DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

ROUTINE
LABORATORY
EXAMS
 DEFINITION
• LABORATORY STUDIES ARE AN EXTENSION OF PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION IN WHICH TISSUE, BLOOD, URINE OR
OTHER SPECIMENS ARE OBTAINED FROM PATIENTS AND
SUBJECTED TO MICROSCOPIC, BIOCHEMICAL,
MICROBIOLOGICAL OR IMMUNOLOGICAL EXAMINATION.
• INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THESE INVESTIGATIONS
HELP US IN IDENTIFYING THE NATURE OF THE DISEASE
• LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS SUPPLEMENT RATHER
THAN REPLACE OTHER METHODS FOR GATHERING
INFORMATION
 LABORATORY TEST RESULTS (PURPOSES)
• CONFIRMING OR REJECTING CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
• PROVIDING SUITABLE GUIDELINES IN PATIENT
MANAGEMENT
• PROVIDING PROGNOSTIC INFORMATION OF THE
DISEASES UNDER CONSIDERATION
• DETECTING DISEASES THROUGH CASE-FINDING
SCREENING METHODS
• ESTABLISHING NORMAL BASELINE VALUES BEFORE
TREATMENT
• PROVIDING INFORMATION FOR MEDICO-LEGAL;
CONSULTATIONS
CHARACTERISTICS OF A LABORATORY
TEST
• ACCURACY-CLOSENESS OF A MEASURED VALUE TO A STANDARD OR
KNOWN VALUE

• COST
• INTERFERENCE-THE EFFECT OF A SUBSTANCE PRESENT IN THE
SAMPLE THAT ALTERS THE CORRECT VALUE OF THE RESULT

• PRECISION-RELIABILITY OF THE TEST METHOD

• REFERENCE RANGE
• SENSITIVITY – THE PROBABILITY THAT A PATIENT WITH DISEASE HAS
POSITIVE TEST

• SPECIFICITY – THE PROBABILITY THAT A HEALTHY PATIENT HAS A

NEGATIVE TEST

• SPECIMEN COLLECTION
CLASSIFICATION
(BASED ON
SPECIFICITY/SENSITIVITY)

1.SCREENING TEST
2.DIAGNOSTIC TEST
CLASSIFICATION
(BASED ON
SPECIFICITY/SENSITIVITY)
1. SCREENING TEST
CLASSIFICATION
(BASED ON
SPECIFICITY/SENSITIVITY)
2. DIAGNOSTIC TEST
CLASSIFICATION
(BASED ON
SPECIFICITY/SENSITIVITY)
SCREENING TEST DIAGNOSTIC TEST
EXAMPLES EXAMPLES

HIV screening test Western blot

FBS/RBS HbA1c test

Pap smear Cone Biopsy/LEEP

Hepatitis B surface Specific antibody

antigen (HBsAg) neutralization assays
CLASSIFICATION
(BASED ON LABORATORY HOSPITAL
SERVICES)
1. HEMATOLOGY
2. MICROBIOLOGY
3. BIOCHEMISTRY
4. IMMUNOLOGY
5. HISTOPATHOLOGY
6. CYTOPATHOLOGY
 CLASSIFICATION
(BASED ON LABORATORY HOSPITAL
SERVICES)
1. HEMATOLOGY
WORKS WITH WHOLE BLOOD TO DO FULL BLOOD COUNTS, AND BLOOD FILMS AS
WELL AS MANY OTHER SPECIALIZED TESTS

2. MICROBIOLOGY
WORKS WITH ALL CLINICAL SPECIMEN, INCLUDING BLOOD, URINE, FECES,
SWABS, SPUTUM, CEREBROSPINAL FLUID, SYNOVIAL FLUID, AS WELL AS
POSSIBLE INFECTED TISSUE. THE WORK HERE IS MAINLY CONCERNED WITH
CULTURES, TO LOOK FOR SUSPECTED PATHOGENS WHICH, IF FOUND, ARE
FURTHER IDENTIFIED BASED ON BIOCHEMICAL TESTS
 CLASSIFICATION
(BASED ON LABORATORY HOSPITAL
SERVICES)
3. BIOCHEMISTRY
USUALLY RECEIVES SERUM OR PLASMA TO MEASURE BASE COMPOUNDS IN
THE BODY. WE TEST THE SERUM FOR CHEMICALS PRESENT IN BLOOD.
THESE INCLUDE A WIDE ARRAY OF SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS ELECTROLYTES,
LIPIDS, BLOOD SUGAR, ENZYMES, AND HORMONES

