Specimen Handling and Processing Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Specimen Handling and Processing flashcards as text
Which of the following tests would be MOST affected by leaving a specimen in contact with cells for an extended time before centrifugation?
Answer: Serum potassium
Potassium leaks from red blood cells over time, causing falsely elevated serum potassium levels if the specimen is not centrifuged promptly.
A plasma separator tube (PST) contains which anticoagulant?
Answer: Lithium heparin
Plasma separator tubes (light green-top) contain lithium heparin as the anticoagulant along with a gel separator to isolate plasma.
What is the correct ratio of blood to anticoagulant in a sodium citrate tube for coagulation testing?
Answer: 9:1
Sodium citrate tubes require a 9:1 ratio of blood to anticoagulant (9 parts blood to 1 part citrate) to ensure accurate coagulation results.
When should a phlebotomist recollect a specimen without consulting the laboratory?
Answer: When the tube was not filled to the correct volume for a citrate tube
A sodium citrate tube that is underfilled must be recollected because the incorrect blood-to-anticoagulant ratio will invalidate coagulation test results.
Which of the following best describes 'lipemia' as a specimen quality issue?
Answer: Presence of excess lipids causing a milky or turbid appearance
Lipemia refers to high lipid concentration in serum/plasma, causing a milky turbid appearance that can interfere with spectrophotometric assays.
A blood culture specimen should be inoculated in which order?
Answer: Aerobic bottle first, then anaerobic
When collecting blood cultures via syringe, the aerobic bottle is inoculated first to prevent air from the syringe from entering the anaerobic bottle and inhibiting anaerobic organism growth.
Specimens for cold agglutinin testing must be transported at which temperature?
Answer: Body temperature at 37°C
Cold agglutinin specimens must be kept at 37°C during transport because cold temperatures cause the antibodies to agglutinate RBCs in the tube, giving false results.