Kuwait MOH Medical Laboratory Technician key terms

The range of test results expected in a healthy reference population, usually spanning the central 95% of values, used to judge whether a patient result is normal or abnormal.

A quality rule that compares a patient's current result with a previous result for the same test and flags the sample when the change exceeds a set limit, suggesting error or a real clinical change.

Testing control materials of known concentration alongside patient samples to verify that a run is performing within acceptable limits before results are released.

A set of statistical rules such as 1-2s, 1-3s, 2-2s, R-4s and 4-1s used to decide whether a control run should be rejected as out of control.

A graph plotting control results over time against mean and standard deviation lines, making shifts, trends and random error easy to see visually.

The standard deviation of repeated measurements divided by their mean, expressed as a percentage, used to express the imprecision of a test method.

The smallest amount or concentration of an analyte that a method can reliably distinguish from zero or from a blank, often expressed as the limit of detection.

The ability of a method to measure only the intended analyte without interference from other substances in the sample, such as metabolites, drugs or haemolysis.

A substance or condition in the sample, such as haemolysis, lipaemia, icterus, or a cross-reacting drug, that causes a test result to deviate from the true value.

A measurement, usually spectrophotometric, of free haemoglobin in serum or plasma that warns whether red cell breakdown may distort chemistry results such as potassium, LDH or AST.

A panel of haematology measurements including haemoglobin, haematocrit, red cell indices, white cell count with differential and platelet count, used to assess blood disorders.

A stained smear of blood examined under the microscope to assess cell morphology, red cell shape and size, white cell types and platelet adequacy.

Stacking of red cells like coins on a blood film, caused by increased plasma proteins such as fibrinogen or globulins, and often associated with inflammation or myeloma.

The rate at which red cells fall in a vertical tube over one hour, an indirect marker of inflammation that is raised by anaemia, high fibrinogen and paraproteins.

Breakdown of red blood cells with release of haemoglobin into plasma, which can occur in vivo as disease or in vitro from poor collection, handling or transport.

A coagulation test measuring the time to clot after adding tissue factor and calcium, assessing the extrinsic and common pathways; it is expressed as seconds, ratio or INR.

A standardised prothrombin time ratio calculated using the thromboplastin's international sensitivity index, allowing comparable monitoring of warfarin therapy between laboratories.

A clotting test using an activator and phospholipid that assesses the intrinsic and common pathways; it is used to screen for factor deficiency and to monitor unfractionated heparin.

A microbiological test in which blood is inoculated into aerobic and anaerobic bottles and incubated to detect bacteraemia or fungaemia, ideally collected before antibiotics.

Laboratory methods such as disk diffusion or broth dilution that determine which antibiotics inhibit a bacterial isolate, guiding safe and effective treatment choices.

The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that visibly inhibits growth of the organism in vitro, reported as a value and interpreted as susceptible, intermediate or resistant.

A defined antimicrobial concentration used to classify an isolate as susceptible, intermediate or resistant, set by standards bodies from microbiological, pharmacokinetic and clinical evidence.

A differential staining method that divides bacteria into gram-positive and gram-negative groups by cell wall structure, and also shows morphology and arrangement under the microscope.

A prepared nutrient formulation, selective, differential or enriched, that supports the growth and isolation of microorganisms from clinical specimens.

A unit expressing the number of viable microorganisms in a sample, counted as visible colonies, used for urine culture and other quantitative microbiology.

A plate-based immunoassay using an enzyme-labelled antibody or antigen and a colour-producing substrate to detect or quantify antibodies or antigens in serum.

A confirmatory technique that separates proteins by electrophoresis, transfers them to a membrane and detects specific antibodies or antigens, historically used to confirm HIV infection.

The interval after infection when a pathogen is present but laboratory markers are not yet detectable, a major concern for transfusion-transmitted infection screening.

The major blood group system based on A and B antigens on red cells and naturally occurring anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma, determining compatibility for transfusion.

The D antigen of the Rh blood group system; its presence or absence determines Rh-positive or Rh-negative status and is critical in transfusion and pregnancy.

A compatibility test between a patient's serum and a donor's red cells, performed to detect clinically significant antibodies before transfusion.

A test of a patient's serum against reagent red cells to detect unexpected antibodies against red cell antigens other than A and B.

Physical, chemical and microscopic examination of urine, including dipstick testing and sediment review, used to screen for renal, urinary and metabolic disease.

The microscopic component of urine obtained by centrifugation, examined for cells, casts, crystals and microorganisms that indicate renal or urinary tract disease.

Examination of CSF for cell count, protein, glucose, Gram stain and culture, used to diagnose meningitis and other central nervous system conditions.

A molecular technique that copies and detects specific DNA or RNA sequences, such as PCR, giving high sensitivity for infectious disease and genetic testing.

In real-time PCR, the cycle number at which fluorescence crosses a threshold; lower values generally indicate higher target nucleic acid concentration in the sample.

Documented, unbroken record of who collected, handled, transported and stored a specimen or evidence, ensuring integrity for legal, forensic or regulatory purposes.

Predefined conditions such as unlabelled tubes, wrong container, insufficient volume or delayed transport that require a laboratory to refuse or recollect a sample.

Mistakes occurring before testing, including misidentification, poor collection technique, wrong tube, delayed transport or improper storage, which cause most laboratory errors.

A graded set of containment practices, equipment and facility design, from BSL-1 to BSL-4, matched to the risk group of the microorganisms being handled.

Basic infection control practices applied to all patients, including hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, eye protection and safe sharps handling, regardless of suspected diagnosis.