4. IMMUNOLOGY
USES THE CONCEPT OF ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY INTERACTION TO INDICATE THE
PRESENCE OR LEVEL OF A PROTEIN.
 CLASSIFICATION
(BASED ON LABORATORY HOSPITAL
SERVICES)
5. HISTOPATHOLOGY
PROCESSES SOLID TISSUE REMOVED FROM THE BODY (BIOPSIES) FOR
EVALUATION AT THE MICROSCOPIC LEVEL

6. CYTOPATHOLOGY
EXAMINES SMEARS OF CELLS FROM ALL OVER THE BODY FOR EVIDENCE
OF INFLAMMATION, CANCER, AND OTHER CONDITIONS
CREATING YOUR HEMATOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY LAB TEST INDEX CARDS
THIS ASSIGNMENT REQUIRES YOU TO CREATE INDEX CARDS FOR COMMON HEMATOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
TESTS. EACH CARD SHOULD INCLUDE THE TEST NAME, NORMAL VALUES, ABNORMAL VALUES (HIGH AND LOW), AND
NURSING INTERVENTIONS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE TEST IS PERFORMED AND RESULTS ARE INTERPRETED.
I. CARD FORMAT:
EACH INDEX CARD SHOULD BE ORGANIZED AS FOLLOWS:
- TOP OF CARD: TEST NAME (E.G., COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC))
- SECTION 1: NORMAL VALUES: LIST THE NORMAL RANGES FOR EACH COMPONENT OF THE TEST (E.G., FOR CBC: WBC,
RBC, HEMOGLOBIN, HEMATOCRIT, PLATELETS – INCLUDE UNITS!).
- SECTION 2: ABNORMAL VALUES:
- HIGH VALUES: DESCRIBE POTENTIAL CAUSES AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF HIGH VALUES FOR EACH
COMPONENT.
- LOW VALUES: DESCRIBE POTENTIAL CAUSES AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF LOW VALUES FOR EACH COMPONENT.
- SECTION 3: PRE-TEST NURSING INTERVENTIONS: DETAIL ANY
NECESSARY NURSING ACTIONS BEFORE THE TEST IS
PERFORMED (E.G., PATIENT EDUCATION, FASTING
REQUIREMENTS, CONSENT).

