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Specimen Processing and Handling Questions and Answers Flashcards

6 cards from real MLPAO 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. What is the maximum acceptable cold ischemia time for a kidney transplant organ from declaration of brain death to organ reperfusion?

    Answer: 12-36 hours

    Cold ischemia time for kidneys is generally acceptable up to 24-36 hours with proper cold perfusion preservation, though outcomes improve significantly with shorter times (<12 hours).

  2. A CSF specimen is collected in three tubes. Which tube should be sent to the microbiology laboratory for culture?

    Answer: Tube 2 — least likely to be contaminated with skin flora

    Tube 2 is sent for microbiology culture because it is least likely to be contaminated with skin flora from the puncture site, which is most likely to contaminate Tube 1.

  3. A laboratory receives a serum specimen for cortisol measurement labeled 'AM cortisol — 0900 hours.' The specimen was collected at 0900 but not processed until 1600. Is this specimen acceptable?

    Answer: No, cortisol may degrade; check stability guidelines and consider recollection if outside stability limits

    Cortisol stability should be verified against laboratory stability data. Most guidelines indicate serum cortisol is stable for 4-8 hours at room temperature and longer if refrigerated, but the 7-hour delay warrants stability verification.

  4. What does 'aliquoting' a specimen mean in laboratory specimen processing?

    Answer: Dividing a primary specimen into smaller portions for multiple tests or storage

    Aliquoting involves transferring measured portions of a primary specimen into secondary tubes or containers to allow multiple tests to be performed from a single collection or for archival storage.

  5. Which of the following correctly describes the impact of lipemia on clinical chemistry test results?

    Answer: Lipemia causes interference in multiple assays by light scattering, false volume exclusion, and reagent interference

    Lipemia causes multiple interferences: turbidity affects photometric assays (light scatter), lipid particles displace aqueous volume (pseudohyponatremia with indirect ISE), and lipids can interfere with reagent chemistry.

  6. When storing serum specimens for up to 7 days pending batch analysis, what is the appropriate storage temperature?

    Answer: Refrigerator (2-8°C)

    For short-term storage (up to 7 days), most serum chemistry analytes are stable when refrigerated at 2-8°C. This temperature slows enzymatic degradation and bacterial growth without causing freeze-thaw damage.