CTP Quality Control & Safety Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a positive donor blood culture obtained at procurement indicate for organ use?
- The transplant team must be notified and may decide to use the organ with antibiotic coverage (Correct answer)
- The organ must be automatically discarded
- Procurement should be halted immediately for all organs
- Results should be withheld until after transplant
Correct answer: The transplant team must be notified and may decide to use the organ with antibiotic coverage
A positive blood culture requires immediate disclosure to the transplant team, who weigh risks and may proceed with targeted antibiotic prophylaxis.
Question 2: Which regulatory body sets the standards for organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States?
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (Correct answer)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- The Joint Commission (TJC)
Correct answer: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS certifies and regulates OPOs through Conditions for Coverage, which establish performance and quality standards.
Question 3: During organ flushing, the perfusate appears visibly blood-tinged. What should the preservationist do?
- Continue flushing until effluent clears and document the finding (Correct answer)
- Stop flushing immediately and declare the organ unusable
- Increase flush pressure to speed clearance
- Disregard the finding as it is cosmetic only
Correct answer: Continue flushing until effluent clears and document the finding
Flushing continues until the effluent clears, and the finding is documented for the transplant team's awareness.
Question 4: What is the primary reason for maintaining a strict chain of custody for procured organs?
- To ensure traceability, accountability, and recipient safety (Correct answer)
- To satisfy insurance documentation requirements only
- To prevent organ donation statistics from being manipulated
- To comply with hospital billing procedures
Correct answer: To ensure traceability, accountability, and recipient safety
Chain of custody ensures every handler of the organ is documented, preserving traceability and protecting recipient safety.
Question 5: Which of the following is a mandatory element of a procurement quality control checklist?
- Verification of donor identity against government-issued ID (Correct answer)
- Assessment of donor's financial status
- Review of recipient's employment history
- Confirmation of donor's religious beliefs
Correct answer: Verification of donor identity against government-issued ID
Donor identity verification against official identification is a fundamental safety step to prevent organ misallocation.
Question 6: A liver is procured and shows patchy discoloration on the capsule surface. The BEST approach is to:
- Document the finding with photos and contact the accepting surgeon for a real-time assessment (Correct answer)
- Immediately discard the organ without consultation
- Proceed with transplant without documentation to avoid delays
- Re-perfuse with warm blood to normalize appearance
Correct answer: Document the finding with photos and contact the accepting surgeon for a real-time assessment
Visual abnormalities must be photographed, documented, and reported to the accepting surgeon who makes the final viability decision.
Question 7: Which PPE is REQUIRED when handling procured organs and tissue?
- Sterile gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection (Correct answer)
- Standard examination gloves only
- N95 respirator and face shield only
- Gloves and apron without eye protection
Correct answer: Sterile gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
Full barrier precautions including sterile gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection are required to protect both the organ and the procurement team.
CTP Quality Control & Safety Procedures 3
What does a positive donor blood culture obtained at procurement indicate for organ use?