- SECTION 4: POST-TEST NURSING INTERVENTIONS: DETAIL

ANY NECESSARY NURSING ACTIONS AFTER THE TEST IS
PERFORMED AND RESULTS ARE INTERPRETED (E.G.,
MONITORING FOR ADVERSE EFFECTS, PATIENT EDUCATION
REGARDING RESULTS, FOLLOW-UP CARE).
 ROUTINE
LABORATORY
EXAMS
1. COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT
2. URINALYSIS
3. FECAL/STOOL ANALYSIS
4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES
5.KIDNEY FUNCTION TEST
6. LIVER FUNCTION TEST
 1. COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT IS ONE OF THE MOST BASIC LABORATORY
EXAMINATIONS TO ASSESS THE OVERALL HEALTH STATUS OF A PATIENT. IT CAN
HELP DIAGNOSE INFECTIONS, AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS, ANEMIA, AND OTHER
BLOOD DISEASES
 COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
A. RED BLOOD CELL (RBC)
THE RED BLOOD CELLS’ PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO CARRY OXYGEN FROM THE LUNGS
TOWARDS YOUR BODY TISSUES AND CARRY CARBON DIOXIDE AWAY FROM THOSE BODY
TISSUES TO THE LUNGS.
• NORMAL RANGE:
• MALE: 4.5–5.5 X 1012/L
• FEMALE: 4.0–5.0 X 1012/L
HIGH LEVEL: DEHYDRATION, CIGARETTE SMOKING, CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE,
PULMONARY FIBROSIS, RENAL CELL CARCINOMA, POLYCYTHEMIA VERA
LOW LEVEL: BLEEDING, ANEMIA, MALNUTRITION, OVERHYDRATION, HEMOLYSIS,
ERYTHROPOIETIN DEFICIENCY, LEUKEMIA, MULTIPLE MYELOMA, PORPHYRIA,
THALASSEMIA, SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
 COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
B. HEMOGLOBIN (HGB)
HEMOGLOBIN IS THE PROTEIN COMPONENT OF RED BLOOD CELLS. IT MAKES THE BLOOD
LOOK BRIGHT RED AS IT IS MADE WITH IRON.
NORMAL RANGE:
• MALE: 13.5—16.5 G/DL
• FEMALE: 12.0—15.0 G/DL
HIGH LEVEL: DEHYDRATION, CIGARETTE SMOKING, POLYCYTHEMIA VERA, TUMORS,
ERYTHROPOIETIN ABUSE, LUNG DISEASES, BLOOD DOPING.
LOW LEVEL: NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES, BLOOD LOSS, RENAL PROBLEMS, SICKLE CELL
ANEMIA, BONE MARROW SUPPRESSION, LEUKEMIA, LEAD POISONING, HODGKIN’S
LYMPHOMA.
 COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
C. HEMATOCRIT (HCT)
ALSO KNOWN AS PACKED CELL VOLUME OR PCV. IT REFLECTS THE VOLUME PERCENTAGE OF
RED BLOOD CELLS IN THE WHOLE BLOOD. THE RESULT IS DEPENDENT ON THE SIZE,
STRUCTURE, AND TOTAL NUMBER OF RED BLOOD CELLS.
NORMAL RANGE:
• MALE: 41% – 50%
• FEMALE: 36% – 44%
HIGH LEVEL: DEHYDRATION, HYPOXIA, CIGARETTE SMOKING, POLYCYTHEMIA VERA, TUMORS,
ERYTHROPOIETIN ABUSE, LUNG DISEASES, BLOOD DOPING, ERYTHROCYTOSIS, COR PULMONALE
LOW LEVEL: OVERHYDRATION, NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES, BLOOD LOSS, BONE MARROW
SUPPRESSION, LEUKEMIA, LEAD POISONING, HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA, CHEMOTHERAPY
TREATMENT
 COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
D. PLATELET COUNT
ALSO KNOWN AS THROMBOCYTES. THEY CIRCULATE IN THE BLOODSTREAM AND BIND
TOGETHER TO FORM A CLOT OVER ANY DAMAGED BLOOD VESSEL. DETERMINING PLATELET
COUNT IS VITAL IN ASSESSING PATIENTS FOR TENDENCIES OF BLEEDING AND THROMBOSIS.
NORMAL RANGE:
150,000 TO 400,000 PER MICROLITER
HIGH LEVEL: CANCER, ALLERGIC REACTIONS, POLYCYTHEMIA VERA, RECENT SPLEEN
REMOVAL, CHRONIC MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA, INFLAMMATION, SECONDARY
THOMBOCYTOSIS
LOW LEVEL: VIRAL INFECTION, APLASTIC ANEMIA, LEUKEMIA, ALCOHOLISM, VITAMIN B12
AND FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCY, SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, HEMOLYTIC UREMIC
CONDITION, HELLP SYNDROME, DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULOPATHY,
VASCULITIS, SEPSIS, SPLENIC SEQUESTRATION, CIRRHOSIS
 COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
E. WHITE BLOOD CELL
ALSO KNOWN AS LEUKOCYTES, DEFEND THE BODY AGAINST INFECTIONS AND OTHER
FOREIGN BODIES. IN GENERAL, THERE ARE FIVE TYPES OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS–
NEUTROPHILS, LYMPHOCYTES, MONOCYTES, EOSINOPHILS, AND BASOPHILS.
NORMAL RANGE:
5,000 – 10,000 PER MICROLITER (SOME TEXTBOOKS SAY 4,500 – 10,000)
HIGH LEVEL: INFECTIONS, CIGARETTE SMOKING, LEUKEMIA, INFLAMMATORY
DISEASES, TISSUE DAMAGE, SEVERE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL STRESS
LOW LEVEL: AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS, BONE MARROW DEFICIENCIES, VIRAL
DISEASES, LIVER PROBLEMS, SPLEEN PROBLEMS, SEVERE BACTERIAL INFECTIONS,
RADIATION THERAPY
 COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)
• WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING A COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)?

