This document provides information about blood chemistry tests. It defines blood chemistry as identifying chemical substances found in blood. Important blood chemistry tests measure levels of substances that can indicate the functioning of organs like the liver and kidneys. These include tests for liver enzymes, kidney function, blood sugar, blood fats, blood proteins, and calcium. Abnormal results on these tests can help diagnose conditions affecting the organs they reflect. The document also outlines how blood chemistry tests are performed and some potential side effects.

1. BLOOD CHEMISTRY
GROUP 3

2. HEMATOLOGY:
The study of blood is called hematology.
It is the medical term related to blood often begin with
HEMO or HEMATO. From Greek word HAIMA for blood.
BLOOD DEFINITION:
Blood is a body fluid in organisms that delivers necessary substances i.e.;
nutrients, gases and hormones.
NUTRIENTS:
Carbohydrates
Protein
Minerals
Water
GASES:
Carbon dioxide CO2
Oxygen
HORMONES:
Hormones make in blood stream such as insulin.
INTRODUCTION TO BLOOD

3. 2 ORGANS:
There are two 2 organ system:
Circulatory system (include blood)
Cardiovascular system (do not have blood)
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
PH: (7.35-7.45) blood should maintain PH.
TEMPERATURE: temperature of blood is slightly higher than body temperature (100.4
degree F).
VISCOSITY: blood is 5 times viscous than pure water.
COLOR: all blood is red because it contain iron in RBC. Variation of blood is because of :
high & low concentration of oxygen.
QUANTITY: normal adult body contain 4-6 liter blood …while woman have less blood than
man.
COMPOSITION OF BLOOD:
Plasma
Formed elements/ cells
WHAT ORGAN SYSTEM DOES BLOOD BELONG
TO?

4. PLASMA: blood contain 55% of plasma. It is yellow in color. Plasma further
contain: water 92% protein 7% and other solutes 1%. Other solutes mean organic
waste (urea), organic nutrients (glucose) n electrolyte (charged molecule which
contain electricity e.g.: Ca, Na, Ph, Mg.
FORMED ELEMENTS/CELLS:
There are three 3 types of cells:
red blood cells/ Erythrocytes
White blood cells/ leukocytes
Platelets/ Thrombocytes.
FUNCTION:
Blood mainly perform three 3 functions:
Transportation
Regulation
Protection
TRANSPORTATION: blood usually transport nutrients (protein, carbohydrates,
minerals, water n glucose) gases (oxygen O2 n carbon dioxide CO2) waste
products (urea) & hormones (hormones make in blood stream such as INSULIN).

5. REGULATION:
 blood regulate PH (acid/base balance), buffer taken or release acid if
needed & maintain PH. PH 7.4 is acidic in nature.
Body temperature: we get warm while doing excursive blood vessel in our
skin tend to dilate then the heat comes out from body & thus minimize
temperature same if feel cool then blood vessel squeeze & no air will allow to
pass in body.
Protection: your blood has special cells in it that fight disease & infection.
These cells called white blood cells WBC, are produced in your bones.
It work like an army to attack & kill harmful germs that
get into your body. When an infection develops on your
skin E.g.: the bone marrow produced more white blood
cells than usual. These white cells move to the area
where the germ are & actually chew at the tissue
around the germ, and soften & liquefy it. The
white cell then break a part & along with the
destroyed germs & liquefied tissue, from the
thick yellow-white substance called PUS.
The pus oozes out of the infection slowly & dries up as the wound heals.
Even through WBC are necessary to the body, too many of them can cause a
disease called LEUKEMIA, a cancer of blood.

6. COMPONENTS OF BLOOD
Blood is a specialized body fluid. It has 4 main components
Plasma
Red blood cells (RBCs)
White blood cells (WBCs)
Platelets
PLASMA
The liquid component of blood in which RBCs, WBCs and platelets are suspended is called
plasma
Plasma is a mixture of water sulpher, fat, protein and salts

7. The main job of the plasma is to transport blood cells throughout the body
The major protein plasma is albumin
Albumin help keep fluid from leaking out of blood vessels and into tissue
Other protein in plasma include antibodies that defend the body against viruses, bacteria
and cancer cells etc.
RBCs:
RBCs also called erythrocytes make up about 40% of blood volume
The shape of RBCs is like donut.
RBCs contain hemoglobin, a protein that gives blood its red colour and enable it to carry
oxygen from the lungs and divides it to all body tissue.
When the number of RBCs is too low (anemia) blood carries less oxygen, Fatigue and
weakness develop
When number of red blood cells is too high, blood can become too thick which may
cause the blood clot and increase the risk of heart attack.

