Clinical Chemistry Flashcards
6 cards from real ASCP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Clinical Chemistry flashcards as text
Which method is the reference standard for measuring serum creatinine?
Answer: Enzymatic method with isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS)
IDMS-traceable enzymatic creatinine methods are the current reference standards, eliminating pseudochromogen interference seen with Jaffe.
A patient has pH 7.28, PCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L. This is consistent with:
Answer: Respiratory acidosis
Elevated PCO2 with low pH and normal bicarbonate indicates primary respiratory acidosis from CO2 retention.
Which analyte is measured by the Berthelot reaction in clinical chemistry?
Answer: Ammonia/urea nitrogen (BUN)
The Berthelot reaction converts ammonia (from urease-hydrolyzed urea) to a colored indophenol compound for BUN measurement.
Which fraction of bilirubin is elevated in hepatocellular disease and obstructive jaundice?
Answer: Both conjugated and unconjugated
Hepatocellular and obstructive jaundice both elevate conjugated bilirubin, and impaired uptake also elevates unconjugated bilirubin.
The Friedewald equation calculates LDL cholesterol using which formula?
Answer: LDL = Total cholesterol − HDL − (TG/5)
The Friedewald equation estimates LDL as: Total cholesterol − HDL − (triglycerides/5), valid only when TG < 400 mg/dL.
Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with peaked T-waves on ECG?
Answer: Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia causes tall, peaked T-waves and can progress to fatal arrhythmias if untreated.