found in the heart that are released into the blood when the heart muscle is damaged.
- Normal Range: Less than 0.1 ng/mL
- Used to diagnose and monitor heart attack.
- Lower levels are not typically a concern.
- Higher levels may indicate a heart attack.
Hematology Tests
- Hematology tests measure the components of the blood, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin.
- Complete blood count and differential:
- CBC, Hgb, PCV, Mb, BNP, thrombocytes, WBC, WBC differential
- Used to diagnose and monitor anemia, infection, bleeding disorders, and other blood-related diseases.
- Coagulation studies:
- Prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), international normalized ratio (INR)
- Used to diagnose and monitor bleeding disorders and the effectiveness of anticoagulant therapy.
- Diabetes testing:
- Fasting blood sugar (FBS), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1c
- Used to diagnose and monitor diabetes.
Urine Tests
- Urine tests examine the components of urine to detect abnormalities.
- Urinalysis (UA)
- Used to diagnose and monitor urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and other diseases.
- Urinalysis (UA)
- Culture and sensitivity:
- Used to identify the type of bacteria causing a urinary tract infection and the best antibiotic to treat it.
- Urine toxicology:
- Used to detect the presence of drugs in the urine.
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Description
This quiz focuses on the chemistry tests for Albumin and Ammonia, discussing their normal ranges, significance, and the factors that may interfere with results. It's essential for understanding liver and kidney functions as well as nutritional status. Test your knowledge on these vital components in clinical chemistry.
