Lab values & electrolytes worksheet with answers

Uric acid in the blood is a breakdown product of:

1. AGlucose
2. BHemoglobin
3. CPurines
4. DFats

On a liver panel, "direct bilirubin" refers to which form of bilirubin?

1. AConjugated bilirubin
2. BBilirubin in the stool
3. CTotal urine urobilinogen
4. DUnconjugated bilirubin

What does the reticulocyte count measure?

1. APlatelets that are larger than normal in size
2. BYoung red blood cells recently released from the bone marrow
3. COld red blood cells that are being removed by the spleen
4. DImmature white blood cells released during infection

A breathless patient in the emergency department has a BNP below 100 pg/mL. What does this suggest?

1. AThe kidneys are failing and the patient needs dialysis
2. BHeart failure is an unlikely cause of the breathlessness
3. CSevere heart failure is certainly the cause of the problem
4. DThe patient has had a myocardial infarction in the past day

Why do patients with chronic kidney disease often have anemia?

1. AHigh potassium in kidney disease breaks down red cells
2. BUremic toxins make the bone marrow produce white cells instead of red cells
3. CThe damaged kidneys filter out and destroy red blood cells
4. DThe kidneys make less erythropoietin, which drives red cell production

A blood sample drawn just after a patient ate a fatty meal is reported as "lipemic." What does this mean for the results?

1. AThe sample was contaminated by an IV fluid with dextrose
2. BThe results are more accurate than in a fasting sample
3. CThe sample shows the patient has diabetic ketoacidosis
4. DHigh fat in the sample may interfere with some test results

A malnourished patient starts eating again and, on day 3, has a phosphate of 1.2 mg/dL (0.39 mmol/L) with muscle weakness and shortness of breath. What is the main risk?

1. AHyperkalemia caused by cells releasing potassium
2. BWeak breathing muscles and heart failure from low phosphate
3. CRapid weight gain, but no serious danger
4. DKidney stones from calcium released by the bones

Which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pattern most strongly suggests bacterial meningitis?

1. ACloudy fluid, low glucose, high protein, many neutrophils
2. BClear fluid, normal glucose, normal protein, no white cells
3. CClear fluid, normal glucose, mildly raised protein, lymphocytes
4. DClear fluid, high glucose, low protein, many red cells