| Question | Answer |
| anticoagulant | substance that prevents the blood from forming a clot |
| blood chemistry analyzer | machine that runs blood samples that measure routine blood chemistries and electrolytes |
| blood plasma | blood sample that is frozen and then centrifuged to obtain plasma |
| blood serum | liquid portion of the whole blood sample |
| blood smear | blood film placed on a slide that is used to look at the morphology of the blood cells |
| budding yeast | bacteria that are in the shape of a budding flower |
| buffy coat | the layers within a hematocrit or PCV that form a tiny area of visible white composed of white blood cells and platelets |
| capillary action | the action of blood draining into the tube through gravity |
| catherterized | a long thin, rubber or plastic sterile tube inserted into the bladder through the external urinary opening to collect a urine sample |
| centrifuge | veterinary tool used to spin lab samples at a high rate of speed and force used to separate or concentrate materials suspended in liquid form |
| centrifuge tube | glass or plastic tube that holds samples within a centrifuge |
| chem strip | long thin plastic strip separated by individual square pads containing chemically treated paper |
| cocci | round shaped bacteria |
| commerical serologic test kit | commonly used test kit in a veterinary facility to provide quick and accurate results of common viruses and diseases |
| complete blood cell count | CBC, blood test |
| conical | pointed shaped end |
| Coplin jar | glass container that holds chemicals for use in staining slide samples |
| coverslip | thin piece of glass that fits over the sample on a slide |
| culture and sensitivity | test that determines if a bacterial issue is occuring and what type of bacteria is causing the health issue and what antibiotic should be used in treating the problem |
| cystocentesis | surgical puncture into the bladder using a needle to collect a urine sample |
| decant | process of pouring the urine out of the tube and allowing only the sediment on the bottom to remain in the tube |
| diaphragm mechanism | part of the microscope that allows the slide sample to be moved both up and down and side to side to view the entire sample |
| dip stick | long thin plastic strip separated by individual square pads containing chemically treated paper |
| electrolytes | determine the balance of elements in the body, specifically potassium, sodium, and chloride |
| erythrocytes | red blood cells |
| eye piece | the portion of a microscope that you look through |
| feathered edge | the ataggered area at the end of the slide where the vet or vet tech reads and interprets the blood slide |
| fecal floatation | technique done to sample the fecal material to determine if any parasite eggs are within the sample by placing feces within a liquid |
| fecal sample | used to diagnose internal parasites and the presence of blood within the stool sample |
| fecal smear | preparation by placing a small amount of the fecal sample onto a microscope slide |
| flocculent | contains large amounts of particles called sediment suspended in the urine and appearing cloudy |
| focus knob | the portion of the microscope that allows better visualization of a sample |
| formalin | chemical used to preserve tissue samples |
| Gram negative | bacteria that stains red |
| Gram positive | bacteria that stains purple |
| Gram stain | tests are evaluated to determine presence of bacteria and type of bacteria in a sample |
| gross examination | visible observation of feces |
| hematocrit | measurement of the percentage of red blood cells in whole or unclotted blood |
| hematology | the study of blood |
| hemolysis | the rupture of red blood cells causing a pink coloration to develop in the plasma or serum |
| in house testing | lab samples analyzed within the vet facility |
| lens objective | microscope viewer that offers a variety of different powers |
| medium | gel where organism growth may occur |
| microhematocrit | measurement of the percentage of red blood cells in whole or unclotted blood |
| microhematocrit tube | thin, small, glass tubes that hold blood within a centrifuge |
| midstream | urine collected shortly after the urination begins and just prior to the process ending |
| morphology | the cell structure, shape, color and appearance in numbers |
| necropsy | procedure done by examining the body of a deceased animal to determine the cause of death |
| oil immersion | the use of specialized oil substance that is placed over a sample in order to view the contents |
| packed cell volume | measurement of the percentage of red blood cells in whole or unclotted blood |
| panel | individual blood test |
| plasma protein | measures the ratio of protein within the blood and helps vets determine the hydration status and inflammation occurrence in patients |
| reagent | chemicals are used to run each individual test in a kit |
| reagent strip | chemical test strip used to analyze urine or blood on a long thin plastic strip sepearated by individual square pads containing a chemically treated paper |
| reference lab | lab samples analyzed outside of the facility in a commercial lab |
| refractometer | tools used to measure the weight of a liquid and determine a liquids pH level |
| rods | oblong bacteria shape |
| rotors | wheels in a centrifuge that spin at a variety of speeds depending on the sample type |
| SNAP test | a serologic test |
| specific gravity | the weight of liquid |
| stage | part of the microscope that is the flat section under the lens |
| total protein | measures the ration of protein within the blood and helps vets determine the hydration status and inflammation, also called plasma protein |
| urinalysis | break down of urine components to determine a diagnosis |
| vacutainer tube | tube used to place blood samples in for future sampling |
| voided | urine sample collected as the animal is urinating |
| whole blood | blood sample placed in a lavendar top tube to prevent clotting |