-YOU DON’T NEED TO DO ANYTHING TO PREPARE FOR A CBC. YOUR PROVIDER CLEANS YOUR
ARM AND INSERTS A NEEDLE. THE NEEDLE MAY STING OR PINCH A LITTLE, BUT IT SHOULDN’T
HURT. IN INFANTS, PROVIDERS USUALLY INSERT THE NEEDLE INTO THE BABY’S HEEL.
-THROUGH THE NEEDLE, YOUR PROVIDER REMOVES A SAMPLE OF YOUR BLOOD AND COLLECTS
IT IN A TUBE. SOMETIMES, YOUR PROVIDER TAKES MORE THAN ONE TUBE OF BLOOD.
-AFTER DRAWING BLOOD, YOUR PROVIDER REMOVES THE NEEDLE AND PLACES A BANDAGE ON
YOUR ARM. YOUR PROVIDER SENDS THE BLOOD TO A LAB. YOUR BODY QUICKLY REBUILDS ITS
BLOOD SUPPLY.
• WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AFTER THE TEST?

-YOU’LL HAVE SOME GAUZE AND A BANDAGE ON YOUR ARM, SECURED WITH TAPE. YOUR ARM
MAY BE A LITTLE SORE FOR A FEW HOURS. YOU MAY DEVELOP A SMALL BRUISE WHERE YOUR
PROVIDER INSERTED THE NEEDLE.
 2. URINALYSIS (UA)

URINALYSIS IS USUALLY DONE AS PART OF ROUTINE DIAGNOSTIC

EXAMINATIONS. IT’S A SUPPORTIVE TOOL FOR DIAGNOSING ILLNESSES. A
STANDARD URINALYSIS INVOLVES THREE STAGES– VISUAL EXAM, DIPSTICK
TEST AND MICROSCOPIC EXAM.
 2. URINALYSIS (UA)
A. VISUAL EXAMINATION
-A URINE SAMPLE IS INSPECTED FOR COLOR, CLOUDINESS, AND ODOR. IT’S SUPPOSED TO
BE CLEAR BUT CERTAIN MEDICATIONS AND FOOD CAN AFFECT ITS COLOR. THE PRESENCE
OF BACTERIA CAN ALSO AFFECT ITS APPEARANCE:
• HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:
 CLEAR TO DARK YELLOW – NORMAL
 AMBER TO HONEY YELLOW – DEHYDRATION
 ORANGE – DEHYDRATION, INTAKE OF RIFAMPICIN, CONSUMPTION OF ORANGE FOOD DYE
 BROWN ALE – SEVERE DEHYDRATION, LIVER DISEASE
 PINK TO REDDISH – CONSUMPTION OF BEETS, RHUBARB OR BLUEBERRIES, MERCURY
POISONING, TUMORS, KIDNEY DISEASES, PROSTATE PROBLEMS, UTI
 BLUE OR GREEN – CONSUMPTION OF ASPARAGUS, GENETIC DISORDERS, EXCESS
CALCIUM, HEARTBURN MEDICATIONS, MULTIVITAMINS
 DEEP PURPLE – PORPHYRIA
 2. URINALYSIS (UA)

B. DIPSTICK URINE TEST

-THE DIPSTICK URINE TEST IS DONE BY DIPPING A PLASTIC STRIP INTO THE
URINE SAMPLE. THIS STRIP HAS PARTITIONS IMPREGNATED BY DIFFERENT
CHEMICALS THAT CORRESPOND TO CERTAIN SUBSTANCES PRESENT IN THE
URINE, SO ABNORMALITIES WILL BE DETECTED.
 2. URINALYSIS (UA)
C. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
IN MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION, THE URINE SAMPLE IS CENTRIFUGED SO
SEDIMENTS WILL SETTLE AT THE BOTTOM AND THE CLEAR PART CAN BE
DISCARDED. FEW DROPS OF THIS CENTRIFUGED URINE WILL BE EXAMINED
UNDER A MICROSCOPE.
• RED BLOOD CELLS (RBCS)
• WHITE BLOOD CELLS (WBCS)
• EPITHELIAL CELLS
• MICROORGANISMS
• CASTS
• CRYSTALS
 2. URINALYSIS (UA)
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A URINALYSIS?
-BEFORE YOUR URINALYSIS TEST, YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU’VE DRUNK ENOUGH
LIQUIDS, SUCH AS WATER, TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM AND PRODUCE A
URINE SAMPLE.
-DEPENDING ON THE REASON FOR THE URINALYSIS, YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER MAY
WANT THE URINE SAMPLE TO BE THE FIRST TIME YOU PEE IN THE MORNING (FIRST
MORNING VOID). YOUR PROVIDER WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THIS IS THE CASE.
-CERTAIN MEDICATIONS CAN CHANGE THE COLOR OF YOUR URINE. YOUR HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER MAY TELL YOU TO STOP TAKING CERTAIN MEDICATIONS THAT CAN AFFECT
URINALYSIS TEST RESULTS. ONLY STOP TAKING MEDICATIONS IF YOUR PROVIDER TELLS
YOU TO DO SO.
-IF YOU’RE MENSTRUATING (ON YOUR PERIOD), IT’S IMPORTANT TO LET YOUR PROVIDER
KNOW BEFORE COLLECTING YOUR URINE SAMPLE. MENSTRUAL BLOOD, AS WELL AS
VAGINAL DISCHARGE, CAN INTERFERE WITH CERTAIN URINALYSIS TEST RESULTS.
 2. URINALYSIS (UA)

