What Causes Falsely Low HbA1c Result in Hemolysis and Blood Loss?

In the presence of glucose in the blood, hemoglobin may undergo a glycation process and turned into glycated hemoglobin. HbA1c is one form of glycated hemoglobin. Measured HbA1c represents how much glucose in the blood for the last 120 days (the age of erythrocytes).

In hemolysis and blood loss, measurement of HbA1c will yield falsely low result, giving us a false idea that blood glucose in the last 120 days has been low while it actually has not. Is this phenomenon caused by a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin?

Does Vitamin D Promote Type 1 Hypersensitivity?

Vitamin D is known to suppress adaptive immune response by several mechanisms. One of which is carried out through shifting T cell differentiation in favor of T helper (Th) 2 instead of Th1. Unlike Th1, which specializes in inflammation and killing of bacteria & protozoa, Th2 specializes in anti-inflammation, killing of helminthes, and type 1 hypersensitivity. Thus, does its use promote allergic reaction?

A Case of Sudden Rise in D-dimer Level

A blood sample from a 54 year old female with ovarian tube cancer was tested for D-dimer using Nycocard Reader II. The result was 2,100 ng/mL, a sudden increase from the previous two days which was 500 ng/mL.

How could this happen?

A Case of Negative Unconjugated Bilirubin

Using an automated chemistry analyzer, a blood sample yielded the following result:
- Total bilirubin 2.0 mg/dL
- Conjugated bilirubin 2.2 mg/dL
- Unconjugated bilirubin -0.2 mg/dL

How could this happen?

How Is the Process of Complement Activation?

Introduction

Complement system is a system of serum and cell surface proteins that interact with one another and with other molecules of the immune system to generate important effectors of innate and adaptive immune responses.

The complement system works by producing three effects:
- inflammation
- opsonization (attachment of certain complement proteins to microbial cell wall to target the microbe for phagocytosis)
- cell lysis (preferably microbes)

The complement system consists of three players:

- the complement proteins
plasma proteins that function as effectors of the complement system
- the receptors
proteins embedded in a cell surface that enable certain complement proteins to bind the cell
- the regulators
proteins that can alter the course of complement activation

To explain the process of complement activation, we will only discuss the complement proteins.

Can Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Level Be Used to Assess a Patient’s Hydration Status?

A popular way to determine a patient’s hydration status is by comparing the patient’s hematocrit and hemoglobin level. A patient is said to have fluid loss when the hematocrit is higher than the hemoglobin level multiplied by three (Ht > Hb x ±3). The question is can hematocrit and hemoglobin level be used in that manner?

How Long Does a Conventional Culture Test Take?

A culture test is used to identify microorganisms from a specimen. A specimen can contain up to several microorganisms. After the specimen reaches the lab, a conventional culture test can be divided into two stages:
1. Separating each microorganism
2. Identifying each microorganism