CMT - Certified Medical Technician Clinical Diagnostic Procedures Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A medical technician is preparing to draw blood for a complete blood count (CBC), a basic metabolic panel (BMP), and a prothrombin time (PT) test. What is the correct order of draw for these tests?
- Light Blue, Lavender, Red/Gold
- Lavender, Red/Gold, Light Blue
- Red/Gold, Light Blue, Lavender
- Light Blue, Red/Gold, Lavender (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Light Blue, Red/Gold, Lavender
The correct order of draw is critical to prevent cross-contamination of additives between tubes. For these tests, the light blue top tube (for PT, which requires a citrate additive) must be drawn first. Next is the red or gold top tube (for the BMP, a serum test). Finally, the lavender top tube (for the CBC, which requires an EDTA additive) is drawn.
Question 2: A patient arrives at the clinic for a scheduled glucose tolerance test. The technician performs a point-of-care fasting glucose test, which reads 135 mg/dL. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
- Administer the glucose beverage and proceed with the test.
- Cancel the test and inform the patient to reschedule.
- Notify the ordering physician of the fasting glucose result before proceeding. (Correct answer)
- Repeat the point-of-care test on the other hand.
Correct answer: Notify the ordering physician of the fasting glucose result before proceeding.
A fasting glucose level of 135 mg/dL is above the normal range. Standard protocol for a glucose tolerance test requires notifying the physician if the initial fasting glucose is elevated, as proceeding with the high-sugar beverage could be unsafe for the patient. The physician will then decide whether to continue with the test.
Question 3: Which of the following is a critical step in preparing a 24-hour urine specimen container for a patient?
- Ensuring the container is filled to the very top.
- Adding the required preservative to the container before collection begins. (Correct answer)
- Instructing the patient to collect the very first morning void.
- Labeling the container with only the patient's name.
Correct answer: Adding the required preservative to the container before collection begins.
For many 24-hour urine tests, a specific preservative is required to maintain the integrity of the analyte being measured. This preservative must be added to the collection container before the patient begins collecting the urine to ensure it mixes with the specimen from the start.
Question 4: A medical technician is performing a rapid strep test. What type of diagnostic procedure is this considered?
- Microbiology culture
- Point-of-care testing (POCT) (Correct answer)
- Serology testing
- Molecular diagnostics
Correct answer: Point-of-care testing (POCT)
A rapid strep test is a form of point-of-care testing (POCT). POCT is defined as medical diagnostic testing performed at or near the site of patient care, providing quick results that can be acted upon immediately.
Question 5: When preparing a blood specimen for transport to a reference lab, which of the following is the most crucial piece of information to verify on the specimen label against the requisition form?
- The time of collection.
- The name of the ordering physician.
- At least two unique patient identifiers. (Correct answer)
- The type of insurance carrier.
Correct answer: At least two unique patient identifiers.
To prevent medical errors, it is a universal standard to use at least two unique patient identifiers (e.g., full name and date of birth, or medical record number) to confirm a patient's identity. This must be verified on both the specimen label and the requisition form before transport.
Question 6: A technician is instructed to obtain a sample for a Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP). Which of the following tests is included in a CMP?
- White Blood Cell (WBC) count
- Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) (Correct answer)
- Hemoglobin A1c
Correct answer: Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a blood test that measures 14 different substances in the blood. It provides information about the body's metabolism, including the health of the kidneys and liver. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) is a liver function test that is a standard component of the CMP.
CMT - Certified Medical Technician Clinical Diagnostic Procedures Questions and Answers 1
A medical technician is preparing to draw blood for a complete blood count (CBC), a basic metabolic panel (BMP), and a prothrombin time (PT) test.
What is the correct order of draw for these tests?