Specimen Processing and Handling Flashcards
6 cards from real Phlebotomy Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Specimen Processing and Handling flashcards as text
A phlebotomist has just drawn a serum separator tube (SST) for a chemistry panel. What is the correct minimum time the tube should be allowed to clot before centrifugation?
Answer: 30 minutes
Serum separator tubes require adequate time for complete clot formation to ensure proper separation of serum from cellular components during centrifugation. The standard recommended minimum clotting time is 30 minutes at room temperature.
Which of the following would be a valid reason for a laboratory to reject a blood specimen?
Answer: The specimen was collected in a tube with an expired date.
Laboratories have strict criteria for specimen acceptance to ensure test accuracy. Using an expired collection tube is a reason for rejection because the vacuum may be insufficient and the additives may have degraded, compromising the specimen's integrity.
A test for bilirubin levels has been ordered. What is the most critical handling requirement for this specimen immediately after collection?
Answer: Protect the tube from light.
Bilirubin is a photosensitive analyte, meaning it breaks down when exposed to light. To ensure accurate test results, the specimen must be protected from light by wrapping it in aluminum foil or placing it in an amber-colored tube immediately after collection.
A phlebotomist must prepare a specimen for transport to a reference lab that requires chilled handling. What is the proper technique for chilling the specimen?
Answer: Submerging the tube in a mixture of crushed ice and water.
For proper chilling, the specimen tube must be fully surrounded by the cooling medium to ensure rapid and consistent temperature reduction. A slurry of crushed ice and water provides the most effective contact with the entire surface of the tube.
When balancing a centrifuge for spinning blood tubes, which principle must be followed?
Answer: Tubes of the same size and fill volume must be placed directly opposite each other.
To prevent damage to the centrifuge and ensure proper specimen separation, the rotor must be balanced. This is achieved by placing tubes of equal size, shape, and volume in opposite positions to distribute the weight evenly.
A phlebotomist is collecting a specimen for a legal blood alcohol level test. Which of the following is a key component of the 'chain of custody' process for this specimen?
Answer: Documenting every person who handles the specimen.
Chain of custody is a legal and procedural process that tracks a specimen from the moment of collection to its final disposition. It requires meticulous documentation of everyone who handles the specimen to ensure its integrity for legal proceedings.