NHA 8/9

Blood cultures are used to detect _ in the blood

bacteria or other microorganisms

Blood culture bottles come in sets of two bottles per set, what are these bottles called?

aerobic and anaerobic

Sites for a blood culture collection should be cleaned with 70% isopropyl alcohol and what disinfectant?

chlorohexidine gluconate and or povidone iodine

If the blood culture is being collected with a butterfly needle, which bottle should be collected first?

aerobic

After performing a blood culture collection how long should the site be observed after collection?

up to 10 seconds after releasing pressure and removing gauze

These guidelines help maintain control and accountability of specimens for forensic studies

chain of custody guidelines

What are some examples of chain of custody tests?

Blood alcohol content (BAC) and drug screen

Prior to processing, what are some important steps in handling and transporting specimens?

Mixing the sample, creating aliquots, adding dilutants, centrifuging, packing the labeled specimen in a biohazard bag and following thermal and light procedures.

Shaking a blood specimen tube instead of gentle inversion can result in the specimen becoming

hemolyzed

If the blood specimen tube is not adequately mixed enough with anti-coagulant, what can happen to the specimen?

formation of clots

What are some examples of tests that require special handling?

Ammonia/lactic acid which should be placed in an ice slurry (thick mixture of water and ice) immediately after collection

What temperature must cold agglutinin specimens remain at?

Body temperature (37 degrees celcius/ 98.6 degrees ferenheit)

These tests must be protected from light by wrapping in foil

bilirubin/folate

Blood gas specimens can be stored at room temperature for ___ or in an ice slurry for ___

15-30 mins, up to 1 hour

How long after collection of a coagulation specimen should analysis take place

within 1 hour of collection

The separation of plasma from cells should not exceed what time frame?

It is important that the process begin ASAP after collection. The delay in separating plasma from the cells should not exceed 2 hours.

Should specimens be centrifuged more than once?

Never more than once

Serum and plasma can remain at room temperature for no longer than _ before testing

8 hours

What supplies should a phlebotomist use in order to send specimens to a reference laboratory?

Original specimen tubes or plastic screw cap, transfer tubes, absorbent materials, watertight primary containers, watertight secondary containers (resealable bags, plastic containers, foam boxes, strong outer packaging), filter board boxes or mailing tubes, wooden boxes, rigid plastic containers, coolants (ice packs, dry ice)

What should be done to a specimen prior to placing it into a biohazard bag?

The specimen should be labeled with the patients full name, date, time of specimen collections and source or type of specimen.