Apt-Downey test
To differentiate fetal blood from swallowed maternal blood in the evaluation of bloody stools. Mix specimen with 3-5 ml of tap water and centrifuge. Supernatant must have a pink color to proceed. To 5 parts of supernatant, add 1 part of 0.25 N (1%) NaOH. A pink color persisting over 2 minutes indicates fetal hemoglobin. Adult hemoglobin gives a pink color that becomes yellowish brown in 2 minutes or less indicating denaturation of the adult hemoglobin.
Mercury poisoning mimics what?
Pheochromocytoma
Arsenic poisoning is associated with what smell?
Garlic
D-xylose test for enteric vs. pancreatic causes of malabsorption.
oral dose of d-xylose after an overnight fast, and then urinary excretion of this molecule is monitored. Results: a) ↑ urine d-xylose = normal. b) ↓ urine d-xylose = enteric cause. (Regardless of pancreatic disease.) Make sure there’s no chronic renal failure. Normal result: high blood and urine levels of xylose – indicates good xylose absorption by the intestines; suggests sx 2/2 pancreatic insufficiency, bile insufficiency High blood levels but low urine levels: kidney dysfunction Low blood and urine levels: poor xylose absorption, 2/2 bacterial overgrowth in the intestines, parasitic infections, a shortened bowel, celiac disease
Fecal elastate test
1) Stool test for extreme pancreatic insufficiency. (100% sensitive, 93% specific). 2) Stool needs to be well formed. (Diluted stool → false positive). 3) Is non-invasive, therefore, most often used for children with cystic fibrosis.
Light blue top tube – contents and purpose
3.2% sodium citrate – anticoagulant (binds Ca++) Used for coag studies
Red/gold top tube – contents and purpose
Serum tube, +/- clot activator (glass/silica particles) or gel (separates serum from cellular components of blood) Used for chemistry, serology, immunology
Green top tube – contents and purpose
Sodium lithium or heparin, +/- gel – anticoagulant (inhibits thrombin and thromboplastin) Used for stat and routine chemistry
Lavender/pink top tube – contents and purpose
Potassium EDTA – anticoagulant (binds Ca++) Used for hematology, blood bank
Gray top tube – contents and purpose
Fluoride + oxalate – Fl inhibits glycolysis, oxalate acts as an anticoagulant (binds Ca++) Used for glucose msrmt (esp when testing will be delayed), blood alcohol testing, lactate testing
Biotin interference: – effect on sandwich immunoassays – effect on competitive assays
Sandwich: prone to false decreases Competitive: prone to false increases
Friedewald Equation for LDL-C
LDL-C = total cholesterol - HDL cholesterol - (trigylcerides/5) Tri/5 = estimation of VLDL, but not always accurate
Jaffe method used to measure which analyte? Interferences?
Creatinine (alkaline picrate determination) Subject to positive interference by many analytes, most notably ketones (i.e. beta-hydroxybutyrate), glucose, cephalosporins, A1c, proteins
Hereditary angioedema:
Autosomal dominant; presents at puberty
Type I (80-85%)
– mutations in SERPING1 gene that results in decreased production of C1 inhibitor protein, resulting in overstimulated complement system. Both C1 protein inhibitor concentration and activity are reduced.
Type II (15-20%)
– also SERPING1 mutations, but resulting in a normal levels of a dysfunctional protein that’s incapable of suppressing complement activation. C1 protein inhibitor concentration will be normal or increased, but activity will be reduced.
Type III (<1%)
– mutations in factor XII (12) gene that increases bradykinin levels and produces swelling.
–
ACEis are contraindicated.
–
Acquired angioedema
– 2/2 auto-Ab against C1 inhibitor protein (same as in type I and type II)
– both C1 protein inhibitor concentration and activity are reduced.
Thyroid hormones in pregnancy:
– does it increase or decrease?
– increase or decrease?
Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) - phenotype of T-cells? - inheritance pattern? - affected genes?
