ASPT Quality Assurance & Laboratory Operations Flashcards
6 cards from real ASPT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ASPT Quality Assurance & Laboratory Operations flashcards as text
What does HIPAA primarily protect in the context of phlebotomy and laboratory work?
Answer: Patient privacy and confidentiality of health information
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protects the privacy and security of patients' protected health information (PHI) in all healthcare settings.
What is the minimum number of patient identifiers required before collecting a specimen according to standard safety protocols?
Answer: Two (e.g., full name and date of birth)
At least two unique patient identifiers — such as full name and date of birth or medical record number — must be confirmed before specimen collection to prevent misidentification.
Which action best prevents hemolysis of a blood specimen during collection?
Answer: Allowing blood to flow gently into the tube without forcing
Allowing blood to flow gently into the tube without forcing or excessive agitation prevents the mechanical destruction of red blood cells that causes hemolysis.
What does 'turnaround time' (TAT) measure in laboratory quality assurance?
Answer: Time from specimen collection to result reporting
Turnaround time (TAT) measures the elapsed time from specimen collection (or receipt) to when the final result is available, and is a key quality indicator.
Which term describes systematic, consistent error in laboratory testing caused by faulty reagents or equipment?
Answer: Systematic error (bias)
Systematic error (bias) is a consistent, reproducible deviation in results caused by faulty reagents, miscalibrated equipment, or procedural flaws affecting all results in one direction.
What is the primary reason for rejecting a lipemic (visibly cloudy/milky) serum specimen for certain tests?
Answer: High lipid content can interfere with optical and photometric assay measurements
Lipemia (high triglycerides causing turbidity) interferes with optical measurement methods used in many chemistry assays, leading to falsely elevated or decreased results.