| cardiac blood pool imaging | This noninvasive test uses radioactive tracers to delineate the hearts chambers and major vessels. It may be used to detect a heart attack, heart muscle function and coronary artery disease. The patient receives a radioactive tracer by injection (into a vein) and then the heart is imaged using a gamma camera. The heart is imaged before and after exercise. This test may be used to detect and evaluate atrial septal defect, dilated cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, Lyme disease (secondary), mitral stenosis and superior vena cava syndrome. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| MacNeal's tetrachrome blood stain | <technique> A stain for blood smears comprised of a mixture of methylene blue, azure A, methylene violet, and eosin Y. (05 Mar 2000) |
| packed human blood cells | Whole blood from which plasma has been removed; may be prepared any time during the dating period of the whole blood from which it is derived, but not later than six days after the blood has been drawn if separation of plasma and cell's is achieved by centrifugation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| packed red blood cell | <haematology> Red blood cells collected from one individual that are packed into a small volume for transfusion into a patient. (16 Dec 1997) |
| gated blood pool imaging | Radionuclide ventriculography where scintigraphic data is acquired during repeated cardiac cycles at specific times in the cycle, using an electrocardiographic synchroniser or gating device. Analysis of right ventricular function is difficult with this technique; that is best evaluated by first-pass ventriculography (ventriculography, first-pass). (12 Dec 1998) |
| venous blood | Blood which has passed through the capillaries of various tissues, except the lungs, and is found in the veins, the right chambers of the heart, and the pulmonary arteries; it is usually dark red as a result of a lower content of oxygen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| red blood cell | <haematology> Cell specialised for oxygen transport, having a high concentration of haemoglobin in the cytoplasm (and little else). Biconcave, anucleate discs, 7nm diameter in mammals, nucleus contracted and chromatin condensed in other vertebrates. Acronym: RBC (18 Nov 1997) |
| red blood cell cast | A urinary cast composed of a matrix containing red cells in various stages of degeneration and visibility, characteristic of glomerular disease or renal parenchymal bleeding. Synonym: red cell cast. (05 Mar 2000) |
| red blood cell count | A normal value is 4.6-6.2 million RBC's per cubic millimetre of blood. This number can increase in cases of dehydration (fluid loss) or severe lung disease. Interestingly, red blood cell counts are much higher in those who live at high altitude, because of the increased demand for oxygen carrying capacity. (27 Sep 1997) |
| red blood cell indices | Laboratory measurements of red blood cell volume, size and haemoglobin concentration. These values are used to point to the specific cause for anaemia (iron deficiency, B12 deficiency, etc.) (27 Sep 1997) |
| CDE blood group | See Rh blood group, Blood Groups appendix. (05 Mar 2000) |
| p blood-group system | A blood group related to the abo, lewis and I systems. at least five different erythrocyte antigens are possible, some very rare, others almost universal. Multiple alleles are involved in this blood group. (12 Dec 1998) |
| retinal blood vessels | The blood vasculature of the retina, including the branches and tributaries of the central retinal artery and vein, respectively, and the vascular circle of the optic nerve. Synonym: vasa sanguinea retinae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| percutaneous umbilical blood sampling | See: PUBS. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Rhesus blood group | <haematology> Human blood group system with allelic red cell antigens C, D and E. The D antigen is the strongest. Red cells from a Rhesus positive foetus cross the placenta and can sensitise a Rehesus negative mother, expecially at parturition. The mother's antibody may then, in a subsequent pregnancy, cause haemolytic disease of the newborn if the foetus is Rhesus positive. The disease can be prevented by giving antiD IgG during the first 72 hours after parturition to mop up D red cells in the maternal circulation. 1st ed (18 Nov 1997) |