TABLE 2-1.

Tests Performed in the Hematology Section

TEST
Differential (Diff)
Hematocrit (Hct)
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Indices
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
Mean Corpuscular hemoglobin
concentration (MCHC)
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
Platelet (PLT) count
Red blood cell (RBC) count
Red cell distribution width (RDW)
White blood cell (WBC) count
Body fluid analysis
Bone marrow
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Sickle Cell
Special Stains
FUNCTION
Determines the percentage of the
different types of white blood cells and
evaluates red blood cell and platelet
morphology (may be examined
microscopically on a peripheral blood
smear stained with Wright's stain)
Determines the volume of red blood
cells packed by centrifugation
(expressed as a percent)
Determines the oxygen-carrying
capacity of red blood cells
Calculations to determine- the size of
red blood cells and amount of
hemoglobin
Determines the amount of hemoglobin
in a red blood cell
Determines the weight of hemoglobin
in a red blood cell and compares it
with the size of the cell (expressed as a
percent)
Determines the size of red blood cells
Determines the number of platelets in
circulating blood
Determines the number of red blood
cells in circulating blood
Calculation to determine the
differences in the size of red blood
cells (expressed as a percent)
Determines the number of white blood
cells in circulating blood
Determines the number and type of
cells in various body fluids
Determines the number and type of
cells in the bone marrow
Determines the rate of red blood cell
sedimentation (nonspecific test for
inflammatory disorders)
Screening test for Hgb S (sickle cell
anemia)
Determine the type of leukemia or
other cellular disorders
TABLE 2-2. Tests Performed in the Coagulation Section
TEST FUNCTION
Activated partial thromboplastin time Evaluates the intrinsic system of the
(APTT (PTT)) coagulation cascade and monitors
heparin therapy
Antithrombin III Screening test for increased clotting
tendencies
Anti-Xa heparin assay Monitors unfractionated heparin
therapy
Proteins C and s Evaluate venous thrombosis
Bleeding time (BT) Evaluates the function of platelets
D-dimer Measures abnormal blood clotting and
fibrinolysis
Factor assays Detect factor deficiencies that prolong
coagulation
Fibrin degradation products (FDP) Test for increased fibrinolysis (usually
a STAT test drawn in a special tube)
Fibrinogen Determines the amount of fibrinogen
in plasma
Platelet Aggregation Evaluates the function of platelets
Prothrombin time (PT) and Evaluates the extrinsic system of the
international normalized ratio (INR) coagulation cascade and monitors
Coumadin therapy
Thrombin time (TT) Determines if adequate fibrinogen is
present for normal coagulation

TABLE 2-4. Common Chemistry Organ/Disease Panels

PANEL TESTS
Comprehensive Glucose, BUN, creatinine, sodium (Na),
potassium (K), carbon dioxide (CO2),
chloride (CI), AST, ALT,
total protein, albumin, bilirubin, Ca,
and ALP
Hepatic ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin total and
direct, total protein, albumin
Lipid Cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL,
and cholesterol/HDL ratio
Basic metabolic Glucose, BUN, creatinine, Na, CI, K,
CO2, and ionized calcium
Renal Glucose, BUN, creatinine, CO, CI, NA,
K, total protein, albumin, calcium
phosphorous
Table 2-3 Tests performed in the Chemistry Section
TEST FUNCTION
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) Elevated levels indicate liver disorders
Albumin Decreased levels indicate liver or kidney
disorders or malnutrition
Alcohol Elevated levels indicate intoxication
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Elevated levels indicate bone or liver
disorders
Ammonia Elevated levels indicate severe liver disorders
Amylase Elevated levels indicate pancreatitis
Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) Determine the acidity or alkalinity and
oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of blood
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Elevated levels indicate myocardial infarction
or liver disorders
Bilirubin Elevated levels indicate liver or hemolytic
disorders
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Elevated levels indicate kidney disorders
Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Elevated levels indicate congestive heart
failure
Calcium (Ca) Mineral associated with bone,
musculoskeletal, or endocrine disorders
Cholesterol Elevated levels indicate coronary risk
Creatinine Kinase (CK) Elevated levels indicate myocardial infarction
or other muscle damage
Creatinine Clearance Urine and serum test to measure glomerular
filtration rate
Drug Screening Detects drug abuse and monitors therapeutic
drugs
Electrolytes (CO3, Cl, Na, K) Evaluate body fluid balance
Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) Elevated levels indicate early liver disorders
Glucose Elevated levels indicate diabetes mellitus
Glucose tolerance test (GTT) Detects diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemia
Hemoglobin Used to evaluate hemolytic anemia and
certain chronic disease
Hemoglobin AIC Monitors diabetes mellitus
Hemoglobin (Hgb) electrophoresis Detects abnormal hemoglobins
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Assesses coronary risk
Iron Decreased levels indicate iron deficiency
anemia
Lactic dehydrogenase (LD [LDH]) Elevated levels indicate myocardial infarction
or lung or liver disorders
Lead Elevated levels indicate poisoning
Lipase Elevated levels indicate 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
Protein Decreased levels associated with liver or
kidney disorders
Total Protein (TP) Decreased levels indicate liver or kidney
disorders
Triglycerides Used to assess coronary risk
Troponin I and T Early indicators of myocardial infarction
Uric Acid Elevated levels indicate kidney disorders or
gout

