Clinical Chemistry Tests

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Clinical Chemistry Tests

Clinical chemistry refers to the biochemical analysis of body fluids. It uses chemical reactions to determine the levels of various chemical compounds in bodily fluids. Several simple chemical tests are used to detect and quantify different compounds in blood and urine, the most commonly tested specimens in clinical chemistry.

Techniques such as spectrophotometry, immunoassays, and electrophoresis are also used in clinical chemistry to measure the concentration of substances such as glucose, lipids, enzymes, electrolytes, hormones, proteins, and other metabolic products present in human blood and urine.

Specimens tested in clinical analysis:
Serum- Serum is the most common specimen tested - it is obtained by centrifugation of coagulated blood. Serum contains no blood cells or clotting factors but has electrolytes, hormones, antigens, antibodies, and other substances such as drugs, microbes, and proteins not used in coagulation.

Plasma- Plasma is obtained by centrifugation of uncoagualted blood. It contains blood cells, clotting factors, glucose, electrolytes (such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, chloride), hormones, and proteins (such as albumins, fibrinogen, and globulins).

Urine- Clinical tests usually require a 24-hour urine collection. The collection container usually contains a preservative.

Cerebrospinal Fluid- CSF is a clear fluid present in the brain and spine which is largely similar to blood plasma though it differs by containing nearly no protein. It is usually analyzed in clinical chemistry to identify or rule out meningitis.

Key parameters tested and their significance:

Carbohydrate- Glucose levels indicate the body’s efficiency in metabolizing glucose. Fasting and random glucose levels in blood help in the diagnosis of endocrinological disorders such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and diabetes.

Lipids- Lipids are present in different forms as body fat, as part of cell membranes, and as sterols such as cholesterol. Lipid levels can help diagnose liver and heart disease in humans.

Enzymes- Measuring the levels of enzymes released by organs into the blood can indicate problems with the particular organ.

Hormones- Hormones secreted by endocrine glands of our body regulate various processes. An increase or decrease in hormone levels can signal hyperactive or hypoactive glands respectively.

Proteins- The concentration of proteins in the body can be indicative of nutritional and metabolic disorders and some forms of cancer.

Electrolytes- The levels of various electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate, phosphorus, and magnesium in the body can help diagnose some kidney and metabolic disorders.

Metabolites- Some metabolic products can be measured to assess the functioning of certain organs.

For example, levels of urea, nitrogen and creatinine in the blood are indicators of kidney function. Similarly, uric acid levels can signal kidney disease, gout, and damage to other tissues. Blood and urine tests that give abnormal results are usually repeated to make sure there is no sample or lab error and are also followed up by more specialized clinical tests.

Media Contact:
Allison Grey
Journal Manager
Journal of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
Whatsapp no.-  +1(504)608-2390
Email: jcclm@molecularbiol.com
Online submission: https://www.scholarscentral.org/submissions/clinical-chemistry-laboratory-medicine.html