8. WBCS:
WBCs also called leukocytes are fewer in number than red blood cells with the
ratio of about 1 WBC to every 600-700 RBCs.
WBCs are responsible for defending the body against infections.
There are two main types of WBCs
1. Neutrophils
2. Lymphocyte
Neutrophils help to protect the body against infections by killing and ingesting
bacteria and fungi
In Lymphocytes two main cell are present,
T-lymphocytes; help to regulate the function of other immune cells
And directly attack various infected cells and tumors
B-lymphocytes: make antibiotic which use protein that specially target bacteria
viruses etc.
When WBCs are too low Leukopenia infection occurs
A higher than the normal number of white blood cells cause leukocytosis

9. PLATELETS:
These are also called Thrombocytes: cell like particles that are smaller than red
and white blood cells.
Platelets are fewer in number than RBCs, with a ratio of about 1 platelet to 20
RBCs.
Platelets help the blood clotting process by gathering at the bleeding site and
clumping together to form a plug that help seal the blood vessel
When the number of platelets is too low (thrombocytopenia) abnormal bleeding
become more likely.
When the number of platelets is too high, (thrombocythemia)
Blood may clot excessively causing a stroke or heart attack.

10. BLOOD CHEMISTRY:
“blood-chemistry is defined as identifying the numerous chemical substances found in
the blood’’
BLOOD TESTS:
Blood chemistry tests are those that measure the level of several substance in the blood.
Analysis of blood chemistry can provide important information about the function of kidney and
other organs. This common panel of blood tests measure level of Glucose or blood sugar that is
broken down into body cell to provide energy
The result of these tests give your health care provider important information about your general
health status how well organs like the liver and kidney are working.
These are some important blood chemistry tests:
1. Liver test
2. Kidney test
3. Blood sugar test(glucose)
4. Blood fat test(lipids)
5. Blood protein test
6. Calcium test

11. LIVER FUNCTION TEST:
• When the liver is damaged, it releases substances
called enzymes into the blood and levels of proteins
produced by the liver begin to drop.
By measuring the levels of these enzymes and
proteins, it's possible to build up a picture of how well
the liver is functioning.
• Liver blood tests are designed to show evidence that
abnormalities, for example, inflammation, liver cell
damage, has or is occurring within the liver.
• This can help to diagnose certain liver conditions,
including hepatitis(liver infection), cirrhosis (liver
scarring), and alcohol-related liver disease(liver
damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption).
• The blood tests most frequently use these enzymes
for liver disease are the aminotransferase (alanine
Aminotransferase or ALT and aspartate
Aminotransferase or AST).
• Aminotransferase enzymes help speed up the
chemical reactions in the body that are found mainly
in the Liver.

12. KIDNEY FUNCTION TEST:
• Blood tests for kidney function measure levels of blood urea
nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine. Both of these are the waste
products that kidney filter out of the body. Abnormal BUN and
creatinine levels may be signs of a kidney disease or disorder.
• Urea is a nitrogen-containing waste product that is created when
the body breaks down protein.
• Improper working of kidneys, dehydration, excessive bleeding and
severe infection leading to shock can raise BUN levels.
• Kidneys filter and excrete creatinine ; if they are not working as
they should, creatinine can build up in the bloodstream.
• Dehydration and muscle damage can raise creatinine levels and if
creatinine level gets high in the blood, it indicate that kidneys are
not working properly.

13. BLOOD SUGAR TEST:
• Glucose is the type of sugar that the body uses for energy.
Abnormal glucose level in your blood may be a sign of
diabetes, inflammation of pancreas or liver disease.
• High blood sugar levels(Hyperglycemia) can be a sign of
Diabetes or insulin resistance(when the body does not respond
to insulin, a hormone to help control glucose levels).
• Routine blood glucose tests are done at any time with no
preparation. The normal range is 80 to 110 mg/dL. Shortly
after eating, the blood glucose level may rise temporarily up to
140 mg/dL. With repeated tests, a glucose level greater than
200 mg/dL may indicate diabetes.

