Human Anatomy and Physiology Characteristics of Blood

In this lab you will study the formed elements of blood and conduct various
hematological tests. These tests are useful diagnostic tools for the physician because
blood composition reflects the status of many body functions and malfunctions.
In testing your blood, certain health and safety procedures must be observed:
You may only work with your own blood.
Safety glasses must be worn, and gloves when appropriate.
All soiled glassware must be placed in the labeled bleach containers.
All used lancets and platforms must be placed in the labeled bleach containers.
these will be transferred to a bioha!ard bag and autoclaved before disposal"
All soiled disposable items alcohol wipes, swabs, etc" must be placed in the
bioha!ard bag to be autoclaved before disposal"
#ematologic Tests
These tests will re$uire fresh samples of blood from finger stabs, so read carefully
through the tests so you can determine when more than one test can be done from the
same sample. A little preplanning will save you the discomfort of having to puncture
your finger several times.
%hen you are ready to perform a test, obtain a sample of blood by doing the
following: Scrub your third or fourth finger with an alcohol swab. Swing your arm for
&'(&) seconds to dry the alcohol and cause the blood to pool in your fingertips. *sing a
new, sterile lancet, place the Autolet against your cleaned finger pad and press. +nce you
have pierced your finger, $uickly place it in the beaker of bleach solution. ,roceed
$uickly to the planned test s".
&. -etermining #emoglobin .oncentration via the Tall$uist /ethod
A person can be anemic even with a normal 01. count. 1ecause hemoglobin is
the 01. protein responsible for o2ygen transport, perhaps the most accurate way of
measuring the o2ygen(carrying capacity of the blood is to determine its hemoglobin
content. The more hemoglobin molecules the 01.s contain, the more o2ygen they will
be able to transport. 3ormal blood for a woman contains &4(&5 g of hemoglobin per &''
m6 of blood. In men, the range is &7(&8 g.
a" ,lace one good(si!ed drop of blood on the special absorbent paper from the
Tall$uist scale booklet. The stain should be larger than the holes on the Tall$uist color
chart.
b" As soon as the drop has dried and is no longer glossy in appearance, match its
color with the color standards by moving the specimen paper under the comparison chart,
trying all the openings until you obtain a color match. If your sample is intermediate
between two color standards, you may need to estimate your hemoglobin percentage.
c" 0ecord your results as the percentage of hemoglobin concentration and as g9&''
m6 :::::::: g 9 &'' m6 blood ::::::::: ;
d" -ispose of the paper sample in the bioha!ard bag.
Note: the Tallquist standard for l00% hemoglobin corresponds to l5.6 g Hb per l00 ml
blood. Convert percent values to g Hb per 100 ml blood.
4. 1lood typing.
1lood typing is a system for classifying blood based on the presence or absence of
specific glycoproteins located on the outer surface of the 01. plasma membrane. Such
proteins are called antigens, or agglutinogens, and are genetically determined. Also
genetically determined are the presence of certain antibodies, or agglutinins, possibly
present in the plasma. Study the discussion of blood groups and typing on pages 7')(7'8
in your book. You will test your blood for the presence9absence of the A and 1 antigens
and the 0h antigen using sera identified as anti(A, anti(1, and anti(0h.
Typing for A1+ and 0h 1lood <roups
a" +btain a clean plastic typing tray and three toothpicks. ,lace a drop of the
appropriate anti(serum in each labeled depression. Add a drop of your blood to
each serum in the depressions and stir gently using a separate toothpick for each.
6ook for the appearance of clumps=these represent agglutination responses. The
0h test is sometimes difficult to determine and may need more time and stirring.
b" %hen finished, place the typing tray and toothpicks in the bleach bath.
or
a" +btain two clean new" microscope slides, a wa2 pencil, three toothpicks.
b" -ivide one slide slide &" into two e$ual halves with the wa2 pencil and label the
lower left corner >anti(A? and the lower right corner >anti(1?. 6abel slide 4 as
>anti(0h?.
c" ,lace one drop of anti(A serum on the left side of slide &, one drop of anti(1 on
the right side of slide & and one drop of anti(0h in the center of slide 4.
d" Add a drop of your blood to each serum in the designated spot and stir gently
using a separate toothpick for each. 6ook for the appearance of clumps=these
represent agglutination responses. The 0h test is sometimes difficult to determine
and may need more time and stirring.
e" %hen finished, place the slides and toothpicks in the bleach bath.
7. -etermining blood glucose level.
The amount of glucose circulating in the blood is regulated by the hormones
insulin and glucagons. The units of measure most widely used in the *.S. are mg of
glucose per dL of blood. @alues throughout the day will fluctuate depending on food
consumed, activity levels and even time of day.
Aasting values for normal blood glucose levels range between B' mg9d6 and &&' mg9d6.
%ith >normal? food consumption not high sugar", glucose levels will range between 8'
and &4' mg9d6. 1elow C' and above 7'' mg9d6 indicate glucose(metabolism problems
which may be short term or long term. #igh levels above &8' mg9d6 with normal diet"
may indicate more serious problems and a health professional should be consulted.
&. As always, wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. %arm
water will help bring blood to the finger tips.
4. ,repare one of the lancet devices.
7. +pen the test strip packet by gently tearing at the notches. 0emove the
test strip and insert in the monitor, contact bars in first, until it stops.
C. 6ance your finger and obtain a hanging drop of blood.
). Touch the drop of blood to the target area of the test strip. #old your
finger on the strip until sufficient blood has been drawn into the area. The
test will then start automatically. 0emove your finger when the test starts.
5. There will be a 4'(second countdown, after which the blood glucose result
will be displayed.
B. 0ecord your result: ::::::::::::::::::::
8. 0emove the test strip and place it in the bleach solution provided.
+ptional: C. .oagulation Time
1lood clotting, or coagulation, is a protective mechanism that minimi!es blood
loss when blood vessels are ruptured. /any substances normally present in the plasma,
as well as some released by platelets and inDured tissues, are involved. Study the flow
chart and te2t in your book on p. 7'4. 3ormal blood clots within 7(5 minutes.
a" +btain a nonheparini!ed capillary tube, cotton ball and alcohol swab.
b" .lean a finger and obtain a blood sample as before or use an ongoing sample"
c" ,lace one end of the capillary tube in the blood drop and hold the opposite end at
a lower level to collect the sample. The tube should fill via capillary polar
attraction forces" behavior.
d" 6ay the capillary tube on a paper towel and record the time. :::::::::::::
e" At 7'(sec intervals, hold the tube near one end between your two thumbs and
carefully break the tube by pressing away from you with both thumbs. Slowly
separate the broken ends to see if a gel(like thread of fibrin is present. 0epeat at
the ne2t interval if no fibrin was observed. %hen it is detected, note the time
re$uired for coagulation to occur. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: %as your
clotting time within the normal rangeE
f" -ispose of the capillary tube and all other materials in the bioha!ard bag.