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

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

A laboratory reports that a blood sample is "hemolyzed." What does this mean?

  1. ARed cells in the sample have broken open
  2. BThe sample contains too many platelets
  3. CThe sample has a very low hemoglobin
  4. DThe sample was taken from an artery
3.Easy

Which liver test is especially sensitive to heavy alcohol use?

  1. ASerum creatinine and BUN
  2. BGamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)
  3. CSerum lipase (pancreatic enzyme)
  4. DCardiac troponin I or T
4.Medium

A test has very high sensitivity for a disease. What does a negative result mean?

  1. AThe result cannot be used, because sensitivity is high
  2. BThe patient must have a different disease instead
  3. CThe disease is certain, so treatment should begin
  4. DThe disease is unlikely, so it helps rule it out
5.Medium

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

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

A patient with schizophrenia is starting clozapine. Which laboratory value must be monitored regularly?

  1. AAbsolute neutrophil count
  2. BSerum lithium level
  3. CInternational normalized ratio
  4. DSerum amylase
7.Hard

A patient with a round face, central weight gain and purple stretch marks has a glucose of 210 mg/dL (11.7 mmol/L) and a potassium of 3.1 mEq/L. Which condition fits best?

  1. ACushing syndrome
  2. BHypothyroidism
  3. CDiabetes insipidus
  4. DAdrenal insufficiency
8.Hard

A patient with acute pancreatitis has a rising BUN, a falling calcium and a glucose of 250 mg/dL (13.9 mmol/L) over the first 48 hours. What do these results suggest?

  1. AAn unrelated new kidney stone
  2. BIncreasingly severe pancreatitis
  3. CA resolving, mild pancreatitis
  4. DA lab error from lipemic samples

Answer key

  1. 1. A · Your blood takes about twice as long as normal to clot
  2. 2. A · Red cells in the sample have broken open
  3. 3. B · Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)
  4. 4. D · The disease is unlikely, so it helps rule it out
  5. 5. C · Heart failure is an unlikely cause of the breathlessness
  6. 6. A · Absolute neutrophil count
  7. 7. A · Cushing syndrome
  8. 8. B · Increasingly severe pancreatitis

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