Clinical Pathology Glossary PDF

## CLINICAL PATHOLOGY ### Glossary of some terms used in laboratory medicine * Antigen < Protein * Antibody - Protein only **Basophil** One of five kinds of white blood cells - it is a granulocyte **Haemoglobinopathies** A large group of inherited diseases caused by defect in haemoglobin struc...

## CLINICAL PATHOLOGY ### Glossary of some terms used in laboratory medicine * Antigen < Protein * Antibody - Protein only **Basophil** One of five kinds of white blood cells - it is a granulocyte **Haemoglobinopathies** A large group of inherited diseases caused by defect in haemoglobin structure, or synthesis **Haemolysis** Is rupture of red cell membrane, destruction of red cell. Can occur: in vivo haemolysis (is the cause of haemolytic anaemia). in vitro during blood collection rendering samples unsuitable for analysis **Haemolytic anaemia** See Haemolysis **Haemophilia** A group of inherited disorders that result in increased bleeding due to a clotting factor deficiency **Haemopoiesis** Process of blood formation in bone marrow **Hepatitis** Inflammation of the liver **Hypercalcaemia** Raised plasma calcium concentration **Hypercapnia** Increased amount of carbon dioxide in blood - raised PCO2 **Hyperglycaemia** Raised blood glucose concentration **Hyperkalaemia** Raised plasma potassium concentration **Hyperlipidaemia** Raised blood lipid (cholesterol and/or triglycerides) concentration **Hypernatraemia** Raised plasma sodium concentration **Hyperthyroidism** Increased activity of thyroid gland **Hypocalcaemia** Reduce plasma calcium concentration **Hypocapnia** Reduced amount of carbon dioxide in blood - reduced PCO2 **Hypoglycaemia** Reduced blood glucose concentration **Hypokalaemia** Reduced plasma potassium concentration **Acidaemia** Abnormal increase in acidity of blood - reduced blood pH **Acidosis** Abnormal increase in the acidity of body fluids associated with reduced blood pH **Acetaminophen** Alternative name for the drug paracetamol **Aetiology** The cause(s) of a disorder/disease **Agranulocytosis** Complete or near absence of granulocytes in blood **Alkalaemia** Abnormal increase in alkalinity of blood - increased blood pH **Alkalosis** Abnormal increase in the alkalinity of body fluids associated with increased blood pH **Anaemia** The condition of reduced oxygen delivery to tissues that results from reduced haemoglobin concentration - many possible causes **Anisocytosis** Red cells vary in size **Antibody** A protein (immunoglobulin) that circulates in blood plasma. Binds specifically to the antigen that provoked its production **Antigen** A substance (protein or carbohydrate) present on the surface of cells that provokes specific antibody production **Anuria** Failure to produce urine **Atheroma** Disease of artery walls that leads to atherosclerosis **Atherosclerosis** Thickening and hardening of arterial walls reducing blood flow, a common chronic condition that is the cause of coronary strokes and peripheral artery disease **B-Cells** One kind of lymphocyte. Matures to antibody producing plasma cell. One of many blood cells involved in the immune process **Bacteraemia** Presence of bacteria in blood **Bacteriuria** Presence of bacteria in urine **Hyponatraemia** Reduced plasma sodium concentration **Hypothyroidism** Reduced activity of thyroid gland **Hypoxaemia** Reduced amount of oxygen in blood - reduced PO2 **Hypoxia** Reduced amount of oxygen in tissues **Infarction** Necrosis of tissue due to ischaemia **Ischaemia** Reduced blood flow to tissues usually the result of vessel blocked by thrombus and/or atherosclerotic plaque **Jaundice** Yellow discoloration of skin and sclerae due to abnormal accumulation of the pigment bilirubin **Kernicterus** Accumulation of bilirubin (unconjugated) in the brain which can cause permanent brain damage **Ketoacidosis** An abnormal metabolic state due to accumulation of ketoacids (ketones) in blood **Ketones** The collective name for three chemicals which accumulate in blood during increased fat metabolism **Ketonuria** The abnormal presence of ketones in urine **Lactic acidosis** An abnormal metabolic state that results from accumulation of lactic acid in blood **Leucopaenia** Reduction in white blood cell numbers **Leucocytosis** Increase in white cell numbers **Leucocytes** Alternative name for white blood cells **Lymphocyte** One of five main types of white blood cells. Two main kinds (B and T-lymphocytes; both required for acquired immunity) they are cells of the immune system **Macrophage** A phagocytic cell present in tissues that is derived from a monocyte **Malignant tumour** A solid tumour that can spread (metastasise) to distant sites and grow **Megaloblastic anaemia** Anaemia caused by deficiency of B12 or folate **Metabolic acidosis** Acidosis caused by the accumulation of metabolic acids (e.g. lactic acid) in blood **Microcytosis** Red cells, on average, smaller than normal - reduced MCV **Microcytic anaemia** All those anaemias associated with reduced MCV **Monocyte** One of five types of white blood cell, matures to tissue macrophage **Necrosis** Death of cells or tissue due to disease or injury **Neuroglycopaenia** Reduced glucose in cells of the central nervous system (including the brain) **Neutrophil** The most abundant of five types of white blood cell. It is a phagocytic cell and a granulocyte **Neutropaenia** Reduced number of neutrophils in blood **Neutrophilia** Increased number of neutrophils in blood **Nocturia** The need to urinate during the night **Nosocomial infection** Hospital acquired infection **Oedema** Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space of any tissue **Pathogen** A microbial species (bacteria, virus or fungi) that causes disease **Platelets** Formed particles present in blood - required for blood clotting **Pleural fluid** The fluid present in the pleural cavity that surrounds the lungs **Pleural effusion** Abnormal accumulation of pleural fluid **Poikilocytosis** Red cells vary in shape **Polyuria** Increased urine production **Polydipsia** Increased thirst **Proteinuria** The abnormal presence of protein in urine **Sepsis** Systemic inflammatory response to infection **Respiratory acidosis** Acidosis caused by failure to eliminate carbon dioxide from blood **Thrombocyte** Alternative name for platelets **Thrombocytopaenia** Reduction in platelet number **Thrombocytosis** Increase in the number of platelets **Thrombus** Blood clot formed inappropriately within blood vessels **Thromboembolus** A thrombus that moves through the blood stream eventually causing blockage of small vessels ### Abbreviations | Term | Definition | |---|---| | AAFB | Acid-alcohol fast bacilli | | ACD | Anaemia of chronic disease | | ACE | Angiotensin converting enzyme | | ACS | Acute coronary syndrome | | AIDS | Acquired immune deficiency syndrome | | AKI | Acute kidney injury | | ALL | Acute lymphatic leukaemia | | ALT | Alanine aminotransferase | | AML | Acute myeloid leukaemia | | ANF | Anti-nuclear factor | | AP | Alkaline phosphatase | | APPT | Activated partial thromboplastin time | | AST | Aspartate aminotransferase | | ATP | Adenosine tri-phosphate | | CBC | Complete blood count | | CHD | Coronary heart disease | | CIN | Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia | | CKD | Chronic kidney disease | | CLL | Chronic lymphatic leukaemia | | CML | Chronic myeloid leukaemia | | CRP | C-reactive protein | | CSF | Cerebrospinal fluid | | CSU | Catheter specimen of urine | | DIC | Disseminated intravascular coagulation | | DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid | | DVT | Deep vein thrombosis | | ECF | Extracellular fluid | | ESR | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate | | FBC | Full blood count | | FT4 | Free thyroxine (T4) | | FT3 | Free triiodothyronine (T3) | | GFR | Glomerular filtration rate | | GGT | Gamma glutamyl transferase | | GH | Growth hormone | | HAV | Hepatitis A virus | | Hb | Haemoglobin | | HBV | Hepatitis B virus | | HCV | Hepatitis C virus | | HIV | Human immunodeficiency virus | | HPV | Human papilloma virus | | ICF | Intracellular fluid | | IDA | Iron deficiency anaemia | | IF | Intrinsic factor | | INR | International normalised ratio | | IPT | Immunological pregnancy test | | ITP | Immune thrombocytopaenic purpura | | LFT | Liver function tests | | MCHC | Mean (red) cell haemoglobin concentration | | MC&S | Microscopy, culture and sensitivity | | MCV | Mean (red) cell volume | | MI | Myocardial infarction | | MRSA | Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus | | MSU | Midstream urine | | NSTEMI | Non ST segment elevation myocardial infarction | | PA | Pernicious anaemia | | PCV | Packed cell volume | | PT | Prothrombin time | | PTH | Parathyroid hormone | | RDW | Red cell distribution width | | RNA | Ribonucleic acid | | SLE | Systemic lupus erythematosus | | STEMI | ST segment elevation myocardial infarction | | TATT | Tired all the time | | TB | Tuberculosis | | TFT | Thyroid function tests | | TIBC | Total iron binding capacity | | TSH | Thyroid stimulating hormone | | TT | Thrombin time | | UA | Uric acid | | U&E | Urea and electrolytes | | UTI | Urinary tract infection | | VRSA | Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus | | VTE | Venous thromboembolism | | WBC | White blood count | ### Clinical Hematology **Hematology** Is the study of blood components either the cellular components: erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets or fluid part (plasma) and study the disorders affecting this composition from infancy until adulthood. **Blood Composition** The average person circulates about 5 L of blood of which 3 L is plasma and 2 L is cells. **Blood (5L)**