Don't Point at Me!
What is the dermal puncture site for infants?
Heel of the foot
What should be asked of a patient who is on therapeutic drugs?
When the drug was last taken
Sterile tubes contain Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate (SPS), and are used for Microbiology testing. How many inversions do these tubes need and what type of test are they used for?
8 inversions
Blood cultures
Purple/Lavender are used for Hematology testing, like CBCs, which require to be chilled. What additive is in this tube and how many inversions will it need?
EDTA
8-10 inversions
Typically 70% isopropyl alcohol is used in concentric circles to cleanse the area before a puncture. If your patient is allergic to alcohol what other options do you have?
0.5% Chlorohexidine Gluconate
2% Iodine
Betadine
Benzalkonium Chloride
What is the dermal puncture site for adults and children older than 1?
Distal regions of the middle and ring fingers
What tube is for liver testing?
Green
*Hepatic Function Panel
You have a requisition for a PT/APPT and a coagulation test. The tube you need requires 3-4 inversions and must be kept at room temperature unless the testing cannot be done within 4 hours of the draw, in which case it should be chilled. What is the color and additive of the tube you need?
Light blue - Sodium Citrate
Pink tubes are similar to Purple/Lavender tubes because they contain EDTA and have the same number of inversions. However, they are used for Type & Screen and Type & Crossmatch testing. What department requires these types of tests?
The Blood Bank
On the HFPA Diamond, the substance in question is stated to be a health hazard with a rating 1-4. 1 being slightly hazardous to 4 being deadly. What color on the Diamond will represent this substance?
BLUE
What is the depth for dermal punctures in infants?
Less than 2.0mm
**Premature neonates - 0.85mm
What test is used to test for Septicemia?
A blood culture
You have a requisition for a STAT alcohol test. Nothing can interfere with the blood for the result to be accurate. What color tube should you use and how many inversions does it need if any?
Red - 0-5
A patient has come in and needs Glucose testing. The tube you need will require 8-10 inversions and contains 2 additives. What are those additives and what color is the tube?
Gray - Sodium Fluoride & Potassium Oxalate
You are checking to make sure that radioactive materials in the lab are labeled properly. The NFPA Diamond has not yet been updated. What color on the diamond will these materials need to be marked with?
Yellow
You are preparing for a dermal puncture on an infant. After applying a warm compress and positioning the heel downward for better blood flow, you are ready to cleanse the site. What is the appropriate cleaning solution you should use?
70% isopropyl alcohol
What should you ask your patient before a 3-hour GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test)?
When did they last eat, drink, smoke, and have they had any alcohol?
Gold and Red/Black (Tiger top) tubes require 5 inversions and are used for chemical tests like electrolytes. What additives are in these tubes?
Clot activator and Gel Separator
*Also called SST - Serum Separator Tubes
In pediatrics and when mycobacterium is a concern, bottles can be used instead of tubes for testing. What are the two types of bottles?
Bonus:
Which one is used first?
Anaerobic
Aerobic
Bonus:
Aerobic
The bottom color of the NFPA Diamond indicates the existence of a hazard. Examples of this include:
- Acids
- Reactions with water
- Corrosive materials
- Alkaline substances
- Oxidizers
- Polymerization
What color represents these?
White
What is the proper positioning of a lancet for dermal punctures?
45o angle inward over the finger lines
ESR, Fecal Occult Blood Testing, Microhematocrit, Strep screening, Urine Pregnancy tests, Urine chemical screening, POCT, Blood glucose, Cardiac marker diagnostics, and cholesterol are all examples of what type of tests?
CLIA waived tests
A requisition has been given to you for a patient who has been exposed to Hepatitis B and must be tested for the virus. You need a tube with the additive Heparin. What color tube contains Heparin and how many inversions will it need?
Green tube
8-10 inversions
*Stable at room temp for 2 hours but should be chilled if testing cannot be performed within that timeframe
You are using a syringe draw method on your patient. When should you remove your tourniquet?
As the last amount of blood is collected
On the NFPA Diamond for hazards, you see that the chemical in question is listed with degrees of flammability. What color on the diamond will represent this chemical?
RED