Body Functions, Regulatory Agencies, and Specimen Handling

Flashcards covering human body systems, healthcare regulatory agencies, legal issues, and clinical laboratory specimen handling procedures.

Homeostasis

A state of equilibrium or balance in the body's internal environment, maintained through feedback and regulation.

Metabolism

The sum of all physical and chemical reactions needed to sustain life.

Catabolism

A process in which complex substances are broken down, usually with the release of energy, such as the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose.

Anabolism

A process where simple compounds are converted into more complex substances, such as the synthesis of a hormone from substances in the bloodstream.

Epidermis

The outermost and thinnest layer of the skin, made up of stratified, squamous epithelial cells, and is avascular.

Stratum germinativum

The deepest layer of the epidermis and the only layer containing living cells.

Melanin

A skin pigment produced by the epidermis.

Dermis

The inner layer of skin, much thicker than the epidermis, composed of elastic and fibrous connective tissue containing blood vessels, lymph vessels, and glands.

Subcutaneous layer

A layer of connective and adipose tissue that connects the skin to surface muscles.

Somatic nervous system

The functional division of the nervous system responsible for the voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic nervous system

The functional division of the nervous system responsible for the involuntary movement of cardiac and smooth muscles and glands.

Central nervous system (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord, surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid and protected by three layers of connective tissue.

Meninges

The three layers of connective tissue that protect the brain and spinal cord.

Motor (efferent) nerves

Nerves that carry impulses from the Central nervous system (CNS) to organs, glands, and muscles.

Sensory (afferent) nerves

Nerves that carry impulses to the Central nervous system (CNS) from sensory receptors in various parts of the body.

The Joint Commission (TJC)

An independent, not-for-profit organization that is the oldest and largest healthcare standards-setting body in the nation.

CLIA '88

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of $1988$, federal regulations establishing quality standards for all laboratories based on testing complexity.

Certificate of waiver (CoW)

A certificate required for laboratories that perform only waived testing, which includes tests phlebotomists can perform.

College of American Pathologists (CAP)

An organization of board-certified pathologists that offers proficiency testing and continuous lab inspection meeting Medicare/Medicaid standards.

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)

A global, nonprofit organization that develops voluntary guidelines and standards for all areas of the laboratory.

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

An authority on educational quality that provides accreditation and approval for clinical laboratory science educational programs.

Tort

A wrongful act committed against a person, property, or reputation without just cause, whether intentional or not.

Informed Consent

Permission given voluntarily and by a competent person after receiving adequate information in nontechnical terms before a procedure.

Expressed Consent

Consent that is specific and covers all procedures, which can be verbal or written; written consent provides the best protection.

Implied Consent

Consent implied by a patient's actions, which may be necessary in emergency situations.

Preexamination (preanalytical) phase

Actions occurring prior to specimen analysis; it is estimated that $50\%$ to $70\%$ of all laboratory errors occur during this phase.

Examination (analytical) phase

Actions taken during the actual analysis of a specimen.

Postexamination (postanalytical) phase

Actions occurring after specimen analysis is completed.

QNS

An abbreviation for Quantity Not Sufficient, which is a common reason for specimen rejection.

Separation Time Limit

A maximum of $2\text{-hour}$ time limit for separating serum and plasma from cells for specific analytes like glucose and potassium.

Serum Centrifugation

Serum specimens must be completely clotted before centrifugation, which typically takes $30$ to $60\,\text{minutes}$ at room temperature.