Clinical Chemistry & Biochemical Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Chemistry & Biochemical Analysis flashcards as text
Which reagent strip test on a urinalysis detects the presence of bilirubin in urine?
Answer: Diazonium salt reaction
Urinary bilirubin is detected by coupling with a diazonium salt on the reagent pad to produce an azo dye, with color intensity proportional to bilirubin concentration.
The reference interval for serum potassium in adults is approximately:
Answer: 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
The normal adult serum potassium reference range is 3.5–5.0 mEq/L; values outside this range indicate hypo- or hyperkalemia.
Serum iron studies show low serum iron, low transferrin saturation, and elevated TIBC. Which condition does this pattern suggest?
Answer: Iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is characterized by low serum iron, low transferrin saturation, and elevated TIBC as the body upregulates transferrin production to capture scarce iron.
Which of the following proteins is measured to assess nutritional status and has a shorter half-life (~2 days), making it a sensitive indicator of acute changes?
Answer: Prealbumin (transthyretin)
Prealbumin has a half-life of approximately 2 days, making it far more responsive to acute nutritional changes than albumin (half-life ~20 days).
A serum creatinine of 3.2 mg/dL in an adult patient is most consistent with which condition?
Answer: Significant renal impairment
Normal serum creatinine in adults is approximately 0.6–1.2 mg/dL; a value of 3.2 mg/dL indicates significantly reduced glomerular filtration and renal impairment.
Which principle underlies the ion-selective electrode (ISE) method used to measure electrolytes such as sodium and potassium?
Answer: Selective permeability of a membrane generating a potential difference
ISE methods measure the electrical potential (voltage) generated across a membrane that is selectively permeable to a specific ion, following the Nernst equation.
Which quality control rule, part of the Westgard rules, is violated when two consecutive control values fall more than 2 standard deviations from the mean on the same side?
Answer: 2₂s rejection rule
The 2₂s rule is violated when two consecutive controls exceed ±2 SD on the same side of the mean, indicating a systematic error trend that requires investigation.