Deck 16: Specimen Transport, Handling, and Processing

Question 1

How many times should tubes with additives be inverted after collection?

A) None
B) 1 to 5
C) 5 to 10
D) 10 to 15

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is the only analyte unaffected by glycolysis?

A) Glucose
B) Calcitonin
C) Hemoglobin
D) Phosphorus

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What notation is used to indicate that the sample volume is insufficient for testing?

A) EDTA
B) IFT
C) QNS
D) VIS

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following is an acceptable sample for lab testing?

A) A half-full sodium citrate tube for coagulation testing
B) A cold agglutinin test transported at 37°C
C) A urine sample for C&S in a nonsterile clean container
D) An EDTA tube for a calcium test

Question 5

Within what time frame should a routine blood collection sample be delivered to the lab?

A) 15 minutes
B) 45 minutes
C) 2 hours
D) 4 hours

Question 6

An analyte needs to be protected from light, but you do not have any amber tubes. What is another way to protect the specimen?

A) Transport it as soon as possible and it will be acceptable.
B) Cover the specimen with aluminum foil.
C) Turn out all the lights during sample collection and transport it to the lab right away.
D) Stand the tube upright in a rack with other specimens on all sides surrounding the sample.

Question 7

Before dividing a 24-hour urine sample into aliquots, what must be done with the sample?

A) Place it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
B) Add anticoagulant to the container.
C) Measure and record the volume of the sample.
D) Mix it, then divide into aliquots as needed.

Question 8

Which of the following is a term meaning small portions of a specimen transferred into separate containers?

A) Aliquots
B) Accessioned sample
C) Centrifuged parts
D) Portions

Question 9

What is the maximum amount of time a glucose sample collected in a gray top tube can be held at room temperature without loss of viability?

A) 2 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 24 hours
D) 48 hours

Question 10

Blood smears from EDTA specimens must be made within what time period after collection to prevent distortion of cell morphology?

A) 30 minutes
B) 1 hour
C) 12 hours
D) 24 hours

Question 11

According to CLSI, what is the maximum amount of time that may be allowed to elapse between collection of a blood sample and separation of cells from plasma or serum?

A) 30 minutes
B) 2 hours
C) 12 hours
D) 24 hours

Question 12

Which of the following problems with a blood sample may be caused by extremes of temperature?

A) Clotting
B) Glycolysis
C) Hemoconcentration
D) Hemolysis

Question 13

Which of the following tests is most affected by glycolysis in the tube after collection?

A) Glucose
B) Hemoglobin
C) Potassium
D) APTT

Question 14

A unique identifying number used for cataloging samples in the lab is referred to as what kind of number?

A) Accession
B) Aliquot
C) Lab
D) Safety

Question 15

What is the major safety risk in removing stoppers from blood collection tubes?

A) Aerosols
B) Aliquots
C) Breaking the tube
D) Needle puncture

Question 16

Which of the following is the term for the metabolic breakdown of sugar within cells?

A) Glucagon
B) Glycolysis
C) Glucolysis
D) Glycosuria

Question 17

Whole blood specimens collected in EDTA are stable for how long?

A) 1 hour
B) 12 hours
C) 24 hours
D) 48 hours

Question 18

Which of the following tubes can be centrifuged immediately after collection?

A) Heparin tube
B) Plain tube
C) SST tube
D) Thrombin tube

Question 19

A small centrifuge head has 12 spots (holes) labeled in a manner similar to a clock face. There are three tubes of equal volume that need to be centrifuged. In which of the following choices for tube placement would the centrifuge be balanced?

A) 1, 2, 3
B) 1, 4, 7
C) 1, 5, 9
D) 1, 3, 8

Question 20

If the stopper is removed from a tube before centrifugation, what effect will this have on the carbon dioxide and pH levels in the sample?

A) A decrease in CO₂ and an increase in pH
B) A decrease in CO₂ and a decrease in pH
C) An increase in CO₂ and an increase in pH
D) An increase in CO₂ and a decrease in pH