Chemical pathology

Chemical pathology (also known as clinical biochemistry or clinical chemistry) is the area of pathologythat is generally concerned with analysis of bodily fluids.

The discipline originated in the late 19th century with the use of simple chemical tests for various components of blood and urine. Subsequently other techniques were applied including the use and measurement of enzymeactivities, spectrophotometry, electrophoresisand immunoassay.

Most current laboratories are now highly automated and use assays that are closely monitored and quality controlled.

Tests that require examination and measurement of the cells of blood, as well as blood clotting studies, are not included as these are usually grouped under hematology.

All biochemical tests come under chemical pathology. These are usually performed on serum, (the yellow watery part of blood that is left after the blood has been allowed to clot and all blood cells have been removed. This is most easily done by centrifugation which packs the more dense blood cells and platelets to the bottom of the centrifuge tube, leaving the liquid serum fraction resting above the packed cells).

A large laboratorywill accept up to about 700 tests. Even the largest of laboratories rarely does all these tests themselves and some need to be referred to other labs.

This large array of tests can be further sub-categorised into sub- specialities of:

• General or routine chemistry
• Endocrinologyto do with hormones
• Immunologyto do with the study of the immune system and antibodies
• Pharmacologyor Toxicologyto do with the study of drugs

Chemical pathology tests

Common chemical pathology tests include:

• Sodium;
• Potassium;
• Chloride;
• Bicarbonate;
• Urea;
• Creatinine;
• Calcium;
• Phosphate;
• Albumin;
• Bilirubin;
• AST;
• ALT;
• GGT;
• Alkaline phosphatase;
• Magnesium;
• Osmolality;
• Urate;
• Iron;
• Transferrin;
• Total protein;
• Globulins;
• Glucose;
• C-reactive protein;
• HbA1c.
• Blood gases( <math> [H^+], P_{{\mathrm{CO}}_2} , P_{{\mathrm{O}}_2} </math>)

See also

• Reference ranges for common blood testsde:Klinische Chemie

fi:Kliininen kemia fr:Chimie clinique

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical+pathology Wikipedia article Chemical pathology.