Definition:

Coagulation. It's usually in reference to coagulation time, which is the time it takes for the blood to clot.

Usage:

The patient's leukaemia explains the abnormal coag time.

Synonyms:

clotting time

Created Jul 07, 2009

Definition:

Differential; A blood cell count in which the percentages of cell types are calculated as well as the total number of cells.

Usage:

The patient had a complete blood count with diff.

Synonyms:

Differential

Created Jul 07, 2009

Definition:

Pulse oximeter. It is sensor that is placed on a thin part of the patient's anatomy, usually a fingertip or earlobe, to measure the level of oxygenation in the blood.

Usage:

Bobby kept ripping off his pulse ox and throwing it on the floor. Apparently that's amusing to an eight-year-old.

Synonyms:

pulse oximetry

Created Jul 07, 2009

Definition:

Any sharp instrument or object such as hypodermic needles, suture needles, scalpel blades, IV catheters, and razor blades. Sharps are often disposable/single-use and then required to be disposed of in a sharps bin or sharps container.

Usage:

Circulator to Scrub: How many sharps?

Synonyms:

sharp

Created Jul 07, 2009

Definition:

Individuals who take blood samples, often lab techs and phlebotomists.

Usage:

Again?! That leech was just in here an hour ago!

Synonyms:

vampires, blood suckers

Created Nov 08, 2009

Definition:

Complete blood count. It's an all-purpose blood test used to diagnose various illnesses and afflictions.

Usage:

Get a CBC.

Synonyms:

complete blood count

Created Nov 15, 2009

Definition:

Anemia. It's is a decrease in normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin deficiency.

Usage:

My patient has low blood.

Synonyms:

anemia, anaemia

Created Jan 21, 2010

Definition:

Reticulocyte blood count test. Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells, typically composing about 1% of the red cells in the human body. Reticulocytes develop and mature in the red bone marrow and then circulate for about a day in the blood stream before developing into mature red blood cells. The normal range of values for reticulocytes in the blood depends on the clinical situation and the lab, but broadly speaking is 0.5% to 1.5%.

Usage:

Her retic count was a little high, which is understandable given her anemia.

Synonyms:

reticulocyte

Created Jan 23, 2010

Definition:

A swollen elbow.

Usage:

Dr 1: How's your night?
Dr 2: Uneventful. A panicked mother was worried about her son's swellbow - that's about it.

Synonyms:

swollen elbow

Created Feb 05, 2010