Clinical Biochemistry-II Notes
Subject Overview
Clinical Biochemistry-II builds on the first-year panel with automation, dynamic function tests (glucose and insulin tolerance tests, xylose excretion test, gastric analysis, renal clearance tests), qualitative hormone and drug screening (urobilinogen, barbiturates, T3/
Subject at a glance
3
Units
17
Topics
4
Credits
3
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
3 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Automation in clinical biochemistry
- glucose tolerance test
- insulin tolerance test
- xylose excretion test
- gastric analysis
- renal function clearance tests
Normal
Under 100 mg/dL
Under 140 mg/dL
Impaired (prediabetes)
100–125 mg/dL
140–199 mg/dL
Diabetes
126 mg/dL or more
200 mg/dL or more
Study guide
This unit covers automation in clinical biochemistry and function tests: glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, xylose excretion test, gastric analysis and renal clearance tests. Learn how to interpret a glucose tolerance curve.
- Qualitative tests for urobilinogen
- barbiturates
- T3/T4/TSH and 17-ketosteroids
- principles
- clinical significance and estimation of acid phosphatase
- alkaline phosphatase
- lactate dehydrogenase
- aspartate transaminase
- alanine transaminase and creatine phosphokinase
ALT
Liver
Hepatitis, liver damage
AST
Liver, heart, muscle
Liver disease, muscle injury
ALP
Liver (bile ducts), bone
Obstructive jaundice, bone disease
LDH
Many tissues
Haemolysis, tissue damage
CK (CK-MB)
Muscle, heart
Muscle injury; CK-MB in heart attack
Study guide
You study qualitative tests (urobilinogen, barbiturates, hormones such as T3, T4, TSH and 17-ketosteroids) and diagnostic enzymes: acid and alkaline phosphatase, LDH, AST, ALT and CPK, with principles and clinical significance. Link each enzyme to the organ whose damage raises it.
Qualitative analysis of renal calculi, chemical examination of cerebrospinal fluid
Appearance
Clear
Turbid
Cells
0–5 lymphocytes/µL
Many neutrophils
Protein
15–45 mg/dL
Raised
Glucose
About 60% of blood glucose
Low
Study guide
You study qualitative analysis of renal calculi and chemical examination of cerebrospinal fluid. Know the normal chemical values of CSF and what changes in meningitis.
Why Clinical Biochemistry-II Matters
Dynamic tests and enzyme assays help diagnose diabetes, liver, heart, bone and thyroid disease, and are central to a hospital biochemistry service.
How to Prepare for Clinical Biochemistry-II
- Make a table of enzymes, the organ and the disease they indicate.
- Learn the principles of GTT and clearance tests with calculations.
- Revise reference ranges for each estimation.
Clinical Biochemistry-II: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a glucose tolerance test?
A GTT measures how quickly the body clears a glucose load from the blood and is used to diagnose diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance.
Which enzymes indicate liver damage?
ALT and AST (and alkaline phosphatase for bile duct problems) are the commonly measured liver enzymes.