Tubes & Additives
Which additive prevents clotting by chelating calcium and is used in lavender tubes?
EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)
Which department processes a hemoglobin A1c test and what tube is used?
Chemistry / Hematology ; Lavender tube
What are the "minimum necessary" standards under HIPAA?
Only the least amount of patient info necessary should be accessed or disclosed
What is the maximum allowable time between drawing and centrifuging a serum specimen?
2 hours
Which component of blood is responsible for oxygen transport?
Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
A tube with lithium heparin is most appropriate for which type of test?
Plasma chemistry tests (e.g., electrolytes, ammonia)
What tube is used for STAT potassium levels and why?
Green top; it contains heparin and prevents clotting, allowing for immediate plasma separation
Which organization provides guidelines for best practices in phlebotomy technique?
CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute)
Why should a dermal puncture not be performed on the same site as a previous heel stick?
It may cause tissue damage or infection
What is the largest vein in the body and where does it return blood to?
Inferior vena cava; returns blood to the right atrium
Why must a light blue tube be filled completely?
To maintain the correct blood-to-additive ratio for coagulation testing
Which test is used to evaluate liver function and what tube is appropriate?
ALT or AST; SST or Red/Gold top
What is the primary goal of The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals related to specimen collection?
To correctly identify patients and improve communication of test results
When drawing blood cultures, which site is collected first when using a butterfly and bottles?
Aerobic bottle is collected first to prevent air contamination
What does the term “lateral” mean in anatomical terminology?
Away from the midline of the body
What additive is found in yellow SPS tubes and what is its purpose?
Sodium polyanethol sulfonate; it inhibits complement and phagocytosis in blood culture collection
Which tube is used for a type and crossmatch and why?
Pink top; it contains EDTA and is used in Blood Bank for compatibility testing
Which federal act established standards for all laboratory testing on humans in the U.S.?
CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)
In what scenario would you perform a dermal puncture over venipuncture?
When veins are inaccessible or for small-volume pediatric collection
List all ABO blood types and identify which one can receive from all groups.
A, B, AB, O; AB is the universal recipient
Which additive may interfere with calcium testing and is therefore avoided for such tests?
EDTA
A D-dimer test is performed in which department and with what additive?
Coagulation; Light Blue with sodium citrate
What should a phlebotomist do if they witness a HIPAA violation by another staff member?
Report it to the privacy officer or supervisor immediately
What does a PKU/Guthrie test screen for, and why is it done early in life?
Phenylketonuria; early detection prevents cognitive impairment
Which layer of blood is formed between plasma and red cells after centrifugation and what does it contain?
The buffy coat; it contains white blood cells and platelets