differential

Differential

A blood cell count in which the percentages of cell types are calculated as well as the total number of cells.

Mentioned in: Neutropenia, White Blood Cell Count and Differential

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differential

[dif′əren′shəl]

pertaining to or creating a difference.

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differential [dif″er-en´shal]

1. something that makes a distinction between two differing items.

2. the additional financial reward given to health care providers for working on a particular shift or in a particular unit.

3. in Canadian hospitals, the extra charge for a semiprivate or private room over the basic room rate subsidized by the provincial health plan.

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differential

exhibiting or depending on a difference.

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differential absorption

see differential absorption.

differential cell count

see differential count.

differential diagnosis

the differences between diseases in terms of clinical signs and epidemiological parameters; used as a basis for selecting as a diagnosis the one with the best fit to those seen in the subject.

differential leukocyte count

see differential count.

differential milk cell counts

count of cells in a milk sample including individual counts of somatic cells and individual leukocyte types.

differential thromboplastin time

used in differentiating the cause of hemophilia. Reagents containing either factor VIII or factor IX are added in the partial thromboplastin time test to demonstrate which factor corrects the prolonged clotting time.

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differential

Differential diagnosis, see there

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Patient discussion about differential.

Q. how can i differentiate between normal stomach ache and an Appendicitis? I've been having a strange sharp pain in my stomach lately and a friend of mine told me it could be Appendicitis.

A. When you have Appendicitis, there should be a sharp pain on the right lower Abdomen. but you mustn't forget that Appendicitis is an inflammation. which means you'll have a fever some time in the near future, and it always get worse. not like other Abdominal pains. you'll vomit probably. i had my Appendix removed 2 years ago. don't worry, it's not too bad ;).

Q. What is the differential diagnosis of chest pain in a 35 year old woman? I am a 35 years old woman. I suffer from chest pain for about 24 hours. I just came back from a trip to Europe, and i feel really bad. I smoke and I take anti contraceptive and i know that I am at a risk for pulmonary embolism or costochondritis. Cat it be something else?

A. The differential diagnosis of chest pain is very wide.
It can start in costochondritis if u carried a lot of luggage or might be pulmonary embolism if you didn't move from the chair all the flight. But it can also be a sign for an acute coronary syndrome (even at the age of 35) or a pericarditis. To be sure you need to consult with your GP.

Q. How do you differentiate between fluorosis and caries? Both appear as white spots on the teeth, so clinically how do you differentiate between them? I know it has something to do with their appearance while wet and dry, but I am not sure what? please help me I can't find this in any book.

A. Only mild fluorosis is seen as white stop lesion on the tooth. It usually comes with brown spots. Look for them. Another method is trying to stick a dental explorer into it (not the Microsoft one- it’ll only be a portal for viruses..) and because caries is demineralized area it will feel kind of sticky. But I wouldn’t do that…it can harm the teeth. Another way is by an x ray. Fluorosis- you will see it as a whiter spot. Caries- a more translucent spot.