CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

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GLOSSARY
Serial dilution Sequentially increasing dilutions of
serum in a quantitative procedure to measure
antibodies or antigens
Serological pipette Quantitative pipette with
graduations extending all the way to the tip; can
be used to measure point to point or point to top
Serology Study of fluid components of blood, usually
for antibodies or antigens
Serum Liquid part of blood that has clotted and has
been centrifuged; contains little or no clotting
factors or platelets
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) Illness
caused by a single-stranded RNA virus of the
genus Coronavirus, which is found only in
chickens, turkeys, ducks, and migratory fowl;
transmitted by respiratory droplets or body fluids
Sharps Sharp objects, such as needles, broken glass
tubes, glass slides, and scalpels, that require special
care in use and disposal, especially if contaminated
with patient blood or other body fluid
Shift Abrupt change from the established mean on a
quality control chart; may be positive or negative
Short draws Insufficiently filled sample tubes; results
in improper dilution ratio and erroneous test
results
SI See International System of Units
Significant figures Minimum number of digits
required to be meaningful for a particular
measurement
Silica Derived from sand, natural material from which
laboratory glassware was originally handblown
Sodium nitroferricyanide Used in urinalysis to
colorimetrically identify amino acids
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS) Regional educational accreditation agency
for the southern states, recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education
Specific gravity Weight of a substance, usually liquid,
compared with an equal amount of water
Specificity Measure of the incidence of true negative
results; having relevance for a specific disease
or will react only with a specific receptor on the
surface of a cell
Spectrophotometer Measures the relative intensity of
color in a material by comparing with the different
wavelengths in the spectrum
Square root Factor of a number that when multiplied
by itself equals that number
Standard deviation (SD) Measures the distribution
of values around the mean of a data set; an
acceptable range for results of quality control
materials
Standard Precautions Guidelines recommended by
the CDC to reduce risk of the spread of infection
in a health care facility; designed primarily to
protect patients
Subarachnoid hemorrhage Bleeding in the area
between the brain and the thin tissues (arachnoid
membrane) that cover the brain
Sulfhemoglobin Compound of hemoglobin and
hydrogen sulfide; prevents normal oxygen binding;
excess creates a toxic condition
Sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) Reagent used to measure a
semiquantitative level of protein in urine
Supernatant Usually clear, lighter overlying material
at the top of a tube after centrifugation
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Chronic,
inflammatory autoimmune disorder that may
affect skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs; the
most common and serious form of lupus
Teflon Synthetic resin used for molding and nonstick
coatings; commonly used for laboratory materials
The Joint Commission (TJC) Evaluates and accredits
hospital laboratory services and freestanding
laboratories; formerly the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Thrombocytes Platelets produced in the bone
marrow that are involved in forming stable clots,
among other functions
Thromboplastin Blood coagulation factor III, found
in both blood and tissues
Tissue Committee Hospital committee that reviews
tissues removed from surgical procedures to
determine if treatment was appropriate
Titer Dilution of a serum containing a specific
antibody at which the solution retains the
minimum level of activity needed to neutralize or
precipitate an antigen
Too numerous to count (TNTC) Notation for when
numbers of white blood cells in a biological sample
viewed under a microscope exceed 100/HPF
Tort Negligent or intentional civil wrong not
arising out of a contract or statute; can include
malpractice, negligence, assault and battery (which
may also be considered criminal), invasion of
privacy, abuse, and defamation of character
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