Table of Contents

• Free Topics
  • ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone)
  • Albumin Cobalt Binding Test (ACB Test) (Ischemia-modified Albumin [IMA])
  • Allergy Testing, Serum (Total Immunoglobulin E; Total IgE)
  • Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP, a-Fetoprotein)
  • Antibodies, Auto
  • Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
  • CA 15-3
  • FrontMatter
  • General Pretest Preparation
  • Informed Consent
  • Random Urine Collection
  • Skin Puncture
  • Urine Collection from a Closed Urinary Drainage System
  • Venipuncture Using a Syringe
• 1. Basics
  • Collecting Stool Specimens
    • Collecting Stool Specimens
    • Screening Test for Fecal Occult Blood (FOB)
  • General Pretest Preparation
  • Informed Consent
  • Obtaining a Blood Sample
    • Obtaining a Blood Sample
    • Tube Top Colors
    • Venipuncture Procedure
  • Obtaining Specimens
  • Other Venipuncture Methods
    • Obtaining Blood Cultures
    • Other Venipuncture Methods
    • Skin Puncture
    • Troubleshooting: Blood Specimen Hemolysis
    • Venipuncture Using a Syringe
    • Venipuncture Using an IV Infusion Set (Butterfly)
  • Reference Ranges Explained
  • Respiratory Secretions Collection
    • Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal Secretions
    • Respiratory Secretions Collection
    • Sputum Sample
    • Wound Culture and Sensitivity
  • Safety Issues
  • Urine Sample Collection
    • Clean Catch Midstream Urine Collection
    • Random Urine Collection
    • Timed Urine Specimen Collection (2-, 6-, 12-, or 24-Hr Urine)
    • Urine Collection from a Closed Urinary Drainage System
    • Urine Sample Collection
• 2. Labs
  • 17-Ketosteroids (17-Ketogenic Steroids, 17-KGS, Corticosteroids)
  • 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA)
  • 5-Nucleotidase
  • A1C
  • Acetylcholine Receptor Binding Autoantibody (ACRA)
  • Acid Phosphatase (ACP; Prostatic Acid Phosphatase, PAP)
  • Acid-Fast Bacillus (AFB) Stain
  • ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone)
  • ACTH Stimulation Test (Cosyntropin Stimulation Test)
  • Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)
  • Activated Protein C Resistance
  • Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
  • Albumin
  • Albumin Cobalt Binding Test (ACB Test) (Ischemia-modified Albumin
  • Aldosterone, Serum
  • Aldosterone, Urine
  • Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP, AP)
  • Allergy Testing, Serum (Total Immunoglobulin E; Total IgE)
  • Allergy Testing, Skin
  • Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP, a-Fetoprotein)
  • Ammonia
  • Amylase, Serum
  • Anion Gap (AG)
  • Antibodies, Auto
  • Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH); ADH Suppression Test
  • Antistreptolysin O/Antistreptococcal O Titer (ASO)
  • Apolipoproteins
  • Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs)
  • Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
  • Bence Jones Protein (Immunofixation [IFE], Protein Electrophoresis)
  • Bilirubin, Total, Direct, Indirect
  • Bilirubin, Urine
  • Bleeding Time
  • Blood Cultures
  • Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
  • B-type Natriuretic Peptide
  • C. difficile toxin (Pseudomembranous Colitis Toxic Assay)
  • CA 125
  • CA 15-3
  • CA 19-9
  • Calcitonin
  • Calcium, Ionized
  • Calcium, Total
  • Carbon Dioxide Content (CO(2))
  • Carbon Monoxide (Carboxyhemoglobin)
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)
  • Cardiac Biomarkers
  • Catecholamines and Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA)
  • CD4/CD8 Ratio
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis (CSF Analysis)
  • Chlamydia Group Antibody
  • Chloride (Cl)
  • Cholesterol, Total; High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL,
