Alanine transferase
(ALT) (SGPT)
Liver disease or failure
Albumin
A major protein, nutritional status, kidney disease
Alcohol (Ethanol)
(ETOH)
Intoxication
Alkaline Phosphatase
(ALP)
Bone or liver function
Amikacin
Antibiotic level (pre/post)
Ammonia
Liver disease
Amylase
Pancreatic cancer or disorder
ANA
(Antinuclear Antibody)
Auto-immune disease (systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis
Arterial Blood Gases
(ABG's)
For respiratory or metabolic disorders; measures pH, oxygen (pO2), carbon dioxide (pCO2)
Aspartate Aminotransferase
(AST) (SGOT)
Liver or heart disease
Basic Metabolic Panel
(BMP)
Includes sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide (CO2), glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), & creatinine
Bilirubin
Liver disease, increased red cell destruction, neonatal jaundice
Bleeding Time
Bleeding disorder, platelet disorder, pre-surgical screen
Blood Culture
Blood infection, aerobic & anaerobic cultures to detect bacteria in blood
Blood group & Rh type
Detection of ABO & Rh antigens on the red blood cells
Blood Urea Nitrogen
(BUN)
Kidney/renal disease or failure
C-Reactive Protein
(CRP)
Acute infection or inflammation
Calcium (Ca++)
Bone disease
CA125
(Carcinogenic Antigen 125)
Tumor marker for ovarian cancer
CA153
(Carcinogenic Antigen 15-3)
Tumor marker for recurrence of breast cancer
CEA
(Carcinoembryonic Antigen)
Tumor marker
Cholesterol
Lipids......Risk of heart disease, metabolic disorder
Cold Agglutinins
Infection.....Mycoplasma pneumonia, viral infections, autoimmune disease
Complete Blood Count
(CBC)
Excellent screening test for infection, anemia, leukemia
Includes:
WBC(white blood cell count)
RBC(red blood cell count)
HgB(hemoglobin)
Hct(hematocrit)
MCV(mean corpuscular volume)
MCH(mean corpuscular hemoglobin)
MCHC(mean corpuscular hemoglobin concent
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Screening test includes:
Sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, glucose, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine, calcium, albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate, aminotransferase(AST), total bilirubin
Cortisol, timed
Hormone, abnormal in Addison's disease, or Cushing's syndrome
Creatine Kinase
(CK)
Muscle disorders, muscular dystrophy, r/o myocardial infraction (heart attack)
Creatinine
Kidney function/disease
Cross Match
Determines compatibility between donor unit and recipient for transfusions
CSF analysis
(cerebral spinal fluid)
Rule out meningitis, infection of the
Culture and Sensitivity
(C&S)
Infection, organisms are grown in culture, then tested for susceptibility to antibiotics
Cyclosporin
Anti rejection drug for transplant patients
Cytomegalovirus
(CMV)
Serious infection for immuno-suppressed patients
Differential WBC
Infection, leukemia, a count of what types of white cells are present
Digoxin
Cardiac Drug
Dilantin
(Phenytoin)
Drug for epilepsy
Electrolytes
(Lytes)
Includes: sodium(Na), potassium(K), chloride(Cl), & dissolved carbon dioxide(CO2)......Relationship among these electrolytes is maintained in careful balance by the function of kidney, lungs, & endocrine glands
Epstein-Barr Virus
(EBV)
Mononucleosis
Fasting Blood Sugar
(FBS)
Blood glucose, diabetes
Ferritin
Storage from iron; to check for anemia, hemochromatosis
Fibrinogen
Coagulation protein, to investigate suspected bleeding disorders
Flourescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption
(FTA-ABS)
Confirmation test for syphilis
Folate
(Folic Acid)
Vitamin deficiency, check for anemia
Gentamicin
Antibiotic level, drawn as pre or post dose
Glucose
Diabetes, hypoglycemia
Glycosylated hemoglobin
(Hgb Alc)
Monitoring diabetes, average glucose level over last 3-4 months
Gram Stain
Infection, specimen is placed on a slide & stained, bacteria can then be identified under a microscope
HDL Cholesterol
(High Density Lipoprotein)
Cardiac disease risk, coronary artery disease
Hematocrit
(Hct)
Anemia
Hemoglobin
(Hgb)
Anemia
Hepatic Function Panel
"Livers
Liver disease;
