Lab values & electrolytes worksheet with answers

Serum creatinine comes mainly from:

1. AThe normal breakdown of creatine in muscle
2. BThe breakdown of dietary fat in the liver
3. CThe breakdown of old red cells in the spleen
4. DThe digestion of protein by gut bacteria

What is the purpose of a type and crossmatch before a transfusion?

1. ATo test the donor blood for bacterial contamination only
2. BTo find out how quickly the patient's blood forms a clot
3. CTo check that donor blood is compatible with the patient's blood
4. DTo measure how much iron is stored in the patient's bone marrow

At what time of day is serum cortisol normally highest?

1. AEarly morning
2. BLate afternoon
3. CAround midnight
4. DAfter the evening meal

A 55-year-old has a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) during routine screening. What is the usual next step?

1. AReferral for colonoscopy
2. BNo action if there are no symptoms
3. CStart an iron supplement only
4. DRepeat the test in 10 years

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. CGlucose control has been excellent for the past several months
4. DAverage glucose over the past months has been above the target

A patient with a potassium of 2.8 mEq/L has potassium chloride prescribed IV. Which statement about giving it is correct?

1. AIt may be given as a slow IV push over one minute if the level is very low
2. BIt is added to the IV bag without mixing, so it stays at the bottom
3. CIt is given as an undiluted bolus into a large vein to avoid irritation
4. DIt is always diluted and given by infusion pump, never as an IV push

A patient’s vancomycin trough is 28 mcg/mL; the target set by the prescriber is 15–20 mcg/mL. The next dose is due now. What is the best action?

1. AHold the dose, inform the prescriber and check kidney function
2. BGive the dose over a shorter time to reduce exposure
3. CGive the dose as scheduled and recheck the trough level in a week
4. DGive a double dose to finish the course faster

A middle-aged man has fatigue, joint pain, a raised ALT and new diabetes. His ferritin is very high and his transferrin saturation is above 60%. Which condition is most likely?

1. AHereditary hemochromatosis
2. BAnemia of chronic disease
3. CIron-deficiency anemia
4. DAcute viral hepatitis A