Quality & Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real MLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Quality & Safety flashcards as text
A specimen arrives in the lab with a mismatched label—the name on the tube differs from the requisition. What is the correct action?
Answer: Contact the nursing unit, reject the specimen, and request a new collection
Mislabeled specimens are a critical patient safety risk; the specimen must be rejected and a recollection requested to ensure result integrity.
Which Westgard multi-rule flags two consecutive QC values exceeding the same ±2 SD limit on a Levey-Jennings chart?
Answer: 2-2s
The 2-2s rule is a rejection rule triggered when two consecutive control values fall on the same side outside ±2 SD, indicating probable systematic error.
When autoclaving biohazardous waste, which combination of conditions is standard for sterilization?
Answer: 121°C at 15 psi for 15–20 minutes
Standard autoclave sterilization for biohazardous waste requires 121°C at 15 psi for a minimum of 15–20 minutes to destroy all microbial life including spores.
A laboratory's turnaround time (TAT) for STAT troponin is consistently exceeding the 60-minute target. Which quality improvement methodology is most appropriate to identify bottlenecks?
Answer: All of the above can be appropriate tools
DMAIC, Kaizen, and RCA with fishbone diagrams are all valid quality improvement tools applicable to TAT analysis depending on scope and urgency.
A laboratory uses refrigerated centrifuges for plasma preparation. The temperature should be maintained at approximately:
Answer: 4°C
Refrigerated centrifuges for plasma preparation are typically maintained at 4°C to minimize analyte degradation and preserve sample integrity.
Which document from the laboratory should specify the acceptable delta check limits for sodium results?
Answer: The standard operating procedure (SOP) for delta check protocols
Delta check limits are laboratory-defined thresholds documented in the SOP, established based on analytical performance and clinical significance.
Which class of fire extinguisher should be used on a flammable liquid (e.g., ethanol) fire in the laboratory?
Answer: Class B
Class B fire extinguishers are designed for flammable liquid fires, including solvents such as ethanol, methanol, and acetone commonly found in laboratories.