TABLE 2-5. Tests Performed in the Blood Bank Section

TEST FUNCTION
Antibody (Ab) screen (indirect antiglobulin Detects abnormal antibodies in serum
test)
Direct antihuman globulin test (DAT) or direct Detects abnormal antibodies on red blood
Coombs cells
Group and type ABO and Rh typing
Panel Identifies abnormal antibodies in serum
Type and crossmatch (T&C) ABO, Rh typing, and compatibility test

Type and screen ABO, Rh typing, and antibody screen

TABLE 2-6. Tests Performed in the Serology (Immunology) Section

TEST FUNCTION
Anti-HIV Screening test for human immunodeficiency
virus
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) Detects nuclear autoantibodies
Antistreptolysin O (ASO) screen Detects a previous Streptococcus infection
C-reactive protein (CRP) Elevated levels indicate inflammatory
disorders
Cold agglutinins Elevated levels indicate atypical
(Mycoplasma) pneumonia
Complement levels Evaluate the function of the immune system
Cytomegalovirus antibody (CMV) Detects cytomegalovirus infection
Febrile agglutinins Detect antibodies to microorganisms causing
fever
Fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) Detects and identifies nuclear autoantibodies
Fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorbed Confirmatory test for syphilis
(FTA-ABS)
Hepatitis A antibody Detects hepatitis A current or past infection
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) Detects hepatitis B infection
Hepatitis C antibody Detects hepatitis C infection
Immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) levels Evaluate the function of the immune system
Monospot Screening test for infectious mononucleosis
Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) Screening test for syphilis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Detects autoantibodies present in
rheumatoid arthritis
Rubella titer Evaluates immunity to German measles
Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) Screening test for syphilis
Western Blot Confirmatory Test for human
immunodeficiency virus
TABLE 2-7 Tests Performed in the Microbiology Section
TEST FUNCTION
Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) culture Detects acid-fast bacteria, including
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Blood culture Detects bacteria and fungi in the blood
Culture and sensitivity (C&S) Detects microbial infection and determines
antibiotic treatment
Fungal culture Detects the presence of and determines the
type of fungi
Gram stain Detects the presence of and aids in the
identification of bacteria
Occult blood Detects nonvisible blood
Ova and parasites Detects parasitic infection (O&P) (performed
on stool samples)

TABLE 2-8. Routine Urinalysis

TEST FUNCTION
Color Detects blood, bilirubin, and other pigments
Appearance Detects cellular and crystalline elements
Specific gravity (SG) Measures the concentration of urine
pH Determines the acidity of urine
Protein Elevated levels indicate kidney disorders
(proteinuria)
Glucose Elevated levels indicate diabetes mellitus
(glycosuria)
Ketones Elevated levels indicate diabetes mellitus or
starvation (ketonuria)
Blood Detects red blood cells or hemoglobin
(hematuria/hemoglobinuria)
Bilirubin Elevated levels indicate liver disorders
Urobilinogen Elevated levels indicate liver or hemolytic
disorders
Nitrite Detects bacterial infection
Leukocyte esterase Detects white blood cells
Microscopic Determines the number and type of cellular
elements