CSMLS Laboratory Safety and QA Questions and Answers

Question 1

A medical laboratory technologist spills approximately 10 mL of 1 Molar hydrochloric acid on a countertop. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial action?

Accepted Answer

Cover and neutralize the spill with sodium bicarbonate powder.

Answer

Wipe the spill immediately with absorbent paper towels.

Answer

Evacuate the laboratory and call the emergency response team.

Answer

Consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before taking any action.

Question 2

A laboratory is implementing a new automated immunoassay analyzer. To verify the new method's performance, the lab sends 50 patient samples to a reference laboratory that uses the established 'gold standard' method. The results from both analyzers are then compared. This process is primarily assessing which of the following performance characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Accuracy

Answer

Precision

Answer

Linearity

Answer

Sensitivity

Question 3

According to Canadian Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 2015 guidelines, which hazard is represented by the pictogram showing an exclamation mark?

Accepted Answer

May cause less serious health effects, such as skin/eye irritation or act as a skin sensitizer

Answer

Corrosive damage to metals, skin, and eyes

Answer

May cause or is suspected of causing serious long-term health effects (e.g., carcinogen)

Answer

Oxidizing hazard

Question 4

A Levey-Jennings chart for a daily glucose control shows that the last seven consecutive data points are all above the mean, but still within the ±2 SD limits. According to Westgard multirule procedures, what does this pattern indicate?

Accepted Answer

A systematic error, specifically a trend

Answer

A 2_2s rule violation

Answer

A random error

Answer

An acceptable run as no points are outside ±2 SD

Question 5

A batch of used, non-sharp, blood collection tubes containing clotted human blood must be discarded. According to Canadian Standards Association (CSA) guidelines and general biosafety principles, what is the correct disposal method?

Accepted Answer

In a designated, leak-proof biohazard bag/container for autoclaving or incineration.

Answer

In a regular office garbage bin.

Answer

In a yellow, puncture-resistant biohazard sharps container.

Answer

Pouring the contents down the sink and discarding tubes in the regular garbage.

Question 6

A satellite clinic sends a lithium heparin tube for potassium analysis to the central hospital lab. The sample is delayed in transit for 8 hours and is not refrigerated. The resulting potassium level is 6.8 mmol/L (critically high), but the patient is asymptomatic. What is the most likely cause of this result?

Accepted Answer

Pseudohyperkalemia due to delayed centrifugation.

Answer

Contamination from a lavender (EDTA) top tube.

Answer

A true critical result requiring immediate physician notification.

Answer

Hemolysis from an excessively small gauge needle used for collection.