NCCT Laboratory Terminology and Communication 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the abbreviation 'STAT' mean in a laboratory order?
- Immediately/urgent (Correct answer)
- Standard turnaround time
- Scheduled testing
- Serum titer and trough
Correct answer: Immediately/urgent
STAT (from Latin 'statim') means immediately, indicating an urgent test that must be collected and processed without delay.
Question 2: What does 'NPO' mean on a patient's order?
- Nothing by mouth (Correct answer)
- No potassium order
- Normal patient observation
- No prior orders
Correct answer: Nothing by mouth
NPO (nil per os) means the patient must not eat or drink anything, which is critical to know before collecting fasting specimens.
Question 3: Which abbreviation refers to a test ordered to monitor a drug at its lowest blood concentration?
- Trough (Correct answer)
- Peak
- STAT
- QNS
Correct answer: Trough
A trough level is drawn just before the next drug dose to measure the minimum drug concentration in the bloodstream.
Question 4: What does the term 'hemolysis' mean in the context of a specimen?
- Rupture of red blood cells releasing hemoglobin (Correct answer)
- Clotting of the blood sample
- Contamination of the sample
- Insufficient blood volume
Correct answer: Rupture of red blood cells releasing hemoglobin
Hemolysis occurs when red blood cells break apart, releasing hemoglobin and intracellular contents that can interfere with many lab tests.
Question 5: What does 'QNS' mean on a laboratory report?
- Quantity not sufficient (Correct answer)
- Quality not standardized
- Quick needle stick
- Quantitative normal specimen
Correct answer: Quantity not sufficient
QNS (Quantity Not Sufficient) indicates the collected specimen volume was inadequate to perform the required laboratory testing.
Question 6: What is a 'requisition' in phlebotomy?
- A written or electronic order for laboratory tests (Correct answer)
- A patient identification form
- A tube labeling protocol
- A billing document only
Correct answer: A written or electronic order for laboratory tests
A requisition is the official order from a physician or authorized provider that lists the tests to be performed and relevant patient information.
NCCT Laboratory Terminology and Communication 1
What does the abbreviation 'STAT' mean in a laboratory order?