Specimen Collection Flashcards
16 cards from real Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 16 Specimen Collection flashcards as text
What is the circulatory system's primary purpose?
Answer: Carries oxygen and food to the cells of the body
The circulatory system, primarily composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood, is responsible for transporting essential substances throughout the body. Its main purpose is to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all body cells and remove waste products like carbon dioxide. This continuous circulation is vital for cellular metabolism and overall bodily function.
Which two of the following are the circulatory system's primary purposes?
Answer: Cardiovascular system and lymphatic system
The circulatory system is broadly divided into two main components: the cardiovascular system and the lymphatic system. The cardiovascular system circulates blood, oxygen, and nutrients, while the lymphatic system collects excess fluid, filters waste, and plays a crucial role in immune function. These two systems work in conjunction to maintain fluid balance and transport substances throughout the body.
How much blood does a human body typically contain?
Answer: 5 Liters
The average adult human body typically contains approximately 4.5 to 5.5 liters of blood. This volume constitutes about 7-8% of total body weight and is essential for maintaining blood pressure, transporting substances like oxygen and nutrients, and regulating body temperature.
There are various techniques for drawing blood from a patient. What kind of blood collection procedure is most typical?
Answer: Venous
Venous blood collection, or venipuncture, is the most common and typical method for drawing blood samples for diagnostic testing. It involves drawing blood from a vein, usually in the arm, because veins are easily accessible, have lower pressure than arteries, and provide sufficient blood volume for most laboratory tests.
The integrity of the specimen is crucial. Which of the following can compromise the integrity of the specimen?
Answer: Method of transport
The method of transport can significantly compromise specimen integrity, leading to inaccurate test results. Factors such as extreme temperatures, excessive agitation, or delays in transport can cause hemolysis, cellular degradation, or alteration of analytes within the specimen. Adhering to proper transport protocols is essential to maintain the specimen's quality and ensure reliable diagnostic outcomes.
The description of each sort of blood draw is different. What word best sums up a Venus blood test?
Answer: Blood is dark red, flow is steady and easily controlled.
Venous blood is deoxygenated, giving it a darker red color compared to arterial blood. When a vein is punctured, the blood flow is typically steady and even, not pulsating, and is generally easy to control. This contrasts with arterial blood, which is bright red, pulsates, and is harder to control due to higher pressure.
Hemolyzing blood samples is a simple process. What is a sample that has been hemolyzed?
Answer: When RBCs are lysed
Hemolysis refers to the rupture or destruction of red blood cells (RBCs), which releases hemoglobin into the surrounding plasma or serum. This can occur due to improper phlebotomy techniques, incorrect specimen handling, or certain medical conditions. Hemolyzed specimens appear pink or red and can interfere with the accuracy of many laboratory tests.
Specimens may potentially be lipemic due to the health of the patient. A lipemic sample is defined as?
Answer: Hazy, opaque, or milky white
A lipemic sample appears hazy, opaque, or milky white due to a high concentration of lipids, typically triglycerides, in the blood. This condition often occurs when a patient has not fasted before a blood draw or has certain metabolic disorders. Lipemia can interfere with various laboratory tests, similar to how hemolysis affects results.
What are the four guidelines for specimen collection?
Answer: Right specimen, time, amount and container
The four key guidelines for specimen collection to ensure accurate results are: collecting the right specimen type, at the correct time (e.g., fasting, timed), in the appropriate amount, and using the correct container with the proper additives. Adhering to these guidelines is crucial for diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and preventing the need for recollection.
When should you wash your hands after taking a sample?
Answer: Before and after
Hand hygiene is a fundamental principle of infection control in healthcare. Phlebotomists must wash their hands or use an alcohol-based hand rub both before and after contact with each patient, before and after wearing gloves, and before and after handling specimens. This practice prevents the spread of microorganisms and protects both the patient and the healthcare worker.
When should gloves be worn?
Answer: Before touching bedpan, patient, or specimen
Gloves are a crucial component of standard precautions and should be worn whenever there is a potential for contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, or contaminated items. This includes before touching a patient, handling a bedpan, or collecting and handling specimens. Wearing gloves protects both the healthcare worker and the patient from pathogen transmission.
A standard specimen needs to be taken:
Answer: Anytime
A 'standard specimen' typically refers to a routine blood draw that does not require specific timing relative to meals or time of day, unlike fasting blood tests or timed medication levels. Therefore, it can be taken at any time during the day. This flexibility allows for convenience in scheduling routine lab work.
What happens to the urine collected on the first day at 7 a.m. of a 24-hour urine sample?
Answer: Discard
When collecting a 24-hour urine sample, the first urine voided at the start of the collection period (e.g., 7 a.m. on day one) is discarded. This ensures that the collection begins with an empty bladder, and all subsequent urine produced over the next 24 hours is included. Discarding the initial void provides an accurate measure of substances excreted over that specific timeframe.
When obtaining a sample of 24-hour urine: What is the biggest potential issue with removing urine from an implanted Foley catheter?
Answer: Urinary infection from contamination
The biggest potential issue with removing urine from an implanted Foley catheter for a 24-hour collection is the risk of contamination, which can lead to a urinary infection. Breaking the closed system of the catheter to collect urine introduces a pathway for bacteria to enter the urinary tract. Therefore, specific sterile techniques are required, or urine is collected from the port to minimize this risk.
What happens to the pee that was taken at 7 a.m. on the final day of a 24-hour urine sample?
Answer: Saved
For a 24-hour urine collection, the final urine voided at the end of the 24-hour period (e.g., 7 a.m. on the final day) must be saved and added to the collection. This ensures that all urine produced within the exact 24-hour timeframe is included. Saving this last sample makes the total volume and analyte measurements accurate and representative of the full collection period.
In order to create a specimen, _______________ of stool is required.
Answer: 1-2 tbsp
For most stool specimens, a sufficient amount for laboratory analysis is typically 1-2 tablespoons, or approximately 30-60 mL if liquid. This quantity allows for adequate testing to be performed by the laboratory while not requiring an excessively large or inconvenient sample from the patient.