Deck 1 Flashcards
Petechiae
Tiny non-raised red spots that appear on skin from rupturing capillaries due to tourniquet being left too long or too tight.
Order of draw
Yellow, Light Blue, Red, Red Marble, Green, Light Green, Lavender, Pink/White/Royal Blue, Gray, Dark Blue
Quality Assurance
Scheduled audits
Negligence
Failure to exercise standards of care
Providone-iodine
For collections that require more stringent infection control such as blood cultures and arterial punctures.
Chlorhexidine gluconate
For pts allergic to iodine
Antiseptic
70% isopropyl alcohol pads
Osteomyelitis
Inflammation of bone and bone marrow
Lancet
Safely delivers pre-determined depth ranging from 0.85mm for infants to 3.0mm for adults.
Forearm veins for venipuncture
Baslic, Cephalic, Median Cubital, Accessory Cephalic, Intermediate Antebrachial, or Intermediate Basilic Veins.
Cannula
Large needle
Tortuos Veins
Winding or crooked veins susceptible to infection because blood flow is impaired
Fistula
Permanent, surgical connection between artery and vein. Used for dialysis but never for venipuncture due to possibility of infection.
Collapsed vein remedy
- Pop vacutainer off needle and let vein refill then replace tube back on needle and allow to fill more, repeat until tube is full. Hold needle in vein very still. 2. Move needle to one side then other and up and down very slightly to be sure it is not just that bevel is against the vein wall. 3. Use smaller vacuum tube. 4. Remove tourniquet, withdraw needle and select another vein. 5. Use syringe or butterfly.
Missed 1st stick remedy
- Don’t pull needle out, look for vein, often you can make out purple color of vein on either side of needle, withdraw needle slightly and re-enter vein at different angle. 2. If draw needle back to re-direct and lose vacuum, don’t pull out completely, replace tube with new one and continue the draw.
Vasovagal Syncope
Pt faints or experiences dizziness before, during or after venipuncture. Pts with low diastolic or high systolic BP.
Septicemia
Systemic infection associated with presence of pathogenic microorganisms in blood stream
Bleeding Time Test (BTT)
Medical test to assess platelet function, involves making pt bleed then timing how long takes to stop bleeding, thin paper placed over incision, how quickly blood reaches rings is timed to determine coagulation properties.
Venipuncture problems
Failure to obtain blood, Inappropriate puncture site, Scarred/Sclerosed veins, Rolling veins, Collapsing veins, Hematoma, Premature needle withdrawal, Fainting.
Venipuncture complications
Hematoma, Hemoconcentration, Petechiae, Phlebitis, Thrombus, Thrombophlebitis, Septicemia, Trauma.
Hemostasis
Process by which blood vessels repair after injury, causes bleeding to stop.
Hemostasis stages
- Vascular phase (injury) 2. Platelet phase (temporary platelet plug) 3. Coagulation phase (stable fribrin clot) 4. Fibrinolysis (plasmin enzyme breaks down clot promoting tissue repair)
Fibrin Degradation Product (FDP)
Measure rate of fibrinolysis
Most critical mistake Phlebotomist could make
Failing to properly ID pt
Vein most commonly used for venipuncture
Median cubital vein
Easiest vein to palpate on obese pt
Cephalic vein
Tourniquet tied how many inches above puncture
4” - 6”
Most important thing to do if pt faints during venipuncture
Withdraw the needle
What happens during vascular phase of hemostasis
Vein constricts and slows blood flow
Basal state
Fasting
Diurnal variation
Different during day vs night
Digoxin
For cardiovascular disease
Trough
Lowest chemical blood level
Peak
Highest chemical blood level
Cold agglutinins
Antibodies produced in response to mycoplasma pneumonia infection (atypical pneumonia)
Warmed specimens
Specimens required to be kept warm until serum is separated from cells to keep cold agglutinins from attaching to RBCs at temps below body temp, collected in red-top tube pre-warmed at 37 degrees Celsius for 30 mins.
