ACT
activated clotting time
aerobic
with air
anaerobic
without air
ARD
antimicrobial removal device; blood culture bottle containing a resin that removes antimicrobials from blood specimen
autologous
donation; blood that is donated for one's own use
BAC
blood alcohol concentration; concentration of alcohol in a person' s blood used as measurement of intoxication for legal or medical purposes
bacteremia
bacteria in the blood
BNP
B-type natriuretic peptide; cardiac hormone produced by the heart in response to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload
BT
bleeding time test; test that measures the time required for blood to stop flowing from a standardized puncture on the inner surface of the forearm
chain of custody
special strict protocol for forensic specimens that require detailed documentation tracking the specimen from the time it is colleced until the results are reported
compatibility
ability to be mixed together with favorable results, as in blood transfusions
CRP
C-reactive protein; a b-globulin found in the blood that responds to inflammation and therefore can be used as a sensitive though nonspecific marker of systemic inflammation
EQC
electronic quality control; can detect problems with the specimen (clotting, short samples, air bubbles)and electronic internal checks that can determine if the instrument is functioning properly
ETOH
ethanol; blood alcohol,ethyl or grain alcohol
FAN
fastidious antimicrobial neutralization; blood culture that contains activated charcoal that neutralizes antibiotics in a blood specimen
FUO
fever of unknown origin
GTT
glucose tolerance test; used to diagnose carbohydrate metabolism problems
hCG
human chorionic gonadotropin; hormone that appears in both urine and serum beginning approximately 10 days after conception; substance detected in pregnancy test
hyper/hypoglycemia
condition in which level of sugar(glucose) in the blood is high; diabetes mellitus; condition in which level of sugar in the blood is low
lysis
rupturing, as in the bursting of RBC's
hyper/hypokalemia
high concentration of potassium in the blood; low concentration of potassium in the blood
hyper/hyponatremia
high level of sodium in the blood; low level of sodium in the blood
hypoxemia
low level of oxygen in the blood
iCa2+
ionized calcium; form of calcium used by the body for critical functions such as muscular contraction, cardiac function, transmission of nerves impulses and blood clotting
INR
international normalized ratio
K+
potassium; mineral that is essential for normal muscle activity and the conduction of nerve impulses
lactate
a form of lactic acid that is used as a marker of the severity of metabolic acidosis and a patient's stress response
lookback
program that requires all components of a unit of blood to be traceable back to the donor and that also requires notification to all blood recipients when a donor for a blood product they have received has turned positive for a transmissible disease
NIDA
National Institute on Drug Abuse
peak level
drug level collected when the highest serum concentration of the drug is anticipated
POCT
point-of-care testing; alternate site testing (AST) or ancillary, bedside, or near-patient testing, often performed using portable or handheld instruments
PP
postprandial;after a meal
septicemia
microorganisms or their toxins in the blood
TDM
therapeutic drug monitoring; testing of drug levels at specific intervals to help establish a drug dosage, maintain the dosage at a therapeutic beneficial level, and avoid drug toxicity
TGC
tight glycemic index; intensive insulin therapy that involves frequent monitoring of a patient's glucose level and administering insulin as required to keep glucose levels in a predetermined normal range and avoid hyperglycemia
TnI
troponin I; a protein specific to heart muscle used in diagnosing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attack
TnT
troponin T; a protein specific to heart muscle used in diagnosing and also to monitor the effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy
trough level
drug level collected when the lowest serum concentration of the drug is expected, usually immediately prior to administration of the next scheduled dose