HOW DO I DO A MIDSTREAM SPECIMEN OF URINE?

PASS SOME URINE INTO THE TOILET. THEN, WITHOUT STOPPING THE FLOW OF
URINE, CATCH SOME URINE IN A CLEAN (STERILE) BOTTLE. (THE BOTTLE IS
USUALLY PROVIDED BY A DOCTOR OR NURSE.) ONCE YOU HAVE ENOUGH
URINE IN THE BOTTLE, FINISH OFF PASSING THE REST OF YOUR URINE INTO
THE TOILET.
 3. FECALYSIS (FA)

• A NONINVASIVE LABORATORY TEST USEFUL IN IDENTIFYING DISORDERS OF

THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. THESE DISORDERS MAY INCLUDE MALABSORPTION,
INFLAMMATION, INFECTION (BACTERIA, VIRUSES, OR FUNGI), OR CANCER.
 3. FECALYSIS (FA)
- A NONINVASIVE LABORATORY TEST USEFUL IN IDENTIFYING DISORDERS OF
THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. THESE DISORDERS MAY INCLUDE MALABSORPTION,
INFLAMMATION, INFECTION (BACTERIA, VIRUSES, OR FUNGI), OR CANCER.
- IT IS PERFORMED IN COMBINATION WITH BLOOD WORK, PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION, X-RAY IMAGING, AND ENDOSCOPY IN ORDER TO CONFIRM
THESE CONDITIONS. THE MOST COMMON TEST DONE ON A STOOL IS
CALLED FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TEST (FOBT) WHEREIN IT CAN DETECT
TRACES OF BLOOD IN THE FECES.
 3. FECALYSIS (FA)

WHAT TO DO IN FECAL/STOOL ANALYSIS?

-WEAR CLEAN GLOVES AND COLLECT A STOOL SPECIMEN AND PUT IT DIRECTLY
IN A LEAK-PROOF CONTAINER WITH A TIGHT-FITTING LID. IF THE PATIENT IS
BEDRIDDEN, COLLECT THE SPECIMEN IN A CLEAN, DRY BEDPAN, AND THEN,
USING A TONGUE BLADE, TRANSFER INTO A PROPERLY LABELED CONTAINER.
-ENCOURAGE THE PATIENT TO URINATE. ALLOW THE PATIENT TO URINATE
BEFORE COLLECTING TO AVOID CONTAMINATING THE STOOL WITH URINE.
-SEND THE SPECIMEN TO THE LABORATORY IMMEDIATELY (WITHIN 30 MINUTES)
FOR PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS
 4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES

A BLOOD TEST THAT MEASURES LEVELS OF THE BODY'S

MAIN ELECTROLYTES
 4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES

A. POTASSIUM
-POTASSIUM IS CRITICAL IN NERVE AND MUSCLE FUNCTION BECAUSE IT
COMMUNICATES IMPULSES. THE MOVEMENT OF NUTRIENTS INTO THE CELL
AND THE TRANSPORT OF WASTE PRODUCTS OUT OF THE CELL ARE ALSO
MEDIATED BY POTASSIUM.
-WHENEVER POTASSIUM LEVELS ARE INCREASED OR DECREASED, THE HEART
RHYTHMS ARE AFFECTED AS SIGNIFIED BY EKG CHANGES.
NORMAL RANGE:
• 3.5 – 5.5 MILLIEQUIVALENTS PER LITER (MEQ/L)
 4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES

