Busy. Please wait.
Log in with Clever
or

show password
Forgot Password?

Don't have an account?  Sign up 
Sign up using Clever
or

Username is available taken
show password


Make sure to remember your password. If you forget it there is no way for StudyStack to send you a reset link. You would need to create a new account.
Your email address is only used to allow you to reset your password. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.


Already a StudyStack user? Log In

Reset Password
Enter the associated with your account, and we'll email you a link to reset your password.

# ADV.D04 Ch12 - Specimen Handling, Transport, Processing

Quiz yourself by thinking what should be in each of the black spaces below before clicking on it to display the answer.
        Help!  

Question
Answer
These lab specimens are not centrifuged   hematology, coagulation  
🗑
Aliquot   small sample of a specimen  
🗑
Photosensitive   affected by light  
🗑
Critical laboratory value   A blood value that is very low or very high. Doctor must be notified immediately upon finding such a blood value.  
🗑
Pneumatic tube system   Transport method used to send specimens through a pipe system internally between departments.  
🗑
Turn around time (TAT)   The time it takes to complete the phlebotomy and report the results.  
🗑
Patient variables   Factors that can change the blood values such as: diet, age, diurnal changes, stress  
🗑
Transportation and handling variables   Factors that can change blood values after phlebotomy and before testing. These can be temperature, exposure to light, delays in testing, improper storage temperatures, etc.  
🗑
Variable, variables   A variable is a factor of the environment or of the patient that has the potential of altering the value of the blood analytes.  
🗑
Specimen processing and storage variables   factors of preparing and preserving specimens such as exposure to light, over centrifugation, storage at wrong temperature, etc.  
🗑
Specimen variables   Factors regarding the blood specimen that was collected such as: too little blood in the tube, hemolysis due to shaking the blood while mixing, inadequate mixing of anticoagulant.  
🗑
Labeling the specimen   All specimens must have the patient name, ID#, time and date of collection, your initials  
🗑
Thermolabile   affected by temperature either hot or cold  
🗑
Precentrifugation   Specimen processing and handling before it is centrifuged. This includes blood drawing and transport to the laboratory.  
🗑
Normal blood clotting in tubes can take   30 – 60 minutes  
🗑
Clot activators   particles of silica or glass or the chemical thrombin. These help activate the clotting process and can shorten the clotting time by 15 to 30 minutes.  
🗑
Aerosol   Small microscopic spray of particles released when the tube caps are removed.  
🗑
Centrifugation   The process of spinning blood specimens  
🗑
Thixotropic gel   A gel material that has liquid properties when agitated or stressed under centrifugation. This allows separation of plasma or serum from the cellular components of blood. It returns to a gel state after centrifugation stops.  
🗑
Centrifuge Safety   Balance tubes, keep tube caps in place, do not open centrifuge until it stops completely  
🗑
How many time can you centrifuge a blood sample   once  
🗑
Postcentrifugation   Handling and processing of specimens after centrifugation. This includes preparation for testing, storage at proper temperature.  
🗑
Serum or plasma can remain in contact with blood cells   As soon as possible but, no longer than  
🗑
Room temperature is   22oC, 25oC  
🗑
Refrigerator storage temperature is   2oC - 8oC  
🗑
If testing cannot be done within 48 hours you preserve specimens at   -20oC  
🗑
Plasma should not be repeatedly frozen and thawed because…   This can activate clotting factors.  
🗑
Differential smears must be made within ______ after drawing the blood.   One hour  
🗑
When can you centrifuge anticoagulated specimens?   Immediately  
🗑
Fasting   No food or drink for 8-12hrs. Small amounts of water are OK.  
🗑
What affect does warfarin, Coumadin, and heparin have on the blood specimen?   Prevents blood clotting  
🗑
Anticoagulant   a chemical that prevents blood clotting. These are used to preserve whole blood in specimen tubes and also used in patients to prevent internal blood clotting.  
🗑
Centrifugation   specimen handling/processing during centrifugation. The process of using centrifugal force to separate the liquid portion of blood from the formed elements.  
🗑
Formed elements   the cellular component of blood. These are the RBC, WBC, and PLT.  
🗑
Important centrifuge rules   (1) use proper speed & time, (2) do not open until the centrifuge has stopped completely, (3) monitor the temperature on temperature controlled centrifuges  
🗑
Specimen priority (prioritization)   ` STAT (within 15 minutes), TDM (exact time before and after a drug is given), Routine (bloodwork required upon admission), ASAP (when you have the time)  
🗑
Pneumatic tube system   a system of tube containers that travel through a pipe system inside of a facility/laboratory  
🗑
laboratory reports must contain   Patient ID & location, (2) collection information (venous, capillary, non­fasting, etc.) (3) Normal ranges for the test result (4) Test results with the proper units of concentration  
🗑
Why can specimens be rejected for testing   the label and requisition do not match, inadequate volume of blood, wrong tube, hemolyzed specimen, expired tube, drawn at the wrong time/date  
🗑
Mixing blood tubes   gently tilting 5 to 10 times. Do not shake. Shaking can cause hemolysis.  
🗑
Common specimens that need to be chilled   ammonia, blood gases, catecholamines, gastrin, lactic acid, parathyroid hormone, pyruvate  
🗑
common specimens that need to be transported at body temperature   called agglutinins, Cryofibrinogen, Cryoglobulins  
🗑
lipemia   the presence of fats in the blood  
🗑
shipping biohazardous specimens   (1) must have leakproof inner container, (2) must have a strong secondary outer container, (3) Must have biohazard symbol on the outer container visible on all four sides of the container.  
🗑


   

Review the information in the table. When you are ready to quiz yourself you can hide individual columns or the entire table. Then you can click on the empty cells to reveal the answer. Try to recall what will be displayed before clicking the empty cell.
 
To hide a column, click on the column name.
 
To hide the entire table, click on the "Hide All" button.
 
You may also shuffle the rows of the table by clicking on the "Shuffle" button.
 
Or sort by any of the columns using the down arrow next to any column heading.
If you know all the data on any row, you can temporarily remove it by tapping the trash can to the right of the row.

 
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

  Normal Size     Small Size show me how
Created by: rjmtoss
Popular Phlebotomy sets