Specimens requiring chilling
Ammonia, Lactic acid, Arterial blood gas (ABG), Gastrin, Glucagon, Parathyroid hormone (PH), Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT), Prothrombin Time (PT)
Specimens requiring warming
Cryoglobulin, Cryofibrinogen, Cold Agglutinin
Specimens requiring protection from light
Bilirubin, Vitamin B12, Carotene, Red Cell Folate, Serum Folate
Purpose of chilling specimen
Prevents separation
Therapeutic drug monitoring
Monitoring trough and peak levels, chemical levels in blood
Plasma
Liquid portion of un-clotted blood still contains clotting factor
Serum
Liquid portion of blood allowed to clot, clotting factor no longer present, they’ve been used to clot blood
Tubes with anticoagulants
Plasma tubes=Lavender, Green, Blue, Light Blue, Gray
Tubes without anticoagulants
Serum tubes=Red, Tiger
Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)
Defines order of draw to minimize cross-contamination
FUO
Fever of unknown origin
Sterile bottles
Lab: Microbiology
Additive: Nutrient broth
Symptoms: Systemic infection, FUO
Test: Blood Culture (BCx), 2 aerobic & 2 anaerobic bottles, ordered STAT, site cleansed with iodine, butterfly needle, keep bottle upright
To determine presence of pathogenic or infectious microorganisms in blood
Light blue top
Lab: Hematology
Additive: Sodium Citrate, anticoagulant
Yields: Plasma
Test: Prothrombin Time (PT) evaluates extrinsic system of coagulation cascade for pts on Coumadin regimen, Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) evaluates intrinsic system of coagulation cascade for pt on Heparin regimen, Activated Prothrombin Time (APTT)
Light blue top filled completely, 9 parts blood to 1 part additive, inverted 3-4 times, draw red top prior even if requisition does not request it to prevent thromboplastin from entering tube
Red top
Lab: Chemistry
Additive: None
Yields: Serum
blood clots naturally within 30-60 mins, often used as “discard” tube to prevent sample contamination, no need to invert
Tiger top
Lab: Chemistry
Additive: Silica, clot activator & Thixotropic,separator gel
Yields: serum
SST (Serum Separation Tube), invert 8 times
Test: BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)-general info of metabolism, kidney function, electrolytes & fluid balance. CMP (Complete Metabolic Panel)-more comprehensive BMP test with liver function & performance.
Mint Green top
Lab: Chemistry
Additive: Lithium Heparin, anticoagulant & Thixotropic, separator gel
Yields: Plasma
PST (Plasma Separation Tube), invert 8 times
Inhibiting thrombin in coagulation cascade
Test: STAT Electrolyte-renal & endocrine conditions, low electrolyte indicates arrhythmia & tachycardia, high level indicate heart failure. HCg (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)
Dark Green top
Lab: Chemistry
Additive: Sodium Heparin, anticoagulant
Yields: Plasma
Inhibiting thrombin in coagulation cascade, no gel
Test: Ammonia-indicates liver malfunction, liver converts ammonia into urea to be expelled from body
Lavender top
Lab: Hematology
Additive: EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid), anticoagulant
Yields: Plasma
inhibits coagulation by binding to calcium, must fill 2/3, invert 8 times
Test: ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. Sickle Cell Screening. CBC (Complete Blood Count)-evaluates formed cellular elements
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
Evaluates formed cellular elements: WBC count, WBC differential, Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, Platelets, Differential counts
Hematocrit
Measures volume % RBC in blood, done before whole blood donation
Hemoglobin
Measures amount O2 carrying protein in blood, done before whole blood donation
Pink top
Lab: Blood Bank
Additive: EDTA, anticoagulant
Yields: Plasma
Larger volume of blood required for blood banking
Test: TSR (Type & Screen)-blood typing. Cross-match-determine if donor blood compatible to recipient
Gray top
Lab: Chemistry
Additive: Sodium Fluoride, antiglycolytic agent & Potassium Oxalate, anticoagulant
Yields: Plasma
Sodium Fluoride prevents breakdown of sugar x3 days. Potassium Oxalate prevents clotting by binding to calcium. Invert 8 times.
Test: OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test)-evaluate blood sugar, 3 hr: hypergycemia, diabetes mellitus, 5 hr: hypoglycemia, carb metabolism, gestational diabetes. Lactic Acid-indicates improper oxygenation
OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test)
Evaluate blood sugar
3 hr: hypergycemia, diabetes mellitus, 4 draws: baseline, 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr past glucose administration
5 hr: hypoglycemia, carb metabolism, gestational diabetes
BAC
Blood Alcohol Concentration
Royal Blue top
Lab: Toxicology
Additive: None/EDTA
Yields: Serum/Plasma
Drawn in order of additive. Royal Blue with red stripe, no additive, yields serum, drawn after light blue tube before serum tube. Royal Blue with blue stripe, EDTA, yields plasma, drawn after lavender tube.
Test: Pb Lead poisoning. Heavy Metal Toxicology
ABG (Arterial Blood Gas)
Determine blood gas & pH, drawn by respiratory therapist, nurse or dr from radial artery on thumb side, must run within 15 mins of collection
Test: pH. CO2. O2. Bicarbonate.
