Laboratory MedNews

By: Engracia Arceo

If you suspect you have hepatitis, the hepatitis laboratory tests will help you confirm your suspicions. The liver problem is due to virus but alcohol, drugs, chemicals and autoimmune and inherited disease can also cause the inflammation. Although the illness can go for several years untreated, if you keep on ignoring the symptoms, it can worsen to liver cirrhosis, cancer and even death. To prevent the complications, here are the possible hepatitis laboratory tests you can requests.

Blood Chemistry

When you see the yellowish discoloration in your skin or feel pain in the right upper quadrant of your abdomen, your physician may request for hepatitis laboratory tests to rule out liver problems. Some of the important blood tests include serum bilirubin determination, proteins, the liver enzyme levels and test for coagulation. During a liver problem, you will expect an elevated level of these substances. When correlated with the signs and symptoms you present, they help your doctor make a better diagnosis on your condition.

Serological Tests

To make a more definite diagnosis, the serological types of hepatitis laboratory tests are more confirmatory than the blood chemistry tests. They detect for the presence of the antigen of the virus or for the antibodies produced in response to the microorganisms. Different kits are available from manufacturers to detect the specific virus causing the inflammation. The test requires blood specimen extracted by a qualified medical technologist. You just have to wait for a few minutes to get the result of your hepatitis laboratory tests.

Biopsy

If the two hepatitis laboratory tests remain inconclusive, your doctor may use liver biopsy as another option to detect the cause of the problem. The doctor will insert a needle to aspirate a sample of the liver cells and the pathologist will do the microscopic examination. Because the procedure is an invasive method, it is very seldom requested.

If you think you have hepatitis, consult your doctor at once to get an accurate diagnosis.

In the laboratory, it is crucial that the clinical laboratory scientist performs the tests reliably, because the doctor bases his diagnosis on these laboratory results. Any source of error therefore is eliminated to ensure that all results are accurate. One source of unreliable results is hemolysis.   Hemolysis is the destruction or rupture of red blood cells (RBCs) causing the release of hemoglobin.   An indication of hemolysis is a pink colored serum or plasma.

Here are pointers to avoid hemolysis in blood samples.

1. Do not use wet materials because water is a hypotonic solution that causes lysis of RBCs.

2. Do not squirt blood directly into the test tube. The rapid flow may cause hemolysis. Allow the blood instead to ooze at the sides of the tube.

3. Remove the needle before transferring the blood to appropriate containers, the small opening of the needle may cause hemolysis.

4. Do not centrifuge blood if it still has not clotted properly.

5. Do not rim or ring the blood several times. This is one major source of hemolysis.

6. Do not freeze whole blood right after collection.

7. Do not vigorously shake whole blood, to avoid hemolysis in blood samples.

8. Do not expose the whole blood specimen to excessively low and hot temperatures.

9. Do not prolong tourniquet application more than necessary.

10.  Transfer the serum immediately to a different container to reduce the propensity for hemolysis.

11.  Do not pull the plunger too quickly. If the bore of the needle is small, it may cause hemolysis

12.   Allow the site to dry first after sterilization.  The alcohol still present in the area may come in contact with your sample and may produce hemolysis.

13.  There should be a proper angle of the needle to the vein to avoid transfixation, which may cause hemolysis.

14.  Any application of mechanical trauma or pressure on the blood sample will cause hemolysis, whether during collection, processing, or transportation.

Avoid hemolysis in blood samples at all cost, as this would produce unreliable results.  Unreliable results would lead to misdiagnosis. Misdiagnosis by the doctor because of your inaccurate results would endanger the life of the patient.  Remember these pointers on how to avoid hemolysis in blood samples and feel confident and secure that you are giving out your best service to patients.  Consider each patient as an important individual who deserves to  receive reliable results.