ASPT Quality Assurance & Laboratory Operations Flashcards

What is the purpose of a delta check in laboratory quality assurance?

Answer: Compare a patient's current result to a previous result to flag unusual changes

A delta check compares a patient's current lab result with a prior result to detect significant discrepancies that may indicate errors or critical patient changes.

Which organization sets the standards for laboratory quality and proficiency testing in the US under CLIA?

Answer: CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)

CMS oversees CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) regulations, which establish quality standards for all US laboratory testing on human specimens.

What does QC (quality control) in phlebotomy primarily ensure?

Answer: Test results are reliable, accurate, and reproducible

Quality control in phlebotomy and the laboratory ensures that test results are reliable, accurate, and reproducible by monitoring processes and equipment performance.

What is the correct action when a quality control result falls outside the acceptable range?

Answer: Document and investigate the failure before reporting patient results

When QC fails, the phlebotomist or lab tech must document the failure, investigate the cause, and resolve the issue before releasing patient test results.

Which type of error occurs when a specimen is collected from the wrong patient?

Answer: Pre-analytical error

Collecting a specimen from the wrong patient is a pre-analytical error, occurring before testing begins, and is one of the most serious phlebotomy mistakes.

How often should a phlebotomist typically verify the expiration date of collection tubes?

Answer: At the start of each shift or before each use

Phlebotomists should check tube expiration dates at the start of each shift or before use to ensure additives are effective and results are valid.