  • Coagulation Factors
  • Cold Agglutinin Titer
  • Complement C3 and C4
  • Complement, Total (CH50, CH100)
  • Complete Blood Count with Differential (CBC with Diff:) Red Blood
  • Coombs' Test, Direct (Direct Antiglobulin)
  • Coombs' Test, Indirect (Indirect Antiglobulin, Autoantibody Test)
  • Cortisol, Free
  • Cortisol, Plasma
  • C-reactive Protein (CRP); High-sensitivity CRP (hs CRP)
  • Creatinine Clearance
  • Creatinine Phosphokinase (CPK, Creatine Kinase, CK); CPK Isoenzymes
  • Creatinine, Serum
  • Creatinine, Urine
  • Cryoglobulins
  • Cystatin C
  • Cystine, Urine
  • Cytochrome P450 Genotyping
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Antibodies
  • D-dimers
  • Dexamethasone Suppression Test
  • Drug Levels, Therapeutic and Toxic
  • Electrolytes, Serum
  • Electrolytes, Urine
  • Erythropoietin (EPO)
  • Estradiol, Serum (Estrogen Fraction)
  • Ethanol (blood alcohol)
  • Fatty Acids, Free, Serum
  • Febrile Agglutinin Titer
  • Fecal Fats (Fecal Lipids)
  • Fecal Occult Blood (FOB, Stool for Occult Blood)
  • Ferritin
  • Fibrin Split Products (Fibrin Degradation Products, FDP, FSP)
  • Fibrinogen
  • Folic Acid (Folate)
  • Follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH)
  • Fructosamine
  • Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT, SGGT)
  • Gastrin
  • Glucagon
  • Glucose Tolerance Test, Standard Oral
  • Glucose, Fasting
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) Screening Test and
  • Glycosylated Hemoglobin (A1C, GHb, Glycohemoglobin, HBA(1))
  • Growth Hormone (GH, Human Growth Hormone [HGH], Somatotropin
  • Haptoglobin
  • Helicobacter pylori Antibody Titers
  • Hematocrit (Hct)
  • Hemoglobin (Hgb)
  • Hemoglobin Electrophoresis (Hemoglobinopathy Profile)
  • Hepatitis Testing
  • Hexosaminidase, Total, A, A and B (Hex A)
  • High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
  • HIV Testing
  • Homocysteine
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), Serum
  • Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA)
  • Immunoglobulins
  • International Normalized Ratio (INR)
  • Iron Tests (Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity, Serum
  • Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD, LDH), LDH Isoenzymes
  • Lactic Acid (Lactate)
  • Lead
  • Legionnaire's Antibody Test
  • Lipase
  • Lipoproteins
  • Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
  • Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL)
  • Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
  • Lyme Disease Antibody
  • Lymphocyte Assay (CD4 marker, CD4/CD8 Ratio)
  • Magnesium, Serum
  • Methemoglobin
  • Microalbumin (MA, Urine Albumin, Albumin to Creatinine Ratio)
  • Myoglobin, Serum
  • Myoglobin, Urine
  • Osmolality, Serum
  • Osmolality, Urine
  • Parathyroid Hormone (Parathormone, PTH)
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)
  • Parvovirus B19 Antibody
  • Phenylketonuria Test (PKU Test, Guthrie Test)
  • Phosphorus, Serum (Phosphate, PO(4))
  • Plasminogen
  • Platelet Antibodies (Antiplatelet Antibodies)
  • Platelets
  • Porphyrins, Blood
  • Porphyrins, Urine
  • Potassium, Serum (K[+])
  • Prealbumin
  • Progesterone
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
  • Protein Electrophoresis
  • Protein, Urine
  • Prothrombin Time (PT); International Normalized Ratio (INR)
  • Renin (Plasma Renin Activity)
  • Reticulocyte Count
  • Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
  • Rotavirus Antigen
  • SARS CoV, Serum
  • Sedimentation Rate (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, ESR)
  • Sickle Cell Screening Test
  • Sodium, Serum
  • Sodium, Urine
  • Sputum Culture and Sensitivity (Sputum C and S and Gram Stain)