PKU (Phenylketonuria)
Detect genetic disease causing mental retardation & brain damage
Plasma tubes
Light Blue, Mint Green, Dark Green, Lavender, Pink, Gray, Royal Blue (with EDTA)
Serum tubes
Red, Tiger, Royal Blue (w/o additive)
CBC requires 2 tests before whole blood donation
Hematocrit & Hemoglobin (H&H)
N95 respirator
PPE used to protect from liquid and airborne particles contaminating the face
What does Hematocrit and Hemoglobin test for?
Anemia
What does the presence of Tropinin and CK-MB indicate?
MI (Myocardial Infarction), heart attack
Body Systems
(12) Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Urinary, Reproductive, Circulatory, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Endocrine, Digestive, Integumentary
When would you not do a foot or leg blood draw?
On a cardiac or diabetic patient
What does it mean to follow Standard Precautions?
Consider all samples as hazardous or infectious
Name 3 laws that govern phlebotomy
OSHA, MSDS, JCAHO
JCAHO
Joint Commission Accreditation Healthcare Organization-outlines pt and employee safety
What tube top color is used for crossmatching?
Red or Pink
How does a cut heal?
Coagulation cascade: coagulation factors interact in sequence, platelets form plug, prothrombin to thrombin, activates fibrinogen to fibrin, forms permanent plug until cut heals, Ca needed
Pink top tubes are tested in what lab
Blood Bank
What is the function of Sodium Fluoride
Prevents breakdown of sugar
Hematology
Study of formed elements (RBC, WBC, platelets) by studying cells, disorders and infections.
Hemostasis
Healing process
Chemistry
Largest and most automated section of lab. Includes Electrophoresis, Toxicology, Immunochemistry.
Electrophoresis
Analyzes chemical components of blood such as hemoglobin, serum, urine and cerebrospinal fluid based on differences in electrical charge
Toxicology
Analyzes plasma levels of drugs and poisons
Immunochemistry
Uses techniques such as Radio Immunoassay (RIA) and enzyme immunoassay to detect and measure substances such as hormones, enzymes and drugs
Blood Bank
Where blood is collected, stored and prepared for transfusion.
Serology (Immunology)
Performs tests to evaluate pts immune response thru production of antibodies. Analyzes presence of antibodies to bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and autoimmunity.
Microbiology
Responsible for detection of pathogenic microorganisms in pt samples and for hospital infection control
Culture and Sensitivity (C&S)
Used to detect and identify microorganisms and determine most effective antibiotic therapy
Urinalysis section
Performs tests on urine to detect disorders and infection of kidney, urinary tract, metabolic disorders (DM) and drug abuse
What color tube top is used for blood smear
Lavender
Diff-Safe
Punctures tube stopper and dispenses blood drop instead of uncapping and recapping blood tube for smear preparation
Function of circulatory system
Delivers 02, nutrients, hormones and enzymes to cells and transport C02 and urea to lung and kidneys where they can be expelled from body
How long does it take blood to make complete circulation in body
1 minute
Average person weighing 155 lbs has how much blood
5-7 liters
When blood volume in right atrium reaches ____ the blood drops thru tricuspid valve into right ventricle.
40 mL
Only artery to carry deoxygenated blood
Pulmonary artery
Mitral valve
Bicuspid valve
Pulmonary circulation
Arteries carry deox blood away from heart and veins carry ox blood back to heart.
Systemic circulation
Arteries carry ox blood away from heart and veins carry deox blood back to heart.
Blood vessels
Aorta, arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, superior and inferior vena cava.
Blood vessels composed of 3 layers
Tunica Adventitia (outer connective), Tunica Media (middle smooth muscular), Tunica Intima (inner endothelial)
Capillaries
Microscopic blood vessels composed of 1 endothelial layer, connects arterioles and venules, allows rapid exchange of 02, C02, nutrients and waste between blood and tissue cells. Capillary blood mixture of arterial and venous blood.
Components of blood
Plasma 55%, RBC, platelets, WBC 45%
Plasma
Clear, pale yellow fluid carries nutrients, lipids, glucose, sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, 02, C02, nitrogen, antibodies, vitamins and hormones.
Blood cells originate from
Stem cells in bone marrow
Platelets (thrombocytes)
Small irregularly shaped packets of cytoplasm formed in bone marrow
There are ___ to ___ million RBCs per microliter of blood
4.2 to 6.2
Normal life span of a RBC
120 days
How long does it take for RBCs to regenerate after blood donation
6-8 weeks