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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of anticoagulants?
What is the primary function of anticoagulants?
Which sample is obtained by centrifugation and contains clotting factors?
Which sample is obtained by centrifugation and contains clotting factors?
What distinguishes serum from plasma?
What distinguishes serum from plasma?
What type of test tube is designed to prevent blood clotting during collection?
What type of test tube is designed to prevent blood clotting during collection?
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For what purpose is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) primarily collected?
For what purpose is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) primarily collected?
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Which device is used to separate blood components based on weight?
Which device is used to separate blood components based on weight?
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Which sample requires collection over a 24-hour period for analysis?
Which sample requires collection over a 24-hour period for analysis?
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Which type of anticoagulant would be most suitable for speeding up a chemical reaction in a sample?
Which type of anticoagulant would be most suitable for speeding up a chemical reaction in a sample?
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What is the primary function of a spectrophotometer?
What is the primary function of a spectrophotometer?
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Which solution is typically used as a blank in spectrophotometry?
Which solution is typically used as a blank in spectrophotometry?
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What does the standard refer to in spectrophotometry?
What does the standard refer to in spectrophotometry?
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Which of the following best describes the sample or model in spectrophotometry?
Which of the following best describes the sample or model in spectrophotometry?
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Why is it important to use three basic samples (blank, model, standard) in spectrophotometry?
Why is it important to use three basic samples (blank, model, standard) in spectrophotometry?
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What is the primary function of plasma in the blood?
What is the primary function of plasma in the blood?
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Which blood component is primarily responsible for oxygen transport?
Which blood component is primarily responsible for oxygen transport?
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What percentage of blood is composed of Red Blood Cells?
What percentage of blood is composed of Red Blood Cells?
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What is the normal range for platelet count in microliters?
What is the normal range for platelet count in microliters?
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Which site is most commonly used for blood withdrawal?
Which site is most commonly used for blood withdrawal?
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Which of the following describes the blood withdrawal process?
Which of the following describes the blood withdrawal process?
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What is the purpose of the tourniquet during blood withdrawal?
What is the purpose of the tourniquet during blood withdrawal?
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Which component of blood is less than 1% and has a defensive function?
Which component of blood is less than 1% and has a defensive function?
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Study Notes
Clinical Biochemistry
- A specialized field of chemistry focusing on the human body's fluids
- Essential for diagnosing, detecting, and monitoring health conditions
- Also known as Clinical Chemistry, Medical Chemistry, Body Fluid Chemistry, and Blood Chemistry
Blood
- A viscous fluid produced in bone marrow, circulates through blood vessels
- Comprises 8% of total body mass
- Transports oxygen throughout the body
- Pumped by the heart muscle
Blood Components
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Plasma:
- The liquid portion of blood, composing 55%
- Plays a vital role in maintaining the body, providing nutrients, and transporting substances
-
White Blood Cells (WBC):
- Represent less than 1% of blood volume
- Function as the body's defense mechanism
-
Red Blood Cells (RBC):
- Concave shape allows for efficient movement and passage through blood vessels
- Percentage ranges from 40-45%
- Primary function is to carry oxygen using hemoglobin
-
Platelets:
- Cell fragments directly responsible for blood clotting
- Normal count ranges from 150,000 to 400,000 per microliter
Blood Withdrawal Process
- A procedure involving a needle or device to extract blood for analysis
- Common collection sites:
- Vein: Preferred due to ease and convenience
- Artery: Rarely used due to difficulty, but employed in specific tests like gas analysis or glucose levels in veins and arteries
- Finger puncture: Often used for rapid blood sugar testing
Blood Collection Duties
- Prepare a syringe, rubbing alcohol, and cotton
- Sterilize the injection site on the arm, finger, or other location
- Ensure an opening exists above the syringe's end
- Place a tourniquet above the injection site
- Insert the needle into the vein at a depth of 6-8 mm
- Release the tourniquet and apply pressure to the injection site with cotton
- Transfer whole blood into designated collection tubes for specific tests
Blood Collection Test Tubes
- Various tube types exist, each designed for specific materials and tests
- Color-coded tube caps aid in identification
Anticoagulants
- Chemical substances preventing or reducing blood coagulation
- Often referred to as blood thinners
- Different types work at various levels in the coagulation pathway
- Used in medical equipment
Samples Used in Chemical Tests
-
Blood:
- Whole blood obtained during withdrawal and stored in a tube containing anticoagulants or a capillary tube
-
Plasma:
- Separated from blood cells through centrifugation, commonly used in many tests
-
Serum:
- Acquired through centrifugation and devoid of clotting factors, rich in chemicals
- Key difference from plasma: serum lacks clotting factors while plasma contains them
-
Urine:
- 24-hour urine collection in a special container with preservatives is necessary
- Reflects metabolic processes occurring in the body
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Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF):
- Clear, plasma-like fluid found in the brain and spinal cord
- Used to diagnose meningitis
Devices and Technologies
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Centrifugation:
- Device utilizing high speed to separate blood components
- Heavier particles settle at the bottom
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Pipette:
- Instrument for withdrawing separated liquids
Water Bath
- Maintains the temperature of mixtures
- Enhances reaction speed
Spectrophotometer
- Measures light transmission/reflection at different wavelengths from samples
- Works by passing light through a sample and measuring light absorption, transmission, or reflection
Spectrophotometer Calculations
- Requires three samples for accurate results: blank, model (sample), and standard
-
Blank:
- Solution used to zero or subtract the absorbance of interfering materials
- Often distilled water or a solution from the test
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Sample or Model:
- Patient sample whose absorbance is measured
- Usually composed of two solutions (R1 and R2) with added serum or plasma
-
Standard:
- Substance of known value used to calibrate the sample's absorbance
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