Medical Terminology
The effect of inhibiting the clotting of blood
What is an anti-coagulant?
A Patient becomes pale and dizzy during venipuncture. What should the phlebotomist do?
Stop the procedure/remove the needle, lower the patient's head and call for assistance.
Frozen serum or plasma samples must be thawed at ___ temperature and inverted ___ to ___ times before testing
Room
10 to 20
What is the purpose of a laboratory centrifuge?
To separate plasma and serum in specimens that require it.
E) EDTA
C) Citrate
H) Heparin
O) Oxalate
What is the term E.C.H.O?
What is the term for Fainting; loss of consciousness?
What is Syncope?
The provider orders a tube of heparin, sodium citrate and an EDTA. What are these tubes and their orders?
Sodium Citrate - Light blue
Heparin - Dark Green
EDTA - Lavender
A patient comes in for a fasting glucose test and states that they are breakfast. What is the next step?
Notify the provider and do not perform the procedure.
A specimen is hemolyzed. What is the most likely cause of the hemolysis?
Using a needle too small for the vein, or shaking the collected tube instead of inverting.
What are the components of blood? Include the percentages.
1% White Blood Cells
55% Plasma
44% Red Blood Cells
What is a tourniquet, what is its purpose?
A band that constricts blood flow to distend veins, encouraging blood flow.
A 58-year-old lady comes to get her blood drawn; her veins are fragile yet surface leveled. What method should you perform to draw the blood safely?
Syringe Method
A child is getting a venipuncture procedure and is very nervous. What is the best approach?
Use calm language, allow parents to be present, use age appropriate language.
Certain specimens require specific transport conditions; thermolabile specimens must be transported in what temperature?
37 Celsius; 98.6 Fahrenheit
The Four Types of Consent?
Implied
Informed
Expressed
Parental
Tiny red or purple skin spots caused by capillary bleeding
Petechiae
A peak drug level is ordered for 30 minutes post-dose, but the patient arrives late. What should you do?
Notify the provider and draw only after clarifying timing with the provider/lab
A specimen is collected for a court-ordered drug-screen. After labeling, you realize the patient left before signing the paperwork. What do you do?
Discard the specimen and notify the provider for a recollection with full chain-of-custody documentation.
A patient comes in for a fasting lipid panel. After verifying patient ID, drawing the tube, labeling and transporting the specimen; two hours later, the provider calls saying "the patient had coffee with cream in the morning." Is this a specimen handling error, who is responsible?
Yes, the phlebotomist failed to confirm fasting status prior to collection.
What are the 6 links of the Chain of Infection?
Infectious Agent, Reservoir Host, Exit Pathway, Means of Transportation, Entry Pathway, Susceptible Host.
Define the Chain of Custody.
A documented trail following a specimen from the time it is collected to the time of disposal, ensuring integrity of the specimen
Everything is correct, but something seems off. What do you do?
You draw a CMP and potassium on an elderly patient using a butterfly set. The tourniquet is on for 90 seconds while locating the vein, and the patient repeatedly pumps their first. When you collect, the draw is slow so you gently shake the tube to mix it. It sits in the nurse's station for 45 minutes before transportation. Which result is MOST likely to be falsely abnormal and why?
Elevated potassium due to hemoconcentration and fist pumping.
What specimens should be protected from light?
(3 are required to get the points)
Beta-Carotene, Bilirubin, Folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C
What are some special consideration to patients with allergies?
If they have latex, use non-latex equipment (check your tourniquet, gloves)
If they have an allergy to alcohol antiseptic, use chlorahexidine or povidone-iodine