Medical Technologist General Information Flashcards
7 cards from real Medical Technologist Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Technologist General Information flashcards as text
A systematic error in laboratory testing is best characterized by:
Answer: Consistent bias in one direction affecting accuracy
Systematic errors cause a consistent directional shift (positive or negative bias) in results, affecting accuracy without necessarily changing precision.
Which specimen type is preferred for measuring ionized calcium?
Answer: Plasma collected in heparin tube analyzed immediately
Heparinized plasma is preferred for ionized calcium because EDTA and citrate chelate calcium, and the specimen must be analyzed immediately to prevent pH shifts.
Delta checks in the laboratory are used to:
Answer: Compare a patient's current result with their previous result to detect errors
Delta checks compare a patient's current result to their previous result; a large unexpected change flags potential specimen identification errors or acute clinical events.
The reference interval (reference range) for a laboratory test is typically established using results from:
Answer: 95% of results from a healthy reference population
Reference intervals are defined as the central 95th percentile of results from a carefully selected healthy reference population, meaning 2.5% fall above and below.
Which type of pipette is most precise for delivering an exact volume in laboratory procedures?
Answer: Volumetric (transfer) pipette
Volumetric (transfer) pipettes are calibrated to deliver a single exact volume with the highest accuracy, indicated by a single graduation mark.
An autoclave sterilizes materials using:
Answer: Saturated steam under pressure at 121°C for 15-30 minutes
Autoclaves use saturated steam at 121°C (250°F) under 15 psi pressure for 15-30 minutes to achieve sterilization by denaturing microbial proteins.
The coefficient of variation (CV%) is used in laboratory medicine to express:
Answer: Imprecision as a percentage relative to the mean
CV% = (SD/mean) × 100, expressing the standard deviation as a percentage of the mean to allow comparison of imprecision across different analytes or concentrations.