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Specimen Collection Procedures & Chain of Custody Flashcards

7 cards from real CPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which CLSI-recommended practice helps prevent hemoconcentration during venipuncture?

    Answer: Applying the tourniquet for no more than 1 minute before puncture

    Prolonged tourniquet application beyond one minute causes hemoconcentration, elevating cellular and protein-bound analyte levels; it should be released promptly or applied for ≤1 minute.

  2. A specimen is deemed 'invalid' under federal drug testing guidelines when:

    Answer: The specimen shows signs of adulteration but the adulterant cannot be identified

    An invalid result is reported when the specimen's validity testing results are outside normal physiological limits or an unidentifiable interfering substance is present, preventing a valid drug test result.

  3. Under DOT workplace drug-testing regulations, which scenario requires observed collection?

    Answer: The collector observes signs of specimen tampering or the donor returns a specimen under the shy bladder protocol

    Observed collection is mandated under DOT when there is reason to believe tampering occurred, when the previous test was reported invalid/substituted, or when the donor cannot provide sufficient volume on the return collection.

  4. What is the recommended practice when a blood specimen tube is not completely filled (short draw) during venipuncture?

    Answer: Discard and re-collect when the additive-to-blood ratio is critical (e.g., coagulation tubes)

    Short draws in coagulation (light blue) tubes alter the citrate-to-blood ratio and yield inaccurate PT/INR/aPTT results; the tube must be discarded and a new specimen collected.

  5. Which individual in the drug-testing process has the authority to overturn a laboratory-reported positive result based on a legitimate medical explanation?

    Answer: The Medical Review Officer (MRO)

    The MRO is a licensed physician who reviews positive lab results, interviews the donor about legitimate medical explanations, and can report the result as negative if a valid explanation exists.

  6. When collecting a capillary blood specimen via fingerstick, which finger is generally preferred and why?

    Answer: Middle or ring finger of the non-dominant hand, to minimize pain and functional impact

    The middle or ring finger of the non-dominant hand is preferred because it has adequate tissue depth and puncturing the dominant hand minimizes interference with daily activities.

  7. Which statement about specimen rejection criteria is CORRECT?

    Answer: Specimens with broken or missing seals on COC packaging must be rejected and documented

    A compromised tamper-evident seal on a COC specimen indicates potential tampering; the specimen must be rejected, documented, and the discrepancy reported to the MRO or appropriate authority.