Lab values & electrolytes worksheet with answers

What is the difference between serum and plasma?

1. ASerum and plasma are two names for exactly the same fluid
2. BSerum is what is left after blood clots, minus clotting factors
3. CPlasma is the fluid left after blood clots, without fibrinogen
4. DSerum contains all the red cells, while plasma contains none

A patient on warfarin asks what an INR of 2.0 means. Which explanation is best?

1. AYou have twice the normal number of platelets
2. BYour blood takes about twice as long as normal to clot
3. CYour blood clots about twice as fast as is normal
4. DYour warfarin dose is twice what it should be

Which urine test is used to screen people with diabetes for early kidney damage?

1. AA urine culture for bacteria
2. BThe urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR)
3. CA urine pregnancy test
4. DUrine specific gravity

Why is a baseline platelet count taken before starting heparin therapy?

1. ASo a later fall from heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is detected
2. BBecause heparin increases the platelet count to dangerous levels
3. CSo that the INR can be calculated from the platelet count later
4. DBecause heparin is given at a dose based on the platelet count

A nurse completed the hepatitis B vaccine series. Which result shows protective immunity?

1. AA positive HBsAg test
2. BA raised ALT level
3. CAnti-HBs of 10 mIU/mL or more
4. DA positive IgM anti-HBc

A patient taking spironolactone asks about using a salt substitute. What should the nurse explain?

1. AMost salt substitutes contain potassium and can raise the level too high
2. BSalt substitutes are fine as long as the patient drinks more water
3. CSalt substitutes are safe because they contain only sodium chloride
4. DSalt substitutes protect against the potassium loss caused by this drug

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. AMild infection needing no treatment
2. BSuccessful response to treatment
3. CUnrelated chronic kidney disease
4. DSevere C. difficile infection

A patient with a long-standing lung condition has a serum bicarbonate of 32 mEq/L, an arterial PaCO₂ that is always high and a pH of 7.36. Which condition fits best?

1. AAcute diabetic ketoacidosis with severe dehydration and vomiting
2. BAcute aspirin overdose with rapid breathing
3. CCOPD with chronic CO₂ retention and metabolic compensation
4. DAcute severe diarrhea with large bicarbonate losses