CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

450
GLOSSARY
Giardia lamblia Parasite (protozoan) of the digestive
system, identified by its ova (eggs)
Gilson micropipette Pipette operated by piston-driven
air displacement that is designed for precise liquid
sample measurements
Glassware Refers to laboratory vessels used for
measuring and mixing (such as flasks, beakers,
graduated cylinders, and pipettes) even when they
are made of plasticized materials
Glomerular permeability Capability of the glomeruli
of the kidneys to filter and reabsorb liquids and
components of the urine
Graduated cylinder Long, cylindrical tube held
upright by a stable base that is wider than the
vertical stem; marked along its entire length with
calibration marks, but not considered as accurate
as other volumetric vessels
Gram Metric measure of mass equaling 1/1000 of a
kilogram SI (or 0.035 ounce)
Gram negative Bacteria from which color can be
washed away when decolorized in the Gram stain
procedure; seen as pink on the slide
Gram positive Bacteria from which color cannot be
washed away when decolorized; seen as purple on
a stained slide
Gram stain Procedure utilizing crystal violet, safranin,
eosin, and a decolorizer; the first step in determining
the morphology and identification of bacteria
Gravimetric analysis Calibration method for pipettes
using a precision analytical balance and the density
of water as the constant
Griffin beaker Semiquantitative glassware that
is chemically inert and thermally stable; most
often used to heat, melt, and mix premeasured
substances
Gross lipemia Fats in the blood; plasma from a patient
with this condition will be cloudy or even opaque
Hazardous chemical Chemical present in the
workplace that is capable of causing harm; OSHA
currently regulates exposure to approximately 400
substances
Health Care and Financial Administration
(HCFA) Federal agency responsible for funding
and supervising health care under Medicare and
Medicaid
Health care clearinghouse Maintains medical records
for large institutions and other medical care
providers by providing financial and administrative
transactions
Health care provider May be an organization as
well as an individual (also called a health care
professional) who delivers appropriate health
care services in a systematic way to any individual
in need of such services. Typically, health care
providers are required to be licensed or certified
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) Federal law that protects privacy
rights of patients’ health information and medical
records; establishes national standards for
electronic health care transactions; protects health
insurance coverage for workers and their families
who change or lose jobs
Health maintenance organization (HMO) System
where health care is prepaid with the intention of
controlling health costs
Health savings account (HSA) Individual savings
account for health care expenses into which funds
contributed are not subject to federal income tax
at the time of deposit
Hemacytometer Device with microscopic grids
designed for use in counting blood cells and
platelets from a diluted sample
Hematocrit Represents the percentage of red blood
cells in whole blood; valuable in screening for
anemias; also called a packed cell volume (PCV)
Hematoma Bruise often accompanied by swelling
that is caused by a break in a blood vessel
collecting under the skin; often occurs during a
venipuncture
Hemoconcentration Higher density of red blood cells
due to decrease in the dilutional effect of plasma
Hemoglobin Pigment of red blood cells containing
iron; responsible for transporting oxygen to tissues
and carbon dioxide to lungs for expulsion
Hemorrhage Uncontrolled loss of blood from body
causing loss of oxygenation to tissues; may be fatal
if not treated quickly or effectively
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Causes hepatitis B, an acute
inflammation of the liver
Hexane Organic solvent
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) Known as “good”
cholesterol for its tendency to carry cholesterol
away from the arteries and back to the liver where
it is excreted
High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter
mask Provides protection against airborne
infectious diseases, dust, allergens, and nontoxic
particles
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