Lab values & electrolytes worksheet with answers

Free printable Lab values & electrolytes worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy

A patient who has not eaten for 2 days has ketones in the urine. What is the most likely reason?

  1. AThe bladder has a bacterial infection
  2. BThe kidneys are leaking protein
  3. CThe liver is making too much glucose
  4. DThe body is burning fat for energy
2.Easy

What is the main purpose of a Gram stain?

  1. ATo measure exactly how many bacteria are in the blood
  2. BTo detect viruses in a sample of respiratory secretions
  3. CTo test which antibiotics a bacterium is sensitive to
  4. DTo sort bacteria quickly into gram-positive or negative
3.Easy

Which blood marker is the most specific for injury to the heart muscle?

  1. ACardiac troponin
  2. BSerum myoglobin
  3. CLactate dehydrogenase
  4. DTotal creatine kinase
4.Medium

A patient with type 2 diabetes has a target HbA1c below 7% (53 mmol/mol). Today's result is 7.8% (62 mmol/mol). What is the best interpretation?

  1. AThe result shows today's fasting glucose is above the target
  2. BThe patient has had frequent episodes of severe hypoglycemia
  3. CAverage glucose over the past months has been above the target
  4. DGlucose control has been excellent for the past several months
5.Medium

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. BThe patient has had a myocardial infarction in the past day
  3. CSevere heart failure is certainly the cause of the problem
  4. DHeart failure is an unlikely cause of the breathlessness
6.Medium

A patient taking furosemide has a potassium of 3.3 mEq/L and is told to eat more potassium-rich foods. Which snack is the best choice?

  1. ARice cakes
  2. BDried apricots
  3. CPlain crackers
  4. DWhite bread
7.Hard

A patient with C. difficile diarrhea has a white cell count of 24 × 10³/µL and a creatinine that has risen to 2.1 mg/dL (186 µmol/L). What does this indicate?

  1. ASuccessful response to treatment
  2. BSevere C. difficile infection
  3. CMild infection needing no treatment
  4. DUnrelated chronic kidney disease
8.Hard

An 82-year-old woman without a catheter has a urine culture growing bacteria, but no fever, urinary symptoms or change in mental state. What is the best interpretation?

  1. AA urinary tract infection that needs urgent IV antibiotics
  2. BPyelonephritis, which needs admission and IV fluids today
  3. CContamination, so the culture must be repeated every week
  4. DAsymptomatic bacteriuria, usually not treated with antibiotics

Answer key

  1. 1. D · The body is burning fat for energy
  2. 2. D · To sort bacteria quickly into gram-positive or negative
  3. 3. A · Cardiac troponin
  4. 4. C · Average glucose over the past months has been above the target
  5. 5. D · Heart failure is an unlikely cause of the breathlessness
  6. 6. B · Dried apricots
  7. 7. B · Severe C. difficile infection
  8. 8. D · Asymptomatic bacteriuria, usually not treated with antibiotics

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