Laboratory Techniques & Diagnostic Procedures Flashcards

Which tube color is used to collect blood for a serum chemistry panel?

Answer: Red or gold top (no anticoagulant)

Red or gold top tubes contain no anticoagulant, allowing blood to clot so serum can be separated for chemistry analysis.

When performing a urine specific gravity measurement with a refractometer, the result is 1.045 in a dog. This indicates:

Answer: Concentrated urine

A specific gravity above 1.030 in dogs indicates concentrated urine, reflecting adequate renal concentrating ability.

What is the primary purpose of Diff-Quik stain in veterinary diagnostics?

Answer: Rapid staining of blood smears and cytology samples

Diff-Quik is a rapid Romanowsky-type stain used to differentiate cell types on blood smears and cytology preparations.

A fecal flotation test uses a solution with high specific gravity to:

Answer: Float parasite eggs to the surface for collection

The high-density flotation solution causes parasite eggs and oocysts to rise to the surface where they are collected on a coverslip.

Which laboratory value is most useful for evaluating kidney function in veterinary patients?

Answer: BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine

BUN and creatinine are the primary markers of renal function because they are filtered by the kidneys and accumulate when kidney function declines.

When collecting a urine sample by cystocentesis, the needle is inserted directly into the:

Answer: Urinary bladder

Cystocentesis involves inserting a needle through the abdominal wall into the urinary bladder to collect a sterile urine sample.

What does a positive result on a heartworm antigen test detect?

Answer: Adult female heartworm antigens

Heartworm antigen tests detect proteins released by adult female Dirofilaria immitis worms, not microfilariae or antibodies.