Chemistry > Specimen Processing > Flashcards

Specimen Processing Flashcards

(25 cards)

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1
Q

What is the correct order of draw for blood collection tubes?

A
  1. Sterile tube (Blood culture – tube or bottle)
  2. Light blue top (Coagulation – citrate)
  3. Serum tube (Red top, Gold top, or SST)
  4. Heparin tube (Light green PST or Dark green)
  5. EDTA tube (Lavender or Pink)
  6. Glycolytic inhibitor tube (Gray)
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2
Q

What is the priority for processing a blood gases specimen?

A

Blood gases must be processed immediately, within 15-30 minutes of receipt.

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3
Q

Why does a STAT Ethanol test need to be processed quickly?

A

Because it is a STAT order (should be run immediately) and ethanol is volatile, so it must be placed on the analyzer once uncapped.

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4
Q

When should a routine Glucose test be processed relative to STAT orders?

A

Routine Glucose can be processed after STAT orders.

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5
Q

Is Ferritin considered a STAT test? Why or why not?

A

No, Ferritin is a routine immunoassay and is not performed on a STAT basis.

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6
Q

Rank these tests in order of processing priority: Blood gases, STAT Ethanol, Glucose, Ferritin.

A

Blood gases (immediately, within 15-30 minutes)

STAT Ethanol (run immediately, volatile)

Glucose (routine, after STAT)

Ferritin (routine, not STAT)

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7
Q

What should be done with an unlabeled or incorrectly labeled specimen?

A

Reject unless it is an irretrievable specimen (e.g., rare or difficult-to-collect sample).

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8
Q

How should leaking samples or those in the incorrect collection tube be handled?

A

Reject the specimen.

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9
Q

What is the action for a clotted specimen?

A

Reject the specimen.

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10
Q

What should be done with samples that are hemolyzed, lipemic, or icteric?

A

Follow the lab’s SOP for guidance

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11
Q

What happens if a specimen has insufficient quantity for testing?

A

Reject if there is not enough sample to perform the test.

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12
Q

What is the standard retention requirement for urine specimens after testing is completed? Why?

A

Keep for 7 days under refrigerated conditions.

Refrigeration is necessary to prevent bacterial overgrowth and chemical changes that would alter the specimen’s integrity if it needs to be retested.

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13
Q

What is the primary purpose of a Non-Conformance Report (NCR)?

A

As part of risk management, its purpose is to identify incident patterns and trends to facilitate investigation and corrective action, thereby preventing re-occurrences.

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14
Q

What are the four severity levels used to categorize risk events for an NCR?

A
  1. Near miss
  2. Low harm
  3. Moderate harm
  4. High harm
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15
Q

An unlabeled urine specimen is sent to the lab. What is the severity level, and is an NCR required?

A

Severity Level: Moderate harm
NCR Required?: Yes

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16
Q

QC was invalid, so the patient result was held back for investigation. No result was reported. What is the severity level, and is an NCR required?

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A

Severity Level: Near miss
NCR Required?: No

17
Q

A short volume specimen is sent to the lab for testing. What is the severity level, and is an NCR required?

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A

Severity Level: Moderate harm
NCR Required?: Yes

18
Q

A critical call on a blood gas result was missed and not communicated to the physician. What is the severity level, and is an NCR required?

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A

Severity Level: High harm
NCR Required?: Yes

19
Q

Less than 1mL of bleach is spilled on a benchtop and is immediately cleaned up. What is the severity level, and is an NCR required?

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A

Severity Level: Low harm
NCR Required?: No

20
Q

For which severity levels is an NCR typically required?

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A

Moderate harm and High harm events. (Near miss and Low harm events may be tracked but often do not require a full NCR).

21
Q

What is the correct disposal method for a paper towel soaked with water?

22
Q

What is the correct disposal method for clean paper?

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A

Recycling bin

23
Q

What is the correct disposal method for contaminated gloves?

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A

Biohazard bag

24
Q

What is the correct disposal method for needles?

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A

Sharps Container

25
What is the correct disposal method for non-contaminated broken glass?
Cardboard glass disposal box
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