CMT Laboratory Procedures and Specimen Collection 3

Question 1

Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is REQUIRED when handling all patient specimens in the laboratory?

Accepted Answer

Gloves, lab coat, and eye protection

Answer

Surgical mask and goggles only

Answer

Gloves only

Answer

N95 respirator and full gown

Question 2

After centrifugation of a serum separator tube (SST), the specimen layers from bottom to top are:

Accepted Answer

Red blood cells → gel barrier → serum

Answer

Serum → gel → red blood cells

Answer

Plasma → buffy coat → red blood cells

Answer

Serum → buffy coat → clot

Question 3

Which temperature range is required for the transport of most routine blood specimens to preserve analyte stability?

Accepted Answer

Room temperature (20°C to 25°C)

Answer

–20°C to –80°C (frozen)

Answer

2°C to 8°C (refrigerated)

Answer

37°C (body temperature)

Question 4

A specimen is rejected by the laboratory if it is received with which condition?

Accepted Answer

The tube is unlabeled or mismatched with the requisition

Answer

The label matches the requisition exactly

Answer

The specimen is slightly lipemic

Answer

The specimen was collected by venipuncture

Question 5

Quality control (QC) samples in the clinical laboratory are used primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Monitor instrument and reagent performance to detect errors before patient results are reported

Answer

Replace patient specimens when volume is insufficient

Answer

Calibrate new laboratory staff

Answer

Determine normal reference ranges for a population

Question 6

Sharps contaminated with blood must be disposed of in:

Accepted Answer

A rigid, puncture-resistant biohazard sharps container

Answer

A regular red trash bag

Answer

The standard waste bin if capped

Answer

A biohazard bag without a rigid container

Question 7

Chain of custody documentation for a laboratory specimen is MOST important when:

Accepted Answer

The specimen will be tested for forensic, legal, or drug screening purposes

Answer

The specimen was collected early in the morning

Answer

The patient has a difficult venipuncture site

Answer

The specimen is being tested for routine CBC