B. SODIUM
-SODIUM REFLECTS A PART OF RENAL FUNCTION AS KIDNEYS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ELIMINATING IT FROM THE BODY. IT ALSO PLAYS A PART IN
MOTOR AND NERVE FUNCTION.
-PATIENTS ARE TESTED FOR SERUM SODIUM LEVELS IN CASES OF
DEHYDRATION, EDEMA, ABNORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS, AND CHANGES
IN MOTOR FUNCTIONS.
NORMAL RANGE:
• 135 TO 145 MILLIEQUIVALENTS PER LITER (MEQ/L)
 4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES

C. CHLORIDE
-TOGETHER WITH SODIUM, POTASSIUM AND CARBON DIOXIDE, CHLORIDE
MAINTAINS THE NORMAL ACID-BASE BALANCE OF THE BODY THROUGH
BALANCING BODY FLUIDS. ABNORMAL CHANGES IN SERUM CHLORIDE LEVELS
IS USUALLY AN INDICATOR OF METABOLIC CHANGES IN THE BODY.
NORMAL RANGE:
• 95 – 105 MILLIEQUIVALENTS PER LITER (MEQ/L)
 4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES
D. CALCIUM
-CALCIUM IS USUALLY BINDED WITH PROTEIN IN THE BLOOD. FOR THIS
REASON, A STANDARD CALCIUM TEST CAN BE MISLEADING AND
DETERMINATION OF IONIZED CALCIUM IS RECOMMENDED. THE IONIZED
CALCIUM TEST MEASURES THE CALCIUM THAT IS NOT ATTACHED TO PROTEINS.
-DETERMINING SERUM CALCIUM LEVELS IS IMPORTANT IF THE PATIENT IS
SUFFERING FROM EXISTING NERVE AND MOTOR DYSFUNCTIONS.
NORMAL RANGE:
• 8.5 TO 10.9 MEQ/L
 4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES

E. MAGNESIUM
-MAGNESIUM IS IMPORTANT IN MUSCLE AND NERVE FUNCTIONS, BLOOD
PRESSURE REGULATION, AND IMMUNE SYSTEM. IT ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN
BLOOD SUGAR REGULATION.
NORMAL RANGE:
• 1.5 TO 2.5 MEQ/L
 4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES

F. PHOSPHORUS
-PHOSPHORUS IS INVOLVED IN THE INTRACELLULAR METABOLISM OF
PROTEINS, FATS, AND CARBOHYDRATES.
NORMAL RANGE:
• 2.5 TO 4.5 MEQ/L
 4. SERUM ELECTROLYTES

• WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ELECTROLYTE PANEL?

A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WILL TAKE A BLOOD SAMPLE FROM
A VEIN IN YOUR ARM, USING A SMALL NEEDLE. AFTER THE NEEDLE
IS INSERTED, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLOOD WILL BE COLLECTED
INTO A TEST TUBE OR VIAL. YOU MAY FEEL A LITTLE STING WHEN
THE NEEDLE GOES IN OR OUT. THIS USUALLY TAKES LESS THAN
FIVE MINUTES.
• WILL I NEED TO DO ANYTHING TO PREPARE FOR THE TEST?
YOU DON'T ANY SPECIAL PREPARATIONS FOR AN ELECTROLYTE
PANEL.
 5. KIDNEY/RENAL FUNCTION TEST

