ESSENTIAL LABORATORY TESTS IN THE MICU UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Chem 10 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A panel that includes Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Chloride,
Bicarb, BUN, Creatinine, and Glucose.
Sodium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An essential electrolyte that helps regulate water balance and is
critical for nerve and muscle function.
Potassium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An electrolyte important for heart function, muscle
contraction, and nerve signaling.
Hemolyzed - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Refers to the breakdown of red blood cells, which can affect
lab results, particularly potassium levels.
Magnesium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An essential mineral involved in over 300 biochemical
reactions in the body.
Chloride - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and is important
for digestion.
Bicarb - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Bicarbonate, a buffer that helps maintain the body's pH balance.
BUN - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Blood Urea Nitrogen, a measure of kidney function and protein
metabolism.
Creatinine - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A waste product from muscle metabolism, used to assess
kidney function.
Glucose - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A simple sugar that is a primary energy source for the body's
cells.
,Acetone - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A type of ketone that can be present in urine and blood, often
associated with diabetes.
HbA1C - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A measure of average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3
months, used to diagnose and monitor diabetes.
Calcium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A mineral essential for bone health, muscle function, and nerve
signaling.
Ionized Calcium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The biologically active form of calcium in the blood.
Corrected Calcium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A calculation used to determine the true calcium level
in the presence of abnormal albumin levels.
Calcium and Citrate Toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A condition resulting from excessive calcium
or citrate levels, leading to various health issues.
Phosphorus - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An essential mineral important for energy production and
bone health.
Lactate - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, elevated levels can indicate
tissue hypoxia.
Osmolality - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A measure of the concentration of solutes in blood or urine,
important for assessing hydration status.
Amylase - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates, elevated levels can
indicate pancreatitis.
Lipase - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An enzyme that helps digest fats, often elevated in cases of
pancreatitis.
,Ammonia - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A waste product from protein metabolism, elevated levels can
indicate liver dysfunction.
Albumin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A protein made by the liver, important for maintaining oncotic
pressure and transporting substances in the blood.
Creatinine Clearance - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A test that measures the rate at which creatinine is
cleared from the blood by the kidneys.
Uric Acid - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A waste product formed from the breakdown of purines,
elevated levels can lead to gout.
Myoglobin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A protein found in muscle tissue, elevated levels can indicate
muscle injury.
Urinalysis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A test that examines the content and appearance of urine, used
to assess various health conditions.
24-hour urine collections - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A test that measures the total amount of urine
produced in a day, used to assess kidney function.
Urine electrolytes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Tests that measure the levels of electrolytes in urine,
important for assessing kidney function and hydration.
Dilantin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to control seizures, monitored through blood
levels.
Valproate - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat seizures and mood disorders,
monitored through blood levels.
Tegretol - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat seizures and nerve pain, monitored
through blood levels.
, Lithium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat bipolar disorder, monitored through
blood levels.
Theophylline - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat respiratory diseases, monitored
through blood levels.
Thiocyanate - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A compound monitored in patients receiving certain
medications, such as for thyroid conditions.
Vancomycin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An antibiotic monitored through blood levels to ensure
therapeutic dosing.
Gentamicin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An antibiotic monitored through blood levels to avoid toxicity.
Digoxin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat heart conditions, monitored through
blood levels.
Tacrolimus, cyclosporine - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Immunosuppressive medications monitored
through blood levels to prevent rejection in transplant patients.
Peaks, Troughs, and Random Levels - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Measurements of drug levels at
specific times to ensure proper dosing and avoid toxicity.
Tylenol - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An over-the-counter pain reliever, monitored in cases of
overdose.
Salicylates - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A group of drugs including aspirin, monitored for toxicity.
Opiates - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A class of drugs used for pain relief, monitored for overdose and
dependency.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Chem 10 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A panel that includes Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Chloride,
Bicarb, BUN, Creatinine, and Glucose.
Sodium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An essential electrolyte that helps regulate water balance and is
critical for nerve and muscle function.
Potassium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An electrolyte important for heart function, muscle
contraction, and nerve signaling.
Hemolyzed - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Refers to the breakdown of red blood cells, which can affect
lab results, particularly potassium levels.
Magnesium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An essential mineral involved in over 300 biochemical
reactions in the body.
Chloride - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and is important
for digestion.
Bicarb - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Bicarbonate, a buffer that helps maintain the body's pH balance.
BUN - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Blood Urea Nitrogen, a measure of kidney function and protein
metabolism.
Creatinine - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A waste product from muscle metabolism, used to assess
kidney function.
Glucose - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A simple sugar that is a primary energy source for the body's
cells.
,Acetone - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A type of ketone that can be present in urine and blood, often
associated with diabetes.
HbA1C - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A measure of average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3
months, used to diagnose and monitor diabetes.
Calcium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A mineral essential for bone health, muscle function, and nerve
signaling.
Ionized Calcium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The biologically active form of calcium in the blood.
Corrected Calcium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A calculation used to determine the true calcium level
in the presence of abnormal albumin levels.
Calcium and Citrate Toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A condition resulting from excessive calcium
or citrate levels, leading to various health issues.
Phosphorus - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An essential mineral important for energy production and
bone health.
Lactate - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, elevated levels can indicate
tissue hypoxia.
Osmolality - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A measure of the concentration of solutes in blood or urine,
important for assessing hydration status.
Amylase - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates, elevated levels can
indicate pancreatitis.
Lipase - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An enzyme that helps digest fats, often elevated in cases of
pancreatitis.
,Ammonia - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A waste product from protein metabolism, elevated levels can
indicate liver dysfunction.
Albumin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A protein made by the liver, important for maintaining oncotic
pressure and transporting substances in the blood.
Creatinine Clearance - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A test that measures the rate at which creatinine is
cleared from the blood by the kidneys.
Uric Acid - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A waste product formed from the breakdown of purines,
elevated levels can lead to gout.
Myoglobin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A protein found in muscle tissue, elevated levels can indicate
muscle injury.
Urinalysis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A test that examines the content and appearance of urine, used
to assess various health conditions.
24-hour urine collections - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A test that measures the total amount of urine
produced in a day, used to assess kidney function.
Urine electrolytes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Tests that measure the levels of electrolytes in urine,
important for assessing kidney function and hydration.
Dilantin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to control seizures, monitored through blood
levels.
Valproate - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat seizures and mood disorders,
monitored through blood levels.
Tegretol - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat seizures and nerve pain, monitored
through blood levels.
, Lithium - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat bipolar disorder, monitored through
blood levels.
Theophylline - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat respiratory diseases, monitored
through blood levels.
Thiocyanate - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A compound monitored in patients receiving certain
medications, such as for thyroid conditions.
Vancomycin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An antibiotic monitored through blood levels to ensure
therapeutic dosing.
Gentamicin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An antibiotic monitored through blood levels to avoid toxicity.
Digoxin - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A medication used to treat heart conditions, monitored through
blood levels.
Tacrolimus, cyclosporine - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Immunosuppressive medications monitored
through blood levels to prevent rejection in transplant patients.
Peaks, Troughs, and Random Levels - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Measurements of drug levels at
specific times to ensure proper dosing and avoid toxicity.
Tylenol - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅An over-the-counter pain reliever, monitored in cases of
overdose.
Salicylates - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A group of drugs including aspirin, monitored for toxicity.
Opiates - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A class of drugs used for pain relief, monitored for overdose and
dependency.
