NHA Exam Flashcards
CDC
- Center of disease control
- located in Atlanta Georgia
Which way does blood circulate
left to right
Basilic Vein
- On the inner part (inner medial) of the arm
- This is your last option (but irl we do not do this!!! Go to hand)
- The skin above this vein is very thin -> make sure the skin is tight so you don’t damage blood cells
- Next to the brachial artery
- Rolls more easily and runs directly over an artery (brachial)
- Painful
Median cubital vein
- At the center of the antecubital space
- Your first choice
- Usually larger than the other veins and more stationary
- Veins can move but this vein is well anchored which makes it easier and less likely that the pt. feels pain during the procedure, or develop a hematoma
Cephalic vein
- Second choice vein
- Outer part (lateral) of the arm (thumb side)
- Fairly well anchored
- Only vein that can be palpated in obese pts.
Plasma
- Liquid portion of blood
- 55% of blood
- Golden color
- Contains oxygen, Co2, waste, nutrients
Buffy coat
Leukocytes and Platelets
Formed elements
- Solid cell portion of blood
- Leukocytes and platelets <1% of blood
- Erythrocytes- 45% of blood
- Made in bone marrow
Hematocrit
- Hct.
- measurement of hemoglobin (Hgb)
Straight needle
- Used at the antecubital space
- You cannot use butterfly needle on antecubital space because they’re tiny
- 30-15 degree angle
- If you try to use a butterfly needle at the antecubital it will cause the RBC to try to squeeze in through the tiny needle and burst -> contaminated blood 50% of the time -> hemolysis
Butterfly needle
- Infusion set
- Smallest needle
- Have wings because you go into the metacarpal veins flush (0 degree angle) (hold the needle by the wings)
- Use at metacarpal veins
- Metacarpal vein- Very small, fine veins of the hand
Capillary puncture (dermal puncture)
- Arterioles and venules are in our fingertips; therefore capillaries are present as well
- There is a lot of information here because capillaries carry oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
- use when veins are inaccessible due to IV’s, scarring, or burns
- 3rd and fourth finger on nondominant is best
- usually point of care test
- can be used for people at risk of iatrogenic anemia
- lancet is not bigger than 2mm
Red top tube
- Does not contain an additive unless plastic
- Tests only plasma (serum)
- It only tests plasma bc if the WBC, platelets, and RBC where there they would clot normally, making it impossible to count -> blood parts will separate by density
- tests serology, chemistry blood bank
- Plasma contains chemistry
- No need to invert because no additive -> invert 5x if in plastic
- 60 minutes to clot then centrifuge
- Tests for cholesterol levels, glucose levels, sodium levels, kidney, levels, liver enzymes, cardiac levels, pregnancy test, drug testing, thyroid, HIV, Covid-19, immunities
Gold top, tiger top, speckle top, etc.
- SST (Serum Separator Tube)- Clot activator- makes clot happen faster
- tests plasma (serum)
- once you put the tube in the centrifuge (30 minutes after draw) the formed elements become separated from the plasma by wax so you can test the pure separated plasma
- Testing for chemistries (same as red top tube (same tests))
- More common
- additive: polymer Gel, clot activator
- Must invert at least 5x
Lavender top tube
- Tests complete blood cell count (CBC), sedimentation rate, routine immunohematology testing
- Analyzes whole blood
- Contains the additive known as EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)
- EDTA keeps blood whole (keeps it from clotting) making it possible to count
- Count cells (CBC- complete blood count)
- Checks Inflammation
- invert 8-10x
Light blue top tube
- Sodium Citrate additive
- Tests clotting
- tests plasma
- Coagulation test
- BT- bleeding time
- Testing platelets (if they are working)
- Inverted 3-4x
- must be tested within one hour
- PTT
- INR
Green top tube
- additive- sodium Heparin, lithium heparin, ammonium heparin
- potassium test
- tests stat and routine chemistry tests, ammonia, electrolytes, arterial blood gases (ABG)
- test chemical levels in the blood
- sodium levels
- Tests liver function
- tests plasma
- Heparin is an anticoagulant
- Invert 8x
Gray top tube
- Additive is glucose preservative AKA antiglycolytic agent (antiglycolytic agent)
- tests plasma
- FBS- fasting blood sugar (before you eat)
- GTT- glucose tolerance test (after you eat)
- tests lactic acid measurement, GTT, FBS, blood alcohol levels
- In a diabetic they can’t break down glucose and it remains high glucose levels
- Invert 8x
Yellow top tube
- Used for blood culture
- Additive is nutrient broth or thioglycolate broth or SPS
- tests whole blood
- Used to grow and identify microorganisms that might be growing in blood
- The infection would be identified and the patient is diagnosed with septicemia- blood poisoning, especially caused by bacteria or their toxins
- Blood cultures are done stat
- should withdraw the blood into a sterile safety syringe after obtaining a blood culture specimen from an adult patient
- When you draw blood for blood cultures you draw 20mL total -> 10ml for each two yellow top tubes- #1 for aerobic in one arm and #2 is anaerobic in the other arm or other vein –LABEL THEM #1 and #2
- transfer into anarobic first then aerobic
- Invert three times
Order of draw
- Yellow top tube- blood cultures: Nutrient Broth/thioglycolate
- Light blue top tube- test coagulation/blood clotting time: sodium citrate
- Red top tube- chemistries (blood bank): no additive
- Gold/SST- chemisties (kidney function, liver function, immunities, HIV, etc.): clot activator
- Green top tube- liver function: heparin
- Lavender top tube- CBC (complete blood count): EDTA
- Grey top tube- Glucose (GTT), