POCT BASICS
What does POCT stand for?
Point-of-care testing.
What laboratory test measures the amount of glucose in a patient's blood?
Blood glucose test.
What is the examination of urine called?
Urinalysis
What type of test is commonly used in the medical office to rapidly detect Group A Streptococcus?
A rapid strep test.
What does CLIA stand for?
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.
What is the main advantage of performing a point-of-care test?
It allows testing to be performed near the patient and provides rapid results.
What blood component is responsible for carrying oxygen?
Hemoglobin.
What are the three major components of a complete urinalysis?
Physical, chemical, and microscopic examination.
When collecting a specimen for a rapid strep test, what area of the patient's throat should be swabbed?
The posterior throat/tonsillar area, avoiding contamination from the tongue and cheeks.
What is the purpose of quality control in laboratory testing?
To help ensure that test results are accurate and reliable.
A medical assistant performs a glucose test using a small blood sample from a patient's finger. What type of testing is this?
Point-of-care testing.
What test can be performed using a fingerstick and a microhematocrit tube to determine the percentage of red blood cells in blood
Hematocrit.
What device is commonly used to test urine for substances such as glucose, protein, ketones, and blood?
A urine reagent strip/dipstick.
Why are rapid diagnostic tests useful in a medical office?
They can provide results quickly, helping the provider make timely clinical decisions.
What should a medical assistant do if a laboratory test kit has expired?
Do not use it; replace/dispose of it properly
Before performing a POCT, what should the medical assistant verify about the test kit?
That it is not expired, has been stored properly, and is appropriate for the test being performed.
Which laboratory department focuses on the study of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets?
Hematology
A patient provides a urine specimen for testing. Why should the specimen container be properly labeled?
To correctly identify the patient and prevent specimen identification errors.
A rapid test's instructions state that the result must be read within a specific time period. Why is following that time important?
Reading the test outside the manufacturer's specified time can produce an inaccurate or unreliable result.
A medical assistant is performing a laboratory test but discovers that the quality-control results are outside the acceptable range. Should the patient specimen be tested?
No. The problem should be investigated and corrected according to the test manufacturer's instructions and laboratory protocol before patient testing.
A glucose meter produces an unexpected result. Before reporting the result to the provider, what should the medical assistant consider?
Check the procedure, equipment, supplies, and quality-control status, and repeat the test according to the manufacturer's instructions if appropriate.
A provider orders a test that examines bacteria, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms. Which laboratory area would perform this type of testing?
Microbiology
During urinalysis, the medical assistant observes an abnormal finding. What should the assistant do rather than independently diagnose the patient?
Document/report the finding according to office protocol and notify the provider as appropriate.
A rapid diagnostic test gives an invalid result. What should the medical assistant do?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and office protocol, which may require repeating the test with a new test device or specimen.
A specimen sent to an outside laboratory has missing or incorrect information on the requisition. What could happen?
The laboratory may reject the specimen, potentially delaying diagnosis or treatment.