CSC Equipment Operation & Maintenance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum recommended tourniquet application time before specimen collection?
- 30 seconds
- 1 minute (Correct answer)
- 2 minutes
- 5 minutes
Correct answer: 1 minute
The tourniquet should not remain in place for more than 1 minute before blood draw to avoid hemoconcentration and altered test results.
Question 2: Which of the following is a sign that a vacuum tube has expired and should not be used?
- The tube has a colored stopper
- The tube fills slowly or not at all due to loss of vacuum (Correct answer)
- The tube label is printed rather than handwritten
- The tube contains a gel separator
Correct answer: The tube fills slowly or not at all due to loss of vacuum
An expired vacuum tube loses its negative pressure, causing it to fill slowly or not at all, making it unsuitable for collection.
Question 3: When performing a capillary puncture on an adult fingertip, which area should be avoided?
- The lateral (side) surface of the fingertip
- The central fleshy pad of the fingertip
- The very tip of the finger and the areas with calluses (Correct answer)
- The area nearest to the base of the nail
Correct answer: The very tip of the finger and the areas with calluses
The very tip and calloused areas of the finger are avoided because they have poor blood flow and may cause inadequate specimen collection.
Question 4: Which component of a needle system prevents accidental needlesticks after venipuncture?
- The bevel
- The safety shield or retractable needle mechanism (Correct answer)
- The hub
- The lumen
Correct answer: The safety shield or retractable needle mechanism
Safety-engineered needle devices include shields or retractable mechanisms that cover the needle immediately after withdrawal to prevent needlestick injuries.
Question 5: What is the correct angle of needle insertion for a standard venipuncture?
- 5–10 degrees
- 15–30 degrees (Correct answer)
- 45–60 degrees
- 90 degrees
Correct answer: 15–30 degrees
A 15–30 degree angle of insertion is recommended for venipuncture to enter the vein effectively without going through the posterior wall.
Question 6: Why must reagent strips and control solutions be stored according to manufacturer instructions?
- To maintain regulatory compliance only
- To prevent deterioration that leads to inaccurate point-of-care test results (Correct answer)
- To reduce shipping costs
- To allow sharing between multiple facilities
Correct answer: To prevent deterioration that leads to inaccurate point-of-care test results
Improper storage of reagent strips or controls can degrade their chemical reactivity, producing false results on point-of-care tests.
Question 7: What does a 'short draw' in a coagulation (sodium citrate) tube cause?
- Excess anticoagulant relative to blood, leading to falsely prolonged clotting times (Correct answer)
- Insufficient anticoagulant, causing the sample to clot
- No effect if the tube is mixed thoroughly
- A darker color indicating hemolysis
Correct answer: Excess anticoagulant relative to blood, leading to falsely prolonged clotting times
A short-draw in a citrate tube means there is proportionally too much anticoagulant for the blood volume, which artificially prolongs PT and aPTT results.
CSC Equipment Operation & Maintenance 3
What is the maximum recommended tourniquet application time before specimen collection?