6 Specimen Handling and Processing Free Online FlashCards

What belongs on a primary collection tube label?

Label the tube itself with at least two approved patient identifiers and any required specimen information, including collection date and time when required.

What should you check before sending a specimen?

Check that the correct tube was collected, the fill volume is adequate when it matters, the cap is secure, and the outside is clean.

How should blood specimens be handled for safety?

Treat all blood specimens as potentially infectious. Handle tubes gently and keep them closed except when processing requires opening.

How should specimens and requisitions be arranged for transport?

Place tubes in a secure, leak-resistant secondary container capable of containing a spill. Keep paperwork or requisitions separate from the specimen compartment.

How are components arranged after anticoagulated blood is centrifuged?

After anticoagulated blood is centrifuged, plasma is generally the upper layer. A thin buffy coat of white cells and platelets lies above the red cells.

How do RCF and RPM differ?

RCF describes the force applied to a sample; RPM describes rotor speed. The same RPM does not represent the same force across different centrifuges.

What safety steps matter when centrifuging specimens?

Follow the specified centrifuge procedure, balance opposing tubes as directed, and secure the lid. If breakage is suspected, do not open the centrifuge immediately; follow the equipment and spill-response procedure.

What is an aliquot?

An aliquot is a measured portion transferred from the original specimen into a separate container.

What governs specimen storage and freezing?

Store each specimen under the conditions and for the duration specified for its test. If freezing is required, use a freezer-compatible container and follow instructions to prevent repeated freeze–thaw cycles.

What should you do if a specimen label is uncertain?

Do not guess or silently correct an uncertain label. Resolve discrepancies before processing and follow the laboratory’s acceptance and rejection procedures.

What determines a specimen’s transport temperature?

Transport specimens promptly using the temperature and method specified for the test. Handling requirements vary with the analyte and specimen type.

When may a specimen be sent by pneumatic tube?

Use pneumatic-tube transport only when it is approved for both the specimen and the transport system.