EXAMPLES OF TESTS AND PROCEDURES IN CLINICAL ANALYSIS AREAS

• Hematology


  The study of formed (cellular) elements of the blood
• Hematologists


  Professionals involved in the field of hematology
• Tests performed in the hematology section

  • Complete blood count (CBC)
• Parameters tested in complete blood count (CBC)


  • Red blood cell parameters
  • White blood cell parameters
  • Platelet parameters
• Red blood cell (RBC) count


  Determines the number of red blood cells in circulating blood
• Hemoglobin (Hgb) count


  Indicates the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, and thus, how well the red blood cells are able to carry oxygen to the rest of the body
• Hematocrit (Hct)


  Determines the volume of red blood cells packed by centrifugation (expressed as a percent)
• Red blood cell (RBC) indices

  • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
  • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
  • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)


  Determines the average size of a red blood cell
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)


  Determines the weight of the hemoglobin on the red blood cell
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)


  Determines the concentration of hemoglobin per unit volume of RBCs
• Red cell distribution width (RDW)


  Machine calculated average that determines the size differences of the red blood cells (expressed as percent)
• White Blood Cell (WBC) count


  Determines the number of white blood cells circulating blood
• Differential Count


  Determines the percentage of the different types of white blood cells
• Platelet count


  Determines the numbers of in circulating blood
• Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)

  A machine-calculated measurement of the average size of platelets
• Miscellaneous hematological tests


  • Body fluid analysis
  • Bone marrow aspirate examination
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
  • Reticulocyte (Retics) count
  • Special stains
• Coagulation section


  Evaluates the overall process of hemostasis, including platelets, blood vessels, coagulation factors, fibrinolysis, inhibitors, and anticoagulant therapy (Heparin and Coumadin)
• Tests performed in the coagulation section

  • Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT [PTT])
  • Protein C and S
  • Bleeding time (BT)
  • D-dimer
  • Factor assays
  • Fibrinogen
  • Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized radio (INR)
  • Thrombin time (TT)
• Clinical chemistry


  The chemistry section of the laboratory involves laboratory analysis that can evaluate the general condition of an organ of the body
• Tests performed in the chemistry section

  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
  • Albumin
  • Alcohol
  • Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
  • Ammonia
  • Amylase
  • Arterial blood gases (ABGs)
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
  • Bilirubin
  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
  • Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
  • Calcium (Ca)
  • Cholesterol
  • Creatinine kinase (CK)
  • Creatinine kinase (CK) isoenzymes
  • Creatinine
  • Creatinine clearance
  • Drug screening
  • Electrolytes (Cl, Na, K)
  • Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)
  • Glucose
  • Glucose tolerance test (GTT)
  • Hemoglobin A1C
  • Hemoglobin (Hgb) electrophoresis
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
  • Iron
  • Lactic dehydrogenase (LD [LDH])
  • Lead
  • Lipase
  • Lithium (Li)
  • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
  • Magnesium
  • Myoglobin
  • Phosphorus (P)
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
  • Total protein (TP)
  • Triglycerides
  • Troponin I and T
  • Uric acid
• Hemoglobin (Hgb)


  Detects abnormal hemoglobins
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL)


  Assesses coronary risk
• Iron


  Decreased levels indicated iron deficiency
• Lactic dehydrogenase (LD [LDH])


  Elevated levels indicate myocardial infarction or lung or liver disorders
• Lead


  Elevated levels indicate poisoning
• Lipase


  Elevated levels indicated pancreatitis
• Lithium (Li)


  Monitors antidepressant drug
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)


  Assesses coronary risk
• Magnesium


  Cation involved in neuromuscular excitability of muscle tissue
• Myoglobin


  Early indicator of myocardial infarction
• Phosphorus (P)


  Mineral associated with skeletal or endocrine disorders
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)


  Screening for prostatic cancer
• Total protein (TP)


  Decreased levels indicate liver or kidney disorders
• Triglycerides


  Serve as index in the evaluation of atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism disorder, used to assess coronary risk
• Troponin I and T


  Early indicators of myocardial infarction
• Uric acid


  Elevated levels indicate kidney disorders
• Hepatic (Liver Profile) tests

  • ALT, Albumin, ALP, Ammonia, AST, Bilirubin, GGT, LDH, Total protein
• Lipid Profile tests


  • Cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, and cholesterol/HDL ratio
• Pancreatic Profile tests


  • Amylase, Lipase