Explain possible lab consequences of the following dietary habits: 1. prolonged fasting 2. carb-restricted diets 3. intake of fish, meat, dietary iron, or horseradish 4. diet high in serotonin-rich foods like bananas, avocados, pineapples
Compare/contrast Type I vs. Type II Crigler-Najjar Syndrome in terms of: - age of onset - inheritance method - Typical unconjugated/indirect bili range - UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1-A1 (UGTA1) enzyme activity - effectiveness of phenobarbital - risk of kernicterus
Type I: - onset at birth (jaundiced baby; persistent jaundice) - autosomal recessive - very high unconjugated bili (17-50 mg/dL – normal <1 mg/dL) - no UGT activity –> means phenobarbital won’t work - risk of kernicterus very high Type II (Arias syndrome) - onset in late childhood/puberty - autosomal recessive - moderately high unconjugated bili (5-20 mg/dL) - reduced UGT activity – thus bile is still pigmented, but mostly just monoconjugated – thus phenobarbital can help reduce serum bili by at least 25% - normal liver enzymes - risk of kernicterus low
Gilbert’s Syndrome - defective gene/enzyme - inheritance pattern - how is the Dx made? - age of Dx - Rx
Dubin-Johnson syndrome vs Rotor Syndrome - gene defect and inheritance pattern - pathophysiology - color of the liver - Dx - Rx
DJ - AR loss of function mutations in the ABCC2 gene leading to a defective canalicular multiple drug resistance protein 2 (MRP2), which impairs excretion of conjugated bilirubin from the liver - polymerized epinephrine metabolites (NOT bilirubin) lead to a darkly pigmented liver Dx: - Oral cholecystogram study –> gallbladder not visible - urine coproporphyrin content normal; >80% being isomer 1 (where normal urine contains more isomer 3 than 1) Rx: - generally not needed. OCPs and pregnancy can lead to overt jaundice. Rotor - AR defect in SLCO1B1 or SLCO1B3 gene –> make organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3) that are responsible for transporting bili and other compounds from the blood into the liver for clearance. Defects in these genes produce defective proteins that lead to less efficient uptake of bili by the liver and less effective clearance –> jaundice. - liver is normal-colored Dx: -increased conjugated hyperbilirubinemia (usually 2-5 mg/dL; maybe as high as 20 mg/dL) in the setting of normal liver enzymes and alk phos - urine coproporphyrin content HIGH; <70% being isomer 1 - Rx: phenobarbital to reduce jaundice
Cryoglobulinemia:
I
II
III
Dz assoc w/ each?
Relative prevalences?
Common clinical features of dz?
I (10-15%): - monoclonal IgG, IgM, IgA, or kappa/lambda light chains - associated w/ heme dz: MGUS/plasma cell myeloma or Waldenstrom, CLL
II (50-60%): - polyclonal IgG (or rarely IgA) + monoclonal IgM w/ rheum factor activity (bind polyclonal Igs, activate complement, form tissue deposits, may cause small vessel vasculitis) - associated w/ infectious dz, particularly hep C, HIV; heme dzs esp B cell disorders; autoimmune dz
III (25-30%) - polyclonal IgM w/ rheum factor activity + polyclonal IgG or IgA - associated w/ autoimmune dz (Sjogren > SLE, RA); infectious dz esp hep C Clinical pres: 1) Increase blood viscosity (HA, confusion, blurry vision, hearing loss, epistaxi) 2) deposit in small arteries and capillaries -> infarction and necrosis, esp of ears, distal extremities, and kidneys 3) in type II and III, deposit on blood vessel epithelium and activate complement -> cryoglobulinemic vasculitis
Minimum Hgb to be an RBC donor? (Autologous donor, how long before surgery?)
12.5 g/dL (11 g/dL, 72 hours minimum before surgery)
How often can you donate platelets after: - an apheresis donation? - a double/triple apheresis donation? - in one week? - in one year?
Smallpox vaccine and blood donation deferral periods