14. • A postprandial glucose test determines the amount of glucose in
the blood after a meal. A 2-hour postprandial blood sugar measures
blood glucose exactly 2 hours after eating a meal. Diabetes is
present if the amount of blood sugar 2 hours after a meal is greater
than 200 % on two separate occasions. Blood sugar values between
140 and 200 mg% is termed “impaired glucose tolerance’’.
• For pre-prandial (fasting) blood glucose tests, you should not eat
anything for several hours before the test. Normal fasting blood
sugar is between 90 and 130 mg/dL.
Diagnosis of diabetes is made when two separate blood tests show
your fasting blood glucose level greater than or equal to 140
mg/dL.
• Home blood sugar testing : A blood glucose meter is an
electronic device for measuring the blood glucose at home. It is
performed by pricking your finger with a small, sharp needle
(lancet), putting a drop of blood on a chemically active disposable
test strip and then placing the strip into a digital meter that displays
your blood sugar level.

15. BLOOD FAT TEST:
• This test is used to identify the cholesterol and
triglycerides level in your blood. Higher cholesterol
level can increase the risk of the heart attack or stroke.
Higher triglycerides can increase the risk of damage to
the pancreas (Pancreatitis).
• Total cholesterol level: Cholesterol is a fatty substance
that circulates in the blood. It is best to keep your total
cholesterol level below 200.
• Low-density lipoproteins (LDL): This is bad
cholesterol. It is the main source of cholesterol build
and blockages in the artery. It is best to keep your
LDL level below 100-130.
• High-density lipoproteins (HDL): It is the good
cholesterol that helps decrease the blockages in the
artery. It is best to keep your HDL level up to at least
40.
• Triglycerides: it is a type of fat in the blood. It is the
chemical form in which most fat exists in the food as
well as the body. It is the best to keep your
triglycerides level below 150.

16. BLOOD PROTEIN TEST:
Protein test measures the total amount of protein in the blood. It
also measures the amounts of two major groups of proteins in the
blood: albumin and globulin.
Albumin is mainly in the liver. It helps keep the blood from leaking
out of blood vessels.
Globulin is also present in the liver and immune system. Certain
globulins bind with hemoglobin while others transport metals such
as iron in the blood and help fight infection.
The test can help diagnose a number of health conditions including:
 Kidney disease
 Liver disease
 Malnutrition – where a person’s diet doesn’t contain enough
nutrients to meet their body needs.
If your total protein level is low, you may have a liver or kidney
disorder, or a disorder where protein is not digested or absorbed
properly.
A high protein level could indicate dehydration or a certain type of
cancer, such as multiple myeloma, that cause protein to accumulate
abnormally.

17. BLOOD CALCIUM TEST:
 The calcium blood test measures the level of calcium in the blood
that is not stored in the bones.
 Calcium is an important mineral in the body.
 The body needs it to build and fix bones and teeth, help nerves work,
make muscles squeeze together, help blood clot and help the heart to
work. Normal value is 8.4-10.2 mEq/dl.
 Most of the calcium is stored in bones, rest is found in the blood.
 When blood calcium level gets low (hypocalcaemia), the bones
release calcium to bring it back to a good level
 When blood calcium level gets high (hypercalcaemia), the extra
calcium is stored in the bones or passed out of body through urine
and stool
 Abnormal calcium levels in the blood may be a sign of kidney
problems, bone disease, thyroid disease, cancer, malnutrition or
another disorder
 Calcium deficiency causes a lot of problems including muscle
spasms, cramps, soft bones, brittle bones, poor growth, osteoporosis,
brittle nails, insomnia and blood cholesterol etc.

18. WHY A BLOOD CHEMISTRY
TEST IS DONE?
A blood chemistry test maybe done to:
 Evaluate a person’s general health status
 Evaluate organ function
 Evaluate body’s electrolyte balance
 Identify organ damage or injury
 Identify damage tissues that secrete chemicals into the blood

19. HOW A BLOOD CHEMISTRY TEST IS DONE
 Fasting overnight maybe required specially if certain
chemicals (such as glucose and lipid levels are being tested)
 Blood is taken from the vein in the arm
 An elastic band is wrapped around the upper arm to apply
pressure to the area and makes the vein swell
 The person may be asked to open and close the fist to make the
veins stand out more
 A needle is inserted in the vein and small amount of blood is
removed
 Sample collection, labelling and naming

20.  Band aid is applied
 For some tests, blood sample is allowed to clot and clear yellow
fluid (serum) that forms above the clot is carefully separated and
removed for analysis
 The sample is sent to the laboratory to be analyzed by special
machines examined under a microscope or both
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OF HAVING A BLOOD
CHEMISTRY TEST
Potential side effects of having a blood chemistry tests include:
 Bleeding
 Bruising
 Infection
*Bruising is an underlying tissues or bone in which skin is not
broken