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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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

What does a "culture and sensitivity" test of a sample show?

  1. AHow many white cells are present in the sample
  2. BThe amount of antibiotic in the patient's blood
  3. CWhich organism grows and which antibiotics work on it
  4. DWhether the patient is allergic to an antibiotic
2.Easy

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

  1. ALactate dehydrogenase
  2. BCardiac troponin
  3. CTotal creatine kinase
  4. DSerum myoglobin
3.Easy

Which laboratory test is used to monitor warfarin therapy?

  1. AD-dimer
  2. BPlatelet count
  3. CPT with INR
  4. DaPTT
4.Medium

A patient is starting dabigatran, a direct oral anticoagulant. Which laboratory test is most important to review before the first dose?

  1. AKidney function (creatinine clearance)
  2. BINR, to set the dose of the anticoagulant
  3. CTSH, to rule out an overactive thyroid gland
  4. DLipase, to rule out an inflamed pancreas first
5.Medium

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

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

A week after a splenectomy, a patient's platelet count is 650 × 10³/µL. What is the best interpretation?

  1. AA sign of new leukemia that needs immediate chemotherapy
  2. BA sign of iron overload from the surgery and transfusion
  3. CA laboratory error, because platelets fall after splenectomy
  4. DAn expected rise after splenectomy that increases clot risk
7.Hard

An aPTT result is extremely high, but the nurse learns that the sample was taken from the arm where the heparin infusion runs. What is the best action?

  1. AStop the heparin infusion permanently and inform the provider
  2. BGive protamine at once to reverse the heparin
  3. CAccept the result and halve the infusion rate
  4. DRequest a new sample from the opposite arm before the dose is adjusted
8.Hard

After a crush injury, a patient's urine dipstick is strongly positive for blood, but microscopy shows almost no red cells. CK is very high. What best explains this?

  1. AThe sample was contaminated with menstrual blood
  2. BBleeding is coming from the bladder lining
  3. CMyoglobin from damaged muscle is in the urine
  4. DA kidney stone is scraping the ureter lining

Answer key

  1. 1. C · Which organism grows and which antibiotics work on it
  2. 2. B · Cardiac troponin
  3. 3. C · PT with INR
  4. 4. A · Kidney function (creatinine clearance)
  5. 5. B · Anti-HBs of 10 mIU/mL or more
  6. 6. D · An expected rise after splenectomy that increases clot risk
  7. 7. D · Request a new sample from the opposite arm before the dose is adjusted
  8. 8. C · Myoglobin from damaged muscle is in the urine

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