CLINICAL CHEMISTRY Describes the analytical monitoring of
chemical parameters resulting from physiological or biochemical
processes in the body Laboratory testing for many of the chemical
substances found in the body
Importance of knowing the amount of various chemical substances
in the body:1. Helps the physician assess the function of certain
organs2. Helps the physician gain a better understanding of the
patients overall health status
Common Chemistry Panel Tests:1. Blood Glucose (main source of
energy of the body)a. Measures the amount of sugar called glucose
in the bloodb. Comes from carbohydrate foodsc. Main source of
energy used by the bodyd. Why it is donei. Check for diabetesii.
Monitor treatment of diabetesiii. Check for diabetes during
pregnancy (gestational pregnancy)
Different Types of Blood Glucose Tests:1. Fasting Blood Sugar
(FBS)a. Measures blood glucose after not eating for at least 8
hoursb. Often the first done to check for prediabetes and
diabetes2. 2 Hour Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS)a. measures blood
glucose exactly 2 hours after eating a mealb. screen patients for
diabetes and to monitor insulin therapy of diabetic patients3.
Random blood Sugar (RBS)a. Measures blood glucose regardless of
when you last ateb. Also called a casual blood glucose test4. Oral
Glucose Tolerance testa. Used to diagnose prediabetes and
diabetesb. A series of blood glucose measurements taken after
drinking a sweet liquid that contains glucosec. Commonly used to
diagnose diabetes that occurs during pregnancyd. Not commonly used
to diagnose diabetes in a person who is not pregnanti. Normal
Value: 70 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L)5. Hemoglobin A1C test a. Preferred
test for monitoring patients already known to have diabetesTest for
Lipids and Lipoproteins1. Cholesterol2. Lipids ( free fatty acids
)3. Lipoproteins (substances made up of lipids & proteins)
Cholesterol Importance of Cholesterol: Helps form bile acids
that are produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder
Vitamin D is formed from cholesterol at the skins surface during
exposure to sunlight Various hormones, such as cortisol,
testosterone, and estrogen are synthesized from cholesterol. High
Cholesterol levels are strong indicators of those individual that
are prone to coronary heart disease The American Heart Association
recommends that the cholesterol level in the blood less than 200
mg/dL. Above 200 mg/DL is considered to be at an increased risk for
developing atherosclerosis ( involves the buildup of fatty plaque
on the interior lining of arteries, causing the arteries to narrow
and harden. LDL Bad cholesterol High Levels of LDL The risk of
heart disease increase Normal Levels of LDL Less than 100 mg/dL
Levels above 129 mg/dL borderline Above 159 mg/dL can be
dangerously high High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Good Cholesterol
Normal Value Men: 40-50 mg/dL Female: 50 60 mg/dL Higher levels of
HDL lower the incidence of heart disease Lower levels of HDL The
great the patients risks for heart disease Triglycerides Store
energy High Triglyceride levels Risk factor in heart disease Normal
Value Male: 40 160 mg/dL Female: 35 135 mg/dL
Blood Urea Nitrogen This test measures the amount of nitrogen in
the blood that comes from the waste product UREA. The test is done
to: See if your kidneys are working normally See if your kidney
disease is getting worse See if treatment of your kidney disease is
working See if severe dehydration is present Normal Value 10 20
mg/dL BUN is low during the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy
