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- Medical Laboratory Professionals Association of Ontario Specimen Collection and Handling Questions and Answers Flashcards

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  1. When collecting a midstream clean-catch urine specimen for culture, why is the midstream portion collected rather than the first-void portion?

    Answer: The first void is used to flush periurethral contaminants from the urethra

    The initial void flushes periurethral bacteria and contaminants from the urethra; the midstream collection therefore contains bladder urine with fewer contaminants, improving culture accuracy.

  2. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen is collected by lumbar puncture. What is the correct handling priority for this specimen in the laboratory?

    Answer: Process immediately and never refrigerate

    CSF is a critical specimen that must be processed immediately. Refrigeration kills fragile organisms (like Neisseria meningitidis) and degrades cells, making immediate processing essential.

  3. What is the purpose of a blood culture incubation system such as the BACTEC or BacT/Alert system?

    Answer: To continuously monitor CO2 production as an indicator of bacterial growth

    Automated blood culture systems continuously monitor CO2 production in culture bottles, which increases as bacteria metabolize nutrients, signalling a positive culture for the laboratory system.

  4. During arterial blood gas (ABG) collection, what is the minimum time pressure must be applied to the radial artery puncture site after needle withdrawal in a patient not on anticoagulants?

    Answer: 3-5 minutes

    A minimum of 3-5 minutes of firm pressure must be applied to arterial puncture sites in patients not on anticoagulants to prevent hematoma formation, given the higher pressure of arterial blood flow.

  5. A 24-hour urine collection requires a preservative. Which preservative is appropriate for a 24-hour urine cortisol collection?

    Answer: 6N hydrochloric acid (HCl)

    6N hydrochloric acid is the appropriate preservative for 24-hour urine cortisol and catecholamine collections as it acidifies the urine to prevent analyte degradation.

  6. What does the acronym RACE stand for in the context of fire safety response in a healthcare laboratory?

    Answer: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish

    RACE stands for Rescue (move patients/personnel from immediate danger), Alarm (activate fire alarm), Contain (close doors to limit fire spread), Extinguish (use a fire extinguisher if safe).