  • Stool Culture (Stool for C and S, Stool for Ova and Parasites [o
  • Sweat Electrolytes
  • T(3) Radioimmunoassay (Triiodothyronine)
  • T(3) Resin Uptake (T(3)RU, RT(3)U, Resin T(3) Uptake)
  • T(4), Free (Free Thyroxine)
  • T(4), Total (Thyroxine Screen)
  • Testosterone
  • Throat and Nares Culture
  • Thyroid Antibodies (Antithyroglobulin Antibody and Antimicrosomal
  • Thyroid Function Tests
  • Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH)
  • TORCH Screen (Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Viruses)
  • Transferrin
  • Triglycerides
  • Troponins (TnI, TnT)
  • Tuberculosis Culture (TB Culture, AFB Smear)
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor- Alpha (TNF-Alpha, Cachectin)
  • Types of Anemia
  • Understanding and Analyzing ABG Results
  • Uric Acid, Serum
  • Uric Acid, Urine
  • Urinalysis (UA)
  • Urine Culture and Sensitivity (Urine C and S)
  • Urobilinogen
  • VDRL (Venereal Diagnosis Research Laboratory; Rapid Plasma Reagin,
  • Viral Culture
  • Viral Load (Plasma Viral Load, PVL)
  • Vitamin B(12)
  • West Nile Virus
  • White Blood Cell Count and Differential
  • Wound Culture
  • Xylose Tolerance
  • Zinc
• 3. X-Rays
  • Contrast-Mediated X-Rays
    • Antegrade Pyelogram Procedure and Care - Pyelogram, Antegrade and Retrograde
    • Arteriogram (Angiogram, Arteriography)
    • Arthrography
    • Barium Enema (BE)
    • Barium Swallow
    • Contrast Agents
    • Contrast Reaction Prevention Strategies
    • Contrast-Mediated X-Rays
    • Cystography (Cystourethrogram, Voiding Cystourethrogram, Cystogram)
    • Enteroclysis (Small Bowel Enema)
    • Hysterosalpingogram
    • Myelogram
    • Operative or T-Tube Cholangiogram
    • Oral Cholecystogram (OCG)
    • Osmolality and Adverse Reactions
    • Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram (PTC)
    • PTC Approach
    • Pyelogram, Antegrade and Retrograde
    • Pyelogram, Intravenous (IVP; Excretory Urogram, EU, ExU)
    • Reactions to Iodinated Contrast Media (ICM) - Contrast Reaction Prevention Strategies
    • Retrograde Pyelogram Procedure and Care - Pyelogram, Antegrade and Retrograde
    • Risk Factors for Adverse Reactions to Contrast
    • Upper GI Series (UGI)
    • Venogram, Lower Extremity
  • General Description and Process
    • Anterior Oblique Positions
    • Anterior-Posterior Position (AP)
    • Basic Positions for X-rays
    • General Description and Process
    • Lateral Positions
    • Posterior Oblique Positions
    • Posterior-Anterior Position
    • Radiodensity
    • Terms
  • Plain X-Rays
    • Abdominal X-ray
    • Bone Densitometry (Bone Mineral Density, BMD; DEXA Scan)
    • Bone X-rays (Clavicle, Scapula, Foot, Hand, Toe, Finger, Mandible)
    • Chest X-ray
    • Chest X-Ray with Anatomical Landmarks
    • General Patient Preparation for Plain X-rays
    • Joint X-rays
    • Long Bone X-rays
    • Mammography
    • Obstruction Series
    • Orbital X-rays
    • Paranasal Sinuses X-rays
    • Plain X-Rays
    • Skull X-rays
    • Spinal X-rays
• 4. CT/MRI/US
  • Computed Tomography (CT Scans)
    • Abdominal/Pelvic CT
    • Angiogram, CT (CTA)
    • Body CT Scan, Whole
    • Brain CT
    • Chest CT
    • Computed Tomography (CT Scans)
    • CT Scans with Contrast Media
    • Exterior of a CT Scanner
    • How CT Scans Work
    • Interior of a CT Scanner
    • New Technology: CT Cerebral Perfusion Imaging
    • Overview of CT Scanning
    • Patient Preparation for CT Scan
    • Radiation Exposure During CT Scans
    • Skeletal CT (Bones or Joints)
    • Spinal CT
  • Echocardiograms
    • Contrast
    • Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram (DSE)
    • Echocardiograms
    • Overview
    • Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
    • Transthoracic Echocardiogram
