Clinical Procedures & Protocols 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 Clinical Procedures & Protocols flashcards as text
Which quality control rule is violated when two consecutive QC values fall more than 2 standard deviations from the mean on the same side?
Answer: Westgard 2-2s rule
The 2-2s rule is violated when two consecutive controls exceed ±2 SD in the same direction, signaling a systematic error.
A lab receives a request for a STAT troponin on a patient in the ED. The tube arrives unlabeled. What should the MLS do?
Answer: Reject the specimen and document per policy
Unlabeled specimens must be rejected per CLSI and accreditation standards because mislabeling errors can cause patient harm; the ED must recollect with proper labeling.
What does a corrected reticulocyte count (reticulocyte production index, RPI) below 2 indicate?
Answer: Hypoproliferative or ineffective erythropoiesis
An RPI <2 suggests the bone marrow is not producing enough red cells to compensate for anemia, pointing to hypoproliferative or ineffective erythropoiesis.
When performing a Gram stain, decolorization with acetone-alcohol is the most critical step. Over-decolorization will cause:
Answer: Gram-positive organisms to appear pink/red
Over-decolorization removes the crystal violet-iodine complex from gram-positive organisms, causing them to stain pink with safranin and appear false gram-negative.
A 24-hour urine is received for creatinine clearance. The volume is 850 mL. The serum creatinine is 1.2 mg/dL and the urine creatinine is 90 mg/dL. The patient weighs 70 kg and is 175 cm tall (BSA 1.8 m²). What should the MLS check FIRST before calculating clearance?
Answer: Confirm the collection start and end times are documented
Accurate timed collection is the most common source of error; without verified start and stop times, the volume cannot be correctly interpreted.
Which blood component is stored at 20–24°C with continuous agitation?
Answer: Platelets
Platelets must be stored at room temperature (20–24°C) with continuous gentle agitation to prevent aggregation and maintain viability for up to 5–7 days.
A cerebrospinal fluid specimen arrives with three tubes numbered 1, 2, and 3. Which tube should be sent to microbiology for culture?
Answer: Tube 3, because it is least likely to be contaminated with skin flora from the tap
Tube 3 is sent for culture because later tubes are less likely to be contaminated with skin organisms introduced at the time of the lumbar puncture.