Includes: albumin, total & direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, AST/SGOT, and ALT/SGPT
Hepatitis A Virus
(HAV)
Checks for hepatitis A Infection
Hepatits B Surface Antibody
(HBsAB)
Determination of previous infection & immunity by hepatitis B
Hepatits B Surface Antigen
(HBsAG)
Diagnosis of acute or chronic current infection of hepatitis B
Hepatitis C Antibody
(HCV)
Current or past hepatitis C infection
HIV Viral Load
Measures the amount of HIV-1 present, to monitor progress of the disease
Homocysteine
(Hcy)
Indicates increased risk of heart disease
Human immunodeficiency virus antigen
(HIV-1)
Screen for donated blood; as an aid in the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection
Human chorionicgonadotropin
(HCG)
Pregnancy test, tumor marker
Iron & total iron binding capacity
(Fe & TIBC)
Diagnosis of type of anemia
KOH Prep
Fungal or yeast infections of sputum, skin, nail, hair
Lactate dehydrogenase
(LD)
Liver disease or myocardial infarction (heart attack)
Lead
Measurement of lead exposure
Lipase
Pancreatic disease
Lipid Profile Lipoprotiens
(HDL & LDL)
Evaluates lipid disorders & risk of coronary artery disease
Lithium
(Li)
Drug for the treatment of psychosis
Magnesium
(Mg)
Metabolic disorders, renal disease
Mono Screen
Mono Spot
Screen for infectious mononucleosis
Myoglobin
Muscle damage, myocardial infarction
Newborn Screen
Required by state, tests for metabolic disorders
Occult Blood
Blood in stool specimen, checks for ulcers, colorectal cancer
Ova & Parasites
(O &P)
Stool specimen for intestinal parasites
Partial thromboplastin time
(PTT or APTT)
Clotting factor deficiency, also monitors heparin therapy
Phenobarbital
Anticonvulsant drug for epilepsy
Phosphorous
Phos, (PO4)
Parathyroid disorder
Pinworm Exam Scotch Tape Prep
Pinworm infection, scotch tape pressed to perianal area, read under microscope
Potassium
(K+)
Renal failure, cardiac arrythemias
Progesterone
Hormone to assess infertility & placental function
Prostate-Specific Antigen
(PSA)
Tumor marker for prostate cancer
Protein Electrophoresis
Identifies abnormal proteins in blood, urine, or spinal fluid
Prothrombin Time
(PT)
Clotting factor deficiency, also monitors coumadin therapy
Reticulocyte Count
Anemia, evaluates RBC production
Rheumatoid Factor
(RA) (RF)
Arthritic conditions
Rhogam
Given to Rh negative women after devilering an Rh positive infant, or after a miscarriage or abortion
Rapid Plasma Reagin
(RPR)
Screening test for syphilis
Rubella Screen
Screening test for pregnant women to check for antibody to rubella virus and immunity to German measles
Sedimentation Rate
(ESR)
Checks rate at which RBC's settle out of blood, useful in detecting inflammatory process
Sickle Cell Screen
Screening test to detect presence of hemoglobin S
Streptococcus Screen
(Strep Screen)
Latex agglutination test for the detection of group A Strep directly from throat swabs
T3
(Triiodothyroxine)
Hyper-or hypothyroid conditions
T4
(Thyroxine)
Hyper-or hypothyroid conditions
Theophyllin
Aminophyllin
Asthma medication
TSH
(Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
Hyper-or hypothyroid conditions
Tobramycin
Antibiotic level, drawn as pre or post dose
Trichomonas Prep
Wet Mount
Examine vaginal or urethral discharge for Trichomonas vaginalis infection
Triglyceride
Risk of heart disease
Troponin
Rule out myocardial infarction (heart attack)
Uric Acid
Gout, renal disease
Urinalysis (Routine)
Sreening test, notes color & clarity of the specimen & the following chemical tests: Specific gravity-indicator of the concentrating ability of the kidney, pH-acid/base balance, Protein-indicator of kidney function, Glucose-indicator of carb metabolism, K
Urinalysis & microscopic exam
Involves identifying the different types of cells, microorganisms, and other structures in the urine sediment
Vancomycin
Antibiotic level, drawn as pre or post dose
Pre
A blood sample collected 5-15 minutes before the next dose of antibiotic is called a "pre" level
Post
A blood sample collected 15, 30, ,or 60 minutes after an antibiotic is given is called a "post" level