• TESTS USED TO EVALUATE HOW WELL THE KIDNEYS

ARE WORKING
 5. KIDNEY/RENAL FUNCTION TEST
A. BLOOD UREA NITROGEN (BUN)
BUN IS A BY-PRODUCT OF PROTEIN METABOLISM. THIS TEST IS USED TO
DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF RENAL FUNCTION BUT IT MAY ALSO PRODUCE
A FALSE-POSITIVE RESULT AS IT IS DEPENDENT ON RENAL BLOOD FLOW,
PROTEIN METABOLISM, CATABOLISM, DRUGS, AND DIET.
BUN CAN ALSO REFLECT PROTEIN TOLERANCE, HYDRATION STATUS, DEGREE
OF CATABOLISM, AND RISK OF UREMIC SYNDROME.
NORMAL RANGE:
• 7—18 MG/DL
 5. KIDNEY/RENAL FUNCTION TEST
B. CREATININE
-IS THE PRODUCT OF MUSCLE METABOLISM. WHENEVER THERE IS AN
ELEVATION IN SERUM CREATININE LEVELS, RENAL DYSFUNCTION IS USUALLY
SUSPECTED SINCE THE KIDNEYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXCRETION OF
CREATININE IN THE BODY.
-IN GENERAL, CREATININE LEVELS VARY DEPENDING ON A PERSON’S BODY
SIZE AND MUSCLE MASS.
NORMAL RANGE:
• MEN: 85—132 ML/MIN
• WOMEN: 90—138 ML/MIN
 5. KIDNEY/RENAL FUNCTION TEST
B. CREATININE
-IS THE PRODUCT OF MUSCLE METABOLISM. WHENEVER THERE IS AN
ELEVATION IN SERUM CREATININE LEVELS, RENAL DYSFUNCTION IS USUALLY
SUSPECTED SINCE THE KIDNEYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXCRETION OF
CREATININE IN THE BODY.
-IN GENERAL, CREATININE LEVELS VARY DEPENDING ON A PERSON’S BODY
SIZE AND MUSCLE MASS.
NORMAL RANGE:
• MEN: 85—132 ML/MIN
• WOMEN: 90—138 ML/MIN
 6. LIVER FUNCTION TEST
-LIVER FUNCTION TESTS (ALSO CALLED A LIVER PANEL) USE A
SAMPLE OF YOUR BLOOD TO MEASURE SEVERAL SUBSTANCES MADE
BY YOUR LIVER.
-SOME OF THESE TESTS CAN SHOW HOW WELL YOUR LIVER IS
WORKING AND OTHERS CAN SHOW WHETHER YOUR LIVER MAY BE
DAMAGED BY LIVER DISEASE OR INJURY. BUT LIVER FUNCTION TESTS
ALONE USUALLY CAN'T DIAGNOSE SPECIFIC DISEASES. SO, IF YOUR
RESULTS ARE ABNORMAL, YOU'LL USUALLY NEED OTHER TESTS TO
FIND THE EXACT CAUSE.
 6. LIVER FUNCTION TEST
THE MOST COMMON LIVER FUNCTION TESTS MEASURE:
• ALBUMIN, A PROTEIN MADE IN THE LIVER.
• TOTAL PROTEIN. THIS TEST MEASURES THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PROTEIN IN YOUR BLOOD, WHICH
INCLUDES ALBUMIN AND GLOBULINS. THESE PROTEINS ARE MAINLY MADE IN YOUR LIVER.
• ALP (ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE), ALT (ALANINE TRANSAMINASE), AST (ASPARTATE
AMINOTRANSFERASE), AND GGT (GAMMA-GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE). THESE ARE ENZYMES THAT
ARE MAINLY MADE IN YOUR LIVER. ENZYMES ARE PROTEINS THAT SPEED UP CERTAIN CHEMICAL
REACTIONS IN YOUR BODY.
• BILIRUBIN, A WASTE PRODUCT YOUR BODY MAKES WHEN IT BREAKS DOWN OLD RED BLOOD
CELLS. YOUR LIVER REMOVES MOST OF THE BILIRUBIN FROM YOUR BODY.
• LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE (LDH), AN ENZYME FOUND IN MOST OF THE TISSUES IN YOUR
BODY, BUT SOME OF THE LARGEST AMOUNTS ARE FOUND IN YOUR LIVER.
• PROTHROMBIN TIME (PT), HOW LONG IT TAKES YOUR BLOOD TO CLOT. PROTHROMBIN IS A
PROTEIN INVOLVED IN BLOOD CLOTTING. IT'S MADE IN YOUR LIVER.
 6. LIVER FUNCTION TEST

• WHAT HAPPENS DURING A LIVER FUNCTION TEST?

A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WILL TAKE A BLOOD SAMPLE FROM A VEIN IN YOUR ARM,
USING A SMALL NEEDLE. AFTER THE NEEDLE IS INSERTED, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLOOD
WILL BE COLLECTED INTO A TEST TUBE OR VIAL. YOU MAY FEEL A LITTLE STING WHEN
THE NEEDLE GOES IN OR OUT. THIS USUALLY TAKES LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES.
• WILL I NEED TO DO ANYTHING TO PREPARE FOR THE TEST?
YOUR PROVIDER WILL TELL YOU HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR TEST. YOU WILL PROBABLY
NEED TO FAST (NOT EAT OR DRINK) FOR 10-12 HOURS BEFORE THE TEST. CERTAIN
MEDICINES CAN AFFECT YOUR TEST RESULTS, SO BE SURE TO TELL YOUR PROVIDER
ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU TAKE. BUT DON'T STOP TAKING ANY MEDICINES UNLESS YOUR
PROVIDER TELLS YOU TO.
THANK YOU!