Microbiology
Selective medium used for the isolation of gram-positive microorganisms
What is Columbia CNA with 5% sheep blood
Infection of the urinary tract is most frequently associated with this organism
What is Escherichia coli?
Magnesium 2.0 mg/dL
What is Normal?
Ref Range = 1.6-2.6
The lab receives a complaint from the ICU about long turnaround times for stat tests. What should the lab do?
Nothing, since they complain all the time
Run reports and analyze data
Talk to staff about solutions
What is run reports AND talk to staff (in that order)?
You are running the chemistry analyzer and you notice your sodium calibration has expired. You already ran your controls and they are in. Is it ok to have the next shift calibrate? Yes or No
No, you must recalibrate with calibrators that are not expired prior to reporting out results.
Three sets of blood cultures were obtained from an adult patient with fever and suspected endocarditis. The aerobic bottle of one set was positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis on day 5 of incubation. Would this be considered pathogenic or a contaminant?
What is contaminant?
The Enterobacteriaceae family share this characteristic
What is reduce nitrate to nitrite
Total Bilirubin 1.4
What is Increased?
Ref Range = 0.3-1.2
You overhear two phlebotomists talking about drawing blood and one says they never have the IV paused when drawing blood because it takes the nurse too long to come to the room. What should you do?
Nothing, you're a MLS, not your department
Let your supervisor know (or the phleb supervisor)
You are running the hematology analyzer and your QC is out for Platelets. You repeat with new vial of control and QC is within limits. What should you do? Can you report out patient results?
Yes, you can report out results.
Best medium for culture of Francisella tularensis
What is cystine glucose blood agar?
This organism isolated from the surface of a skin burn is found to produce a diffusible green pigment on a blood agar plate. What is the most likely identification of this organism?
What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Platelet 400 103uL
What is Normal?
Ref Range = 150-450
Name two examples of pre-analytical errors
What are:
not identifying patient
not following order of draw
not following collection instructions (and so many more)
You are working in chemistry and monitoring temps. One of the freezers is out of range (temp too high). What should you do?
What is...there are a couple of things to consider.
Some options:
Take all contents out of the freezer and relocate them.
Defrost freezer if you see ice accumulating
Call Biomed? or Engineering
Throat swabs for group A strep should be inoculated on which type of blood agar?
Sheep, rabbit, human or horse blood agar
What is sheep blood agar?
Optimal incubator temperature for isolation of the Campylobacter jejuni/coli group
What is 42 degrees C?
Sed Rate 40 mm/Hr
What is Increased?
Ref Range= 0-30
A friend asks you to look up their recent test results that were done in our lab. Since you have their permission, it is ok to do this....yes or no
What is NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
You are having a very busy shift. You have a critical hemoglobin on a patient in the ED. You try calling a few times and no answer. You give up trying to contact the ED because you have other things to do. Is this ok?
CAP requirements (and our Endeavor policy) state that we must communicate all critical lab results to a Provider or RN.
Test that distinguishes Staphylococcus aureus from other Staph species
What is coagulase?
Which one of the following GNR ferments glucose?
Alcaligenes faecalis
Pseudomonas cepacia
Acinetobacter lwoffii
Yersinia enterocolitica
What is Yersinia enterocolitica?
What is Normal?
Ref range= <0.50
You are putting away lab reagents and they need to be refrigerated. They are cold in the box they came in. You take them out of the box and your MLS friend calls you to meet them in the cafeteria for break. It is ok to leave those reagents out at room temperature for 30 minutes. Yes or No
What is No?
Some of our reagents cost thousands of dollars. We must respect the storage temps. Also, if you unpack reagents that are warm and should be refrigerated, you should let a supervisor know so company can be contacted and we can get replacements.