CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

GLOSSARY 451
High-power field (HPF) Microscope magnification
level used to count cells
Histotechnologist Laboratory technologist concerned
with preparing and processing histological
(microscopic) specimens
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Retrovirus
that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS)
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 and 2 (HLTV-1 and
HLTV-2) Human retroviruses that cause T-cell
leukemia and T-cell lymphoma; U.S. blood supplies
are routinely tested for both
Humors Fluids or semifluids in the body
Hypertonic Having a higher level of dissolved
elements in liquid; may relate to body fluids that
affect the flow of water between tissues and cells
of the body
Hypotonic Dilute liquid containing large amounts of
water; often relates to IV fluids, plasma, or urine
specimens
Iatrogenic Condition introduced inadvertently by a
physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or a
diagnostic procedure
Ictotest Tablet method to chemically test for
increased level of bilirubin in urine
Illinois Society for Microbiology (ISM) Professional
organization supporting medical microbiologists in
Illinois
Immunocompromised Having a weakened immune
system that is incapable of reacting normally to
fight infection
Immunohematology Another name for blood
banking; relates to collection, testing, and storage
of blood prior to transfusion, and the testing of
patients for blood compatibility with units selected
for administering
Immunologic hormones Hormones that work to
prevent tissue damage during an acute phase
reaction
Immunosuppressive drug therapy Drug regimen to
inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system,
usually to treat autoimmune or inflammatory
diseases or to prevent rejection of transplanted
organs or tissues
Inanimate (nonliving) object Can act as an antigen
to activate immune responses; for example, pollen,
chemicals, or toxins
India ink prep Preparation used for determining
capsulation of certain organisms when viewed
microscopically, most frequently for Cryptococcus
neoformans
Indirect test or method Diagnoses an infection by
testing for antibodies to an antigen rather than by
testing for the antigen directly
Infection control Activities directed toward
elimination of or prevention of infection; includes
work activities as well as immunization
Infection Control Committee Sometimes includes a
separate Exposure Control Committee for isolating
body fluids and toxic chemicals; makes policies
and monitors compliance to prevent spread of
infection and to enforce proper storage and
removal of wastes
International normalized ratio (INR) System whereby
prothrombin times are calculated using the normal
control; provides standardization throughout the
world where various instruments and reagents are
used
International Sensitivity Index Indicates how a
particular batch of tissue factor compares to an
internationally standardized sample; the ISI is
usually between 1.0 and 2.0
International System of Units (SI) Modern standard
of the metric system used universally in science;
becoming dominant also in international trade and
commerce
Intrinsic factor Factors in the coagulation process
that are included in the circulating components of
blood
Inulin Polysaccharide derived from plants and used
in renal function studies
Iodine stain Used to stain starch molecules; useful in
performing amylase procedures; skin disinfectant
for collecting blood cultures
Ketoacidosis Life-threatening condition in which a
patient’s blood becomes acid rather than slightly
alkaline
Ketones Acetone and diacetic acid bodies found in
blood when fats have been metabolized for energy
Kilogram Metric measure of weight equaling 1000
grams; base unit of mass in SI, equal to 1 liter of
water
Kilometer Metric measure of length equaling 1000
meters; 1.6 K equals 1 mile
Kinetic reaction Common clinical chemistry method
that measures the amount of change occurring in
the reagent and sample mixture over a period of
time
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