ABO
ABO Blood Group System
Haematology & transfusionThe major blood group system based on the presence or absence of A and B red-cell antigens and corresponding plasma antibodies.
LABPATHPRO REFERENCE DATABASE
A searchable UK-focused reference for common laboratory terms, quality language, tests, professional bodies and clinical conditions seen on request forms.
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Search by abbreviation, full term, category or description. Each entry includes a short explanation in the context of clinical laboratory practice.
The major blood group system based on the presence or absence of A and B red-cell antigens and corresponding plasma antibodies.
Bacteria that retain an acid-fast stain, most notably mycobacteria investigated in suspected tuberculosis and related infections.
A sudden reduction in kidney function that may prompt urgent monitoring of creatinine, electrolytes and urine output.
An intracellular enzyme measured mainly as a marker of hepatocellular injury, interpreted alongside other clinical and laboratory findings.
The concentration range over which an analytical system can measure a sample directly without dilution, concentration or other pretreatment.
The calculated or directly measured number of circulating neutrophils, used particularly when assessing neutropenia and infection risk.
A coagulation test assessing the intrinsic and common pathways and used in selected bleeding investigations and heparin monitoring.
An enzyme found in liver, muscle and other tissues; in microbiology, AST may instead mean antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Measurement of pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide and related parameters in arterial, venous or capillary blood to assess acid–base and respiratory status.
An HCPC-registered healthcare scientist who performs, validates, interprets and supports clinical laboratory investigations within their scope of practice.
A structured process used to correct the cause of a nonconformity and reduce the risk of it happening again.
A long-term abnormality of kidney structure or function that is commonly assessed using creatinine, eGFR and urine albumin.
An immunoassay in which the analytical signal is produced by a light-emitting chemical reaction; in United States regulation, CLIA has a different meaning.
An international not-for-profit organisation that publishes consensus standards and guidance for laboratory testing and related healthcare practice.
A herpesvirus investigated using serology, antigen or nucleic-acid testing, particularly in pregnancy and immunocompromised patients.
UK regulations requiring employers to assess and control exposure to substances that may cause harm in the workplace.
Ongoing learning and reflection used to maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills and safe practice.
Enterobacterales that produce enzymes capable of inactivating carbapenem antibiotics and require prompt detection and infection-control action.
An acute-phase protein measured mainly to support the assessment and monitoring of inflammation or infection.
Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord that may undergo urgent biochemical, microbiological, haematological and cytological investigation.
Standard deviation expressed as a percentage of the mean, commonly used to describe analytical imprecision.
A test that detects immunoglobulin or complement already bound to a patient's red blood cells in vivo.
An acute metabolic emergency involving hyperglycaemia, ketonaemia and acidosis that requires urgent laboratory assessment and monitoring.
A group of metabolic disorders characterised by persistent hyperglycaemia and commonly investigated using glucose and HbA1c.
A herpesvirus associated with infectious mononucleosis and other conditions, investigated using serology and sometimes molecular testing.
An anticoagulant used in specimen tubes, particularly for haematology testing because it preserves cellular morphology.
An estimate of kidney filtration calculated from serum creatinine and patient variables, used to support assessment and staging of kidney disease.
A plate-based immunoassay that uses enzyme-labelled reagents to detect or quantify antibodies, antigens or other analytes.
The digital clinical record used to view patient information, requests, results and other healthcare documentation.
Independent comparison of a laboratory's performance with other participants using externally supplied samples or data.
A non-specific test measuring how quickly red cells settle in anticoagulated blood, used as an indirect marker of inflammation.
A group of haematology measurements that includes red cells, white cells, platelets and related indices.
A cytogenetic technique using fluorescent probes to detect defined DNA sequences, copy-number changes or chromosomal rearrangements in cells.
An analytical technique that separates volatile compounds by gas chromatography and identifies or quantifies them by mass spectrometry.
A measure of longer-term glycaemic exposure used in the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes mellitus.
A blood-borne virus investigated through combinations of antigen, antibody and nucleic-acid tests to establish infection or immunity status.
The UK regulator that sets standards and maintains the register for Biomedical Scientists and other health professions.
A blood-borne virus commonly screened using antibody testing, with nucleic-acid testing used to confirm active infection.
A lipoprotein fraction measured as part of cardiovascular risk assessment, usually reported as HDL cholesterol.
A retrovirus investigated using defined screening and confirmatory algorithms that may include antigen, antibody and nucleic-acid testing.
A separation technique that passes a liquid sample through a packed column under pressure before detection and quantification.
A test that detects clinically significant antibodies capable of binding red cells under laboratory test conditions.
A collective term for chronic inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis that may prompt inflammatory, nutritional and stool testing.
The professional body for biomedical science in the United Kingdom, supporting education, training and professional standards.
A global organisation supporting standardisation, scientific development and education across laboratory medicine.
A standardised expression of prothrombin time used mainly to monitor vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant therapy.
