During venipuncture what should you do with the pt?
Keep them as still and quite as possible.
What veins are used for dogs?
Jugular: Used to obtain lg amts of blood
Cephalic: can draw lg amts with lg pts. IVC placement is a contraindication.
Recurrent tarsal
What veins are used with cats?
Jugular: Stressful but preferred due to size.
Cephalic: Used with FELV+ kittens. Usually collapses.
Femoral: Can't draw >1cc
Lateral saphenous
When are needle gauge and syringe size not important?
A. When hemolysis is less likely to affect test results
What does needle length depend on?
C. Species
Birds and sm pets: 3/8"-1/2" needle length
Dogs & cats: 3/4"-1" length unless obese
Lg animal: 1"-3" needle length
Swine: 3" needle for anterior vena cava
</= 25 ga needle is used on what species for what sites?
Birds for cutaneous ulnar, medial saphenous, and jugular
25 ga is used on what species for what sites?
Cats & k9s for lateral saphenous and femoral
22 ga is used on what species for what sites?
cat/ cat sized dogs for jugular
med-lg dogs for cephalic
20 ga is used on what species and for what sites?
med-lg dogs for jugular
sheep/goats for jugular
cattle for tail vein
18 ga is used on what species for what sites?
horses for jugular
cattle for tail vein
16 ga is used on what species for what sites?
swine for ant vena cava
A LTT has what anticoagulant and is used for what test?
EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), CBC
How should you manage your LTT sample?
mix, make BF ASAP, refridgerate
What special considerations should be taken with collection tubes?
If not running tests immediately refridgerate your sample to minimize cell damage, gently and thoroughly mix blood to prevent hemolysis and clotting, make BF ASAP
What anticoagulant does a GreenTT contain and what tests is it used for?
Heparin (prevents conversion of prothrombin to thrombin), used for blood gas determinations
How should you manage your GreenTT sample?
mix it
What does a BlueTT contain and what tests is it used for?
Na Citrate (binds calcium), used for coagulation studies
What is the fluid portion of a BlueTT called?
Citrated plasma
What considerations must be kept in mind with a BlueTT?
The tube must be full b/c the blood:anticoagulant ratio is crucial. After spinning the tube separate off the citrated plasma. Freeze if processing is in >6 hrs, and refridgerate if <6 hrs.
What does a GreyTT contain and what studies is it used for?
Oxylate. used for blood glucose lvl determinations.
How should you manage your GreyTT sample?
mix it
What does a RTT contain and what studies is it used for?
Nothing, used for blood chemistry studies.
How should you manage a RTT sample?
Clot, spin, separate serum ASAP
How do you manage a serum separator RTT sample?
clot, spin, don't need to separate b/c of the waxy barrier.
What does a blue ring crit tube contain and what tests is it used for?
Nothing, used with a LTT for PCV, TP, and BF
What does a red ring crit tube contain and what is it used for?
Heparin, used for PCV and TP directly from the pt
What does a black ring crit tube contain and what is it used for?
Heparin, bird and reptile CBCs.
What is the biggest error in veterinary hematology?
Not gently and thoroughly mixing the sample.
Define plasma
The liquid portion of anti-coagulate WB
Define serum
The liquid portion of clotted WB
What is the anatomy of a spun crit tube from the top down?
Plasma, buffy coat, RBCs, clay
What are normal plasma colors?
Clear/ Straw (NOT yellow)
What are some causes of hemolytic plasma?
Shaking, too sm of a needle with too much backpressure, iv hemolysis
What are some causes of icteric plasma?
biliary stasis, carotenes in diet, ev hemolysis
What are some causes of lipemic plasma?
post prandial, hypothyroid, DM
What time and rate is blood spun at?
5 mins @ 6000 RPMs
What is the size of the buffy coat an indicator of?
WBCs
What do you check the buffy coat for on your microscope?
Microfilariae on 10x
Define PCV
The % of a quantity of blood which is made up of RBCs
What do you measure TP to?
The nearest 0.2 g/dl
What is the sp.gr of dH2O?
1.000
What should the differential for dogs and cats be?
segs 55-85%
lymphs 15-45%
monos & eos 0-5%
basos Rare
What should the differential for a horse be?
segs & lymphs ~50:50
monos & eos 0-5%
basos Rare
What should the differential for a cow be?
lymphs 55-85%
segs 15-45%
monos & eos 0-5%
basos Rare
An RBC count gives what?
An indication of the general amt of RBCs available to the body. A dec can indicate anemia
A WBC count gives what?
An indication of WBCs
Plt count determines what?
Amt of plts in blood. Is quantified
PCV gives what?
% quantity of blood made up of RBCs
TP gives what?
Amount of proteins present in fluid portion of blood
hgb gives what?
Amount of hgb present in RBCs
Define Blood Film
The best evaluation of any cell count is the microscopic evaluation of a well-made and properly stained blood film
What is the procedure for Wrights stain?
Jar 1: Wright's Stain- Place film in for 1-3 mins, tap.
Jar 2: Buffer with 1 pippette of Wright's stain- place film in for 1 min, tap.
Jar 3: dH2O- 7-10 1 sec dips.
What must you use to remove the film from Wright's stain?
Thumb forceps
What is Rouleaux?
Chains or stacks. Think elmers glue.
What is agglutination?
Clusters. Think super glue.
How can you differentiate btwn Rouleaux and agglutination?
