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Diagnostic Testing and Lab Procedures Flashcards

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

Read the first 6 Diagnostic Testing and Lab Procedures flashcards as text

  1. Which anticoagulant additive is found in the LAVENDER (purple) top blood collection tube and is the standard choice for CBC testing?

    Answer: EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)

    Lavender/purple top tubes contain EDTA, which chelates calcium to prevent clotting while preserving cell morphology — making it ideal for complete blood counts (CBC) and blood differential.

  2. A urine dipstick test shows positive nitrite and positive leukocyte esterase. What do these findings MOST strongly suggest?

    Answer: Urinary tract infection

    Positive nitrite (indicating bacteria that convert urinary nitrates) combined with positive leukocyte esterase (indicating white blood cells) is highly suggestive of a bacterial urinary tract infection.

  3. A point-of-care glucose meter reads 'HI' for a patient's blood glucose. What does this result mean and what action should the medical assistant take?

    Answer: The glucose exceeds the meter's upper measurement limit; report the result to the provider immediately

    A 'HI' reading means the blood glucose is above the maximum measurable range of the meter (typically 600 mg/dL) — this is a critical value requiring immediate provider notification.

  4. Which of the following is the CORRECT procedure for collecting a throat culture specimen?

    Answer: Depress the tongue and swab the posterior pharynx and tonsillar area

    A throat culture requires swabbing the posterior pharynx and tonsillar pillars where group A Streptococcus (strep throat) and other pathogens are found; the cheeks and tongue are not appropriate collection sites.

  5. When performing a capillary blood collection (fingerstick), which finger is preferred and what is the CORRECT puncture site?

    Answer: Ring finger, lateral aspect of the fingertip (avoiding the center)

    The ring finger (or middle finger) lateral aspect is preferred because it has adequate tissue depth and fewer nerve endings than the index finger or fingertip center, reducing patient discomfort.

  6. A patient's fasting lipid panel shows total cholesterol 220 mg/dL, LDL 145 mg/dL, HDL 38 mg/dL, and triglycerides 185 mg/dL. Which single finding is MOST concerning for cardiovascular risk?

    Answer: HDL of 38 mg/dL

    HDL of 38 mg/dL is below the desirable threshold of 40 mg/dL for men (50 mg/dL for women); low HDL is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease because HDL removes cholesterol from arterial walls.