Davis's Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications
Authors
Dedication
Preface
Reviewers

Copyright © 2013 by F. A. Davis Company. All rights reserved.

Authors

Anne M. Van Leeuwen, MA, BS, MT (ASCP)

Debra J. Poelhuis-Leth, MS, RT, (R)(M)

Mickey Lynn Bladh, RN, MSN

Dedication

Inspiration springs from Passion. … Passion is born from unconstrained love, commitment, and a vision no one else can own. Lynda, thank you — I could not have done this without your love, strong support, and belief in me. My gratitude to Mom, Dad, Adele, Gram . . . all my family and friends, for I am truly blessed by your humor and faith. A huge hug for my daughters, Sarah and Margaret — I love you very much. To my puppies, Maggie, Taylor, and Emma, for their endless and unconditional love. Many thanks to my friends and wonderful coauthors Debbie and Mickey; to all the folks at F. A. Davis, especially Rob, Victoria, and Cynthia for their guidance, support, and great ideas. And, very special thanks to Lisa Houck, publisher, for her friendship, excellent direction, and unwavering encouragement.

Anne M. Van Leeuwen, MA, BS, MT (ASCP)

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Sonora Quest Laboratories

Sun City West, Arizona

To Bill, my husband, who always shows his support for my professional endeavors. To my beautiful children, Abbie and Andy, I love you both; please remember to always push yourselves to excel. And to my parents for always showing pride in what I accomplished. Dad, I know you are still watching me from heaven and smiling. Lisa and Rob, your confidence, continued support, guidance, and assistance is always appreciated. Anne and Mickey, we are an awesome team, and I look forward to our continued friendship.

Debra J. Poelhuis-Leth, MS, RT, (R)(M)

Director, Radiology Program

Montgomery County Community College

Pottstown, Pennsylvania

An eternity of searching would never have provided me with a man more loving and supportive than my husband, Eric. He is the sunshine in my soul, and I will be forever grateful for the blessing of his presence in my life. I am grateful to my five children, Eric, Anni, Phillip, Mari, and Melissa, for the privilege of being their mom; always remember that you are limited only by your imagination and willingness to try. To Anne and Deb, thanks so much for the opportunity to spread my wings, for your patience and guidance, and thanks to Lynda for the miracle of finding me. To all of those at F.A. Davis — Rob, Victoria, and Lisa — you are the best. Lastly, to my beloved parents, thanks with hugs and kisses.

Mickey Lynn Bladh, RN, MSN

Coordinator, Nursing Education

Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital

Whittier, California

Preface

Laboratory and diagnostic testing. The words themselves often conjure up cold and impersonal images of needles, specimens lined up in collection containers, and high-tech electronic equipment. But they do not stand alone. They are tied to, bound with, and tell of health or disease in the blood and tissue of a person. Laboratory and diagnostic studies augment the health-care provider’s assessment of the quality of an individual's physical being. Test results guide the plans and interventions geared toward strengthening life's quality and endurance.

Beyond the pounding noise of the MRI, the cold steel of the x-ray table, the sting of the needle, the invasive collection of fluids and tissue, and the probing and inspection is the gathering of evidence that supports the healthcare provider's ability to discern the course of a disease and the progression of its treatment. Laboratory and diagnostic data must be viewed with thought and compassion, however, as well as with microscopes and machines. We must remember that behind the specimen and test result is the person from whom it came, a person who is someone's son, daughter, mother, father, husband, wife, friend.

This book is written to help health-care providers in their understanding and interpretation of laboratory and diagnostic procedures and their outcomes. Just as important, it is dedicated to all health-care professionals who experience the wonders in the science of laboratory and diagnostic testing, performed and interpreted in a caring and efficient manner.

Reviewers

Nell Britton, MSN, RN, CNE

Nursing Faculty

Trident Technical College Nursing Division

Charleston, South Carolina

Cheryl Cassis, MSN, RN

Professor of Nursing

Belmont Technical College

St. Clairsville, Ohio

Pamela Ellis, RN, MSHCA, MSN

Nursing Faculty

Mohave Community College

Bullhead City, Arizona

Stephanie Franks, MSN, RN

Professor of Nursing

St. Louis Community College – Meramec

St. Louis, Missouri

Linda Lott, MSN

AD Nursing Instructor

Itawamba Community College

Fulton, Mississippi

Martha Olson, RN, BSN, MS

Nursing Associate Professor

Iowa Lakes Community College

Emmetsburg, Iowa

Barbara Thompson, RN, BScN,MScN

Professor of Nursing

Sault College

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Edward C. Walton, MS, APN-C, NP-C

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

Galloway, New Jersey

Jean Ann Wilson, RN, BSN

Coordinator Norton Annex

Colby Community College

Norton, Kansas

Notices and Disclaimers

Davis's Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications (the "Content") is a publication of 2013 by F. A. Davis Company ("PUBLISHER"), and copyright © 2013 by F. A. Davis Company.

