Biomedical Laboratory techniques

-Laboratory tests: definition, biological samples. Purpose of laboratory testing and units of measurement. Pre-analytical phase: patient identification, collection of biological materials, types of tubes, types of blood samples; transport, handling, and storage of biological samples. Sources of pre-analytical variability. Analytical phase: evaluation of methods and results. Analytical variability: measures of precision and accuracy, random and systematic errors. Post-analytical phase: data validation and reporting of results. Archiving. Quality control: internal and external quality control. Biological variability. Reference intervals: definition and analysis. -Acid-base balance laboratory: Physiological buffers: bicarbonate and hemoglobin buffer systems. Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Regulation of acid-base balance: role of respiratory and renal systems. Acid-base disorders. Instruments: blood gas analyzer (pH, pO₂, pCO₂ electrodes). Identification of simple or mixed acid-base disorders based on blood gas analysis data. -Fluid and electrolyte balance laboratory: Water distribution in body compartments. Regulation of osmolarity and body fluid volume: role of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and aldosterone. Water balance and related disorders. Sodium metabolism and sodium balance disorders. Potassium metabolism and potassium balance disorders. Chloride metabolism and chloride balance disorders. Measurement of osmolarity and electrolyte analysis techniques. -Carbohydrate metabolism laboratory: Hormonal regulation of glucose metabolism. Classification of diabetes mellitus: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, secondary diabetes, gestational diabetes, MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young). Functional tests: fasting plasma glucose measurement, urinary glucose, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin assay, C-peptide assay, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and glycated plasma proteins (fructosamines), microalbuminuria. -Gastrointestinal laboratory: Helicobacter pylori infection and related diagnostic tests. Inflammatory bowel diseases: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and related diagnostic tests. Chronic inflammatory diseases and associated diagnostic tests. Malabsorption disorders and related diagnostic tests. -Renal function laboratory: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, creatinine clearance. -Liver function laboratory: The liver as a multifunctional organ. Markers of necrosis/cytolysis: AST, ALT, LDH. Markers of cholestasis: ALP, gamma-GT. Markers of uptake, transformation, and elimination capacity: direct and indirect bilirubin. Markers of protein synthetic activity: albumin, prothrombin time. -Pancreatic function laboratory: Amylase, lipase, elastase, secretin test, breath test.

Biochimica clinica e medicina di laboratorio Marcello Ciaccio, Giuseppe Lippi. Edises 2020