The Fundamentals of Laboratory Math
Continuing Education Credits
Objectives
- Identify the basics of number rounding and the use of significant figures in the context of laboratory medicine.
- Explain the interconnectivity of systems of measure and how to convert between different units.
- Perform dilution calculations to determine necessary volumes of sample, reagent, or diluent based on common laboratory scenarios.
- Describe common laboratory equations such as Beer's Law, Henderson-Hasselbalch, Anion Gap, and Osmolal Gap and how their applications are essential.
Course Outline
- Laboratory Mathematics
- Basic Mathematics Overview
- Basic Mathematics Overview: Section Objectives
- Arithmetic and Order of Operations
- What is the answer to this equation? 4 x (2 + 3) – (7 – 6 /2)2
- Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages
- Exponents
- Applications of Scientific Notation
- What would writing 45,702 in scientific notation look like?
- Rounding and Application of Significant Figures
- Rounding and Application of Significant Figures: Section Objectives
- Rounding Rules
- The number 46,983.3986 needs to be rounded to the nearest thousands place. Which of the following correctly reflects this?
- Significant Figures: Why Are They Relevant?
- Determining the Number of Significant Figures in a Number
- Identifying The Number of Significant Figures in a Final Calculation
- What is the final result of the following problem: 78,688 / 1.02
- Systems of Measure
- Systems of Measure: Section Objectives
- Measurements Using the Metric System
- Based on the organizational nomenclature of the metric system, 1/1000th of a gram is called:
- Molecular Mass and Moles
- Concentration of a Solution
- Density and Specific Gravity
- Unit Conversions
- Unit Conversions: Section Objectives
- Unit Conversions Using Dimensional Analysis
- A solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) is 0.025 g/L. If this concentration was converted into mg/dL, what would be the result?
- Percent Conversions
- Temperature Conversions
- Dilutions and Titers
- Dilutions and Titers: Section Objectives
- Simple Dilutions
- To perform a "1 to 10" dilution, what ratio would be required?
- Dilution Calculations
- Serial Dilutions
- Clinical Laboratory Calculations
- Clinical Laboratory Calculations: Section Objectives
- Application of Beer's Law
- Relationship Between Transmittance and Absorbance
- Acids, Bases, and Buffers
- If 1 liter of buffer was made in water containing 6.31 x 10-3 moles of K2HPO4 and 0.1 moles of KH2PO4, what would be the calculated pH of the buffer?
- Anion Gap
- Osmolality
- References
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists and technicians. This course is also appropriate for medical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
Author Information: Alec Saitman, PhD, DABCC (CC, TC) completed fellowship training in Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology in the Department of Pathology at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Saitman is board certified by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) in Clinical Chemistry and Toxicological Chemistry. He is currently the Technical Director of the Core Laboratory at Providence Regional Laboratories in Portland, Oregon. His research focuses on the development of small molecule quantitation assays using mass spectrometry. He is particularly interested in establishing efficient production workflows in toxicology testing to meet the growing testing demands in his laboratory.
Reviewer Information: Roger Beckering, M.Ed., BA (Chemistry), MLT(ASCP) has been an educator of medical laboratory sciences for over 25 years. He started as an instructor at the Medical Institute of Minnesota (MIM), later known as Argosy University. At Argosy, Roger held positions as Professor, Clinical Coordinator, and Program Director. In 2014, Roger moved to the Phoenix area where he works as a Professor and Administrator for MLT and MLS programs at Brookline College.