The Unbound™ handheld platform is copyright © 2000-2013 Unbound Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved.

The user is receiving only a limited right to use the Content and Unbound Platform (jointly referred to as the "Service") for user's own internal or personal use. The user may not reproduce, forward, modify, create derivative works based upon, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense the Service or in any way commingle the Service with other third party content, without PUBLISHER's or Unbound Medicine's consent.

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. NEITHER PUBLISHER, UNBOUND MEDICINE NOR ITS LICENSORS MAKE ANY GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE AS TO THE SERVICE OR THE INFORMATION THEREIN OR ANY WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENTNESS, OR RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM, ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICE, OR ANY MATERIAL REFERENCED IN SUCH SERVICE OR ANY INFORMATION ENTERED INTO THE SERVICE BY USERS OR OTHER PERSONS AND/OR ANY MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON OR THAT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE SERVICE (INCLUDING VIA ANY HYPERLINK OR OTHERWISE) OR AS TO NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE DISCLAIMED. ANY MATERIAL OR DATA OBTAINED THROUGH USE OF THE SERVICE IS AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK AND USER UNDERSTANDS THAT IT WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RESULTING DAMAGE TO ITS COMPUTER SYSTEM OR LOSS OF DATA.

MEDICINE IS AN EVER-CHANGING SCIENCE. AS NEW RESEARCH AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE BROADEN OUT KNOWLEDGE, CHANGES IN TREATMENT AND DRUG THERAPY ARE REQUIRED. IN VIEW OF THE POSSIBILITY OF HUMAN ERROR OR CHANGES IN MEDICAL SCIENCES, NEITHER PUBLISHER, UNBOUND MEDICINE NOR ITS LICENSORS WARRANTS THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE SERVICE IS IN EVERY RESPECT ACCURATE OR COMPLETE, AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OR THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF SUCH INFORMATION. USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONFIRM THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE SERVICE WITH OTHER SOURCES. FOR EXAMPLE, AND IN PARTICULAR, USERS ARE ADVISED TO CHECK THE PRODUCT INFORMATION SHEET INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE OF EACH DRUG THEY PLAN TO ADMINISTER TO BE CERTAIN THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PUBLISHER CONTENT IS ACCURATE AND THAT CHANGES HAVE NOT BEEN MADE IN THE RECOMMENDED DOSE OR IN THE CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION. THIS RECOMMENDATION IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN CONNECTION WITH NEW OR INFREQUENTLY USED DRUGS. NEITHER PUBLISHER NOR ITS LICENSORS SHALL BE LIABLE TO SUBSCRIBER OR TO ANY USER OR ANYONE ELSE FOR ANY INACCURACY, DELAY, INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE, ERROR OR OMISSION, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE, OR FOR ANY DAMAGES RESULTING THEREFROM.

IN NO EVENT WILL PUBLISHER, UNBOUND MEDICINE OR ITS LICENSORS, BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST TIME, LOST MONEY, LOST PROFITS OR GOOD WILL, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT SUCH DAMAGES ARE FORESEEN OR UNFORESEEN ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO: (i) YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE OR USE OF THE SERVICE THROUGH YOUR ACCOUNT BY ANYONE ELSE; (ii) THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE DATA, INFORMATION OR SERVICES; (iii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; OR (iv) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SERVICE. UNBOUND'S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY TO YOU AND ANYONE WHO USES THE SERVICE THROUGH YOUR ACCOUNT, FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS UNDER ANY THEORY OF LAW, WILL NOT EXCEED THE UNUSED PORTION OF FEES PAID FOR THE SERVICE. IF, NOTWITHSTANDING THE OTHER TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, UNBOUND SHOULD HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY LOSS, HARM OR DAMAGE, YOU AND UNBOUND AGREE THAT SUCH LIABILITY SHALL UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEED THE LESSER OF $1,000 OR THE FEES YOU PAID US DURING THE THREE (3) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DAY THE ACT OR OMISSION OCCURRED THAT GAVE RISE TO YOUR CLAIM. YOU AND UNBOUND AGREE THAT THE FOREGOING LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS AN AGREED ALLOCATION OF RISK BETWEEN YOU AND US AND REFLECTS THE FEES, IF ANY, UNBOUND CHARGE YOU TO USE THE SITE AND THE SERVICES. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ABSENT YOUR AGREEMENT TO THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, UNBOUND WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE SITE OR SERVICES TO YOU.