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound
    • Endobronchial Ultrasound (Ebus)
    • Endoscopic Ultrasound
    • Overview - Endoscopic Ultrasound
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
    • Adrenal, Biliary, Brain, Chest, Kidney, Liver, Musculoskeletal,chr(133)
    • Example of an MRI Image
    • How MRI Works
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
    • MRI Contrast
    • MRI Scans - Adrenal, Biliary, Brain, Chest, Kidney, Liver, Musculoskeletal,chr(133)
    • Overview of MRI
    • Posttest Care After MRI
    • Pretest Patient Preparation for MRI
    • Procedure for MRI
    • Safety Issues Associated with MRI
  • Other Ultrasound Studies
    • Bladder, Breast, Kidney, Liver/Biliary, Musculoskeletal, Obstetric,chr(133)
    • Bladder, Breast, Kidney, Liver/Biliary, Musculoskeletal, Obstetric,chr(133) - Common Ultrasound Tests
    • Other Ultrasound Studies
  • Ultrasound (US)
    • How Ultrasound Works
    • Overview of Ultrasound Imaging
    • Posttest Care After Ultrasound Tests
    • Pretest Preparation for Ultrasound Tests
    • Procedure for Ultrasound Tests
    • Ultrasound (US)
  • Vascular Ultrasound Studies (Doppler Ultrasound, Duplex Scan)
    • Carotid Duplex Scan
    • Carotid, Arterial, or Venous Duplex Scan
    • Overview
    • Vascular Duplex Scans - Carotid, Arterial, or Venous Duplex Scan
    • Vascular Ultrasound Studies (Doppler Ultrasound, Duplex Scan)
• 5. Nuclear Scans
  • Bone Scan (Whole Body Bone Scan)
  • Brain PET (Positron Emission Tomography of the Brain, FDG Brain Scan)
  • Brain SPECT Scan (Brain Perfusion Study)
  • Gallium Scan
  • Gastric Emptying Scan
  • Gastrointestinal Bleeding Scan (Abdominal or GI Scintigram, Tagged
  • How Nuclear Scans Show Disease
  • Liver/Spleen Scan
  • Lung Scan (V/Q Scan, Ventilation and Perfusion Lung Scans)
  • Multigated Blood Pool Imaging (MUGA Scan, Cardiac Blood Pool Scan,
  • Myocardial Perfusion Scan (Stress Thallium Scan, Sestamibi Scan,
  • Nuclear Medicine Imaging Techniques
  • Overview of Nuclear Medicine Scans
  • Renogram and Renal Perfusion Scan (Furosemide Renal Scan, Captopril
    • Cardiac Scans
    • Endocrine Scans
    • GI and Hepatobiliary Scans
    • Other Nuclear Scans
    • Renogram and Renal Perfusion Scan (Furosemide Renal Scan, Captopril Renal Scan, Renal Scintigraphy)
    • Tumor/Infection
  • Safety Issues with Nuclear Scans
• 6. Other Tests
  • Other Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
    • Complementary and Alternative Medicine Tests
    • Other Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
• 7. Tools
  • Abbreviations Used in Lab Results
  • Adult Complete Blood Count with WBC Differential (CBC with Diff)
  • Adult Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
  • Basic Metabolic Panel
  • Biochemical Testing
  • Carrier Testing
  • Changes in Lab Values in Older Adults
  • Coagulation Profile
  • Cytogenetic Testing
  • Genetic Testing
  • How Genetic Tests Are Performed
  • Indications for Genetic Testing
  • Molecular Testing
  • Myocardial Infarction (MI) Profile
  • Neonatal Complete Blood Count with WBC Differential (CBC with Diff)
  • Neonatal Metabolic Panel
  • Newborn Screening
  • Normal Flora
    • Normal Flora
    • Normal Genitourinary Flora
    • Normal Respiratory Flora
    • Normal Skin Flora
  • Pharmacogenetic Testing
  • Predictive Screening
  • Results of Genetic Testing
  • Reusable Lab Test Results Forms
    • ABG Results
    • Bibliography
    • Blood Chemistry Screen/Metabolic Panel
    • Cardiac Biomarkers
    • Coagulation Profile
    • Hematology Panel
    • Illustration Credits
    • Quick ABG Interpretation - ABG Results
    • Reusable Lab Test Results Forms
• Front Matter
  • Lab Tests and Diagnostics for Common Symptoms, Diseases, and