Clinical Laboratory Procedures Flashcards
7 cards from real VTNE 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 Laboratory Procedures flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of using a Romanowsky-type stain (e.g., Diff-Quik) on a blood smear?
Answer: To differentiate and identify blood cell types and morphology
Romanowsky-type stains like Diff-Quik use methylene blue and eosin to distinguish and characterize leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets by color.
In urinalysis, the presence of bilirubin in a cat's urine is considered:
Answer: Always abnormal and clinically significant
Unlike dogs, cats have a very high renal threshold for bilirubin, so any bilirubinuria in cats is considered abnormal and clinically significant.
Which blood chemistry panel finding is most consistent with Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) in a dog?
Answer: Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia
Addison's disease causes decreased aldosterone, leading to sodium loss and potassium retention, resulting in hyponatremia and hyperkalemia.
When reading a urine dipstick result for protein, which sample characteristic can cause a false-positive reaction?
Answer: Highly alkaline urine (pH > 8)
Highly alkaline urine can cause false-positive protein results on dipstick because the colorimetric reaction is pH-dependent.
Which finding on a canine CBC is most indicative of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA)?
Answer: Spherocytes and positive Coombs test
Spherocytes result from partial phagocytosis of antibody-coated RBCs, and a positive Coombs test confirms immune-mediated destruction.
What is the correct technique for preparing a direct fecal smear for parasite examination?
Answer: Mix a small amount of feces with saline and iodine on a slide, then coverslip
A thin mixture of a small fecal sample with saline (and optionally iodine) under a coverslip allows visualization of trophozoites, cysts, and eggs.
Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with urethral obstruction in cats?
Answer: Hyperkalemia
Urethral obstruction prevents potassium excretion, leading to life-threatening hyperkalemia that can cause cardiac arrhythmias.