Glossary of Important Blood Related Terms

Albumin - Major Blood protein that monitors nutritional status, or sometimes kidney status in protein-losing kidney problems.

Anemia - weakness, fatigue, and paleness resulting from a deficiency of red Blood cells or insufficient amounts of hemoglobin molecules within the red cells. 

Blood -The fluid which circulates throughout the body carrying nourishment and oxygen to the cells and tissue, and at the same time takes away waste matter and carbon dioxide.

Blood Culture - The normally sterile specimen of a patient's Blood that is incubated with a nutrient medium; if bacteria are present, the specimen will become cloudy with germs as they multiply rapidly.

Bone marrow - The soft tissue located in the cavities of bones which is responsible for Blood cell and platelet production.

Blood Cells - The red (erythrocytes) and white (leukocytes) Blood cells which comprise the minor portion of whole Blood.

Creatinine - A measure of the kidneys' ability to excrete waste. Comparing the excretion of creatinine to urea helps assess kidney function versus dehydration.

Cross Match - The finding of exact similarities between a patient’s Blood and a donor’s Blood. This process involves careful and exacting laboratory tests.

Glucose - Blood sugar.

Hematocrit - The percentage of packed red Blood cells found in a unit volume of whole Blood.

Hemoglobin - The molecule in the red Blood cell that carries oxygen. Hemoglobin combines with oxygen in the lungs and releases it in the tissues. It is what makes Blood red.

Plasma - The non-cellular liquid component of un-clotted whole Blood. Plasma is the liquid medium in which the formed elements of Blood are suspended and comprises the major portion of whole Blood. Plasma is composed of 92% water, 7% protein and 1% minerals, containing 6.5-8.0 grams of protein per deciliter of Blood.

Platelets (PLTs) - Platelets are colorless cells whose main function is to control bleeding. Platelets are essential to normal Blood clotting. They can be destroyed during treatment for cancer, leukemia, a plastic anemia and other diseases.