Control material analysed within the laboratory to monitor whether an analytical process remains stable and fit for use.
An electrochemical sensor designed to measure the activity of a particular ion, commonly used for electrolytes such as sodium and potassium.
The international body that publishes standards, including ISO 15189 for quality and competence in medical laboratories.
A reagent, instrument, system or other device intended to examine specimens outside the body to provide diagnostic information.
The European regulatory framework governing the safety, performance and oversight of in vitro diagnostic medical devices.
A highly selective technique combining liquid-phase separation with two stages of mass analysis for identification and quantification.
A cholesterol-carrying lipoprotein used in cardiovascular risk assessment and as a treatment target in many clinical pathways.
A commonly used collective term for biochemical tests such as bilirubin, albumin, ALT and ALP that assess different aspects of liver injury or function.
A digital system used to manage laboratory requests, specimen tracking, workflows, results and associated records.
A clinical laboratory system that supports requesting, specimen processing, result authorisation, reporting and links with wider healthcare records.
The lowest amount of an analyte that can be reliably distinguished from the absence of that analyte.
The lowest analyte amount that can be quantitatively measured with stated and acceptable performance characteristics.
A mass-spectrometry technique widely used to identify microorganisms from their characteristic protein spectra.
A traditional request term for microscopic examination, culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of a clinical specimen.
The average amount of haemoglobin per red blood cell, reported as part of the full blood count.
The average concentration of haemoglobin within a given volume of packed red blood cells.
The average volume of circulating red blood cells, used with other indices to support classification of anaemia.
The UK agency responsible for regulating medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion.
Myocardial injury caused by ischaemia, for which cardiac troponin is central to laboratory assessment when interpreted clinically.
The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that visibly inhibits growth of a microorganism under defined test conditions.
A strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to meticillin-class beta-lactam antibiotics and important for treatment and infection control.
A parameter describing the dispersion of values that could reasonably be attributed to a measured quantity.
A molecular test that amplifies target nucleic acid to detect genetic material from a microorganism or other biological source.
High-throughput sequencing technologies capable of analysing many DNA or RNA fragments in parallel.
A molecular technique that amplifies a selected DNA sequence so it can be detected or analysed.
The number of platelets in blood, reported within the full blood count and important in bleeding, thrombosis and treatment monitoring.
Diagnostic testing performed near the patient rather than in the central laboratory, with governance and quality oversight still required.
Protective clothing or equipment used to reduce occupational exposure to laboratory hazards.
A blood-collection tube containing anticoagulant and a gel barrier designed to separate plasma from blood cells after centrifugation.
A coagulation test assessing the extrinsic and common pathways; in quality contexts, PT may instead refer to proficiency testing.
The coordinated policies, processes, records and responsibilities used to direct and control laboratory quality.
PCR in which accumulating amplified product is measured during the reaction, enabling relative or absolute quantification.
The number of circulating red blood cells in a defined volume of blood, reported as part of the full blood count.
A systematic investigation used to identify the underlying causes of an incident or nonconformity.
The force applied to a sample during centrifugation, expressed relative to the Earth's gravitational force.
The UK professional membership organisation that sets and supports standards, education and training across pathology specialties.
The interval containing values expected for a defined proportion of a specified reference population.
UK regulations requiring specified serious workplace incidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to be formally reported.
An instrument-dependent unit used to express light signal generated in luminescent analytical systems.
A measure of rotational speed; centrifugation procedures should use RCF where transfer between different rotor sizes matters.
A method that converts RNA into complementary DNA before PCR amplification; the term is sometimes used ambiguously for real-time PCR.
A document describing a chemical's hazards, safe handling, storage, exposure controls and emergency measures.
A systemic autoimmune disease that may prompt investigations including antinuclear antibodies, specific autoantibodies, complement and organ-function tests.
An authorised document giving the standardised instructions required to perform a laboratory process consistently.
A blood-collection tube containing a clot activator and gel barrier that separates serum from cells after centrifugation.
Diabetes caused by severe insulin deficiency, usually from autoimmune beta-cell destruction, requiring ongoing biochemical monitoring.
Diabetes characterised by insulin resistance and progressive beta-cell dysfunction, commonly monitored using HbA1c and glucose.
The elapsed time between defined points in the testing pathway, often from specimen receipt to result availability.
Measurement of drug concentrations to support safe and effective dosing for medicines with defined monitoring needs.
A collective term for thyroid-related biochemical tests, most commonly thyroid-stimulating hormone with free thyroxine when indicated.
A common UK test profile assessing renal-related analytes such as urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium, with composition varying locally.
The national accreditation body that assesses the competence of UK medical laboratories against relevant standards.
Infection involving part of the urinary tract that may prompt urine microscopy, culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
The total number of circulating leucocytes in a defined volume of blood, usually accompanied by a differential count.
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This resource supports learning and general understanding. Terminology may vary between organisations and disciplines; follow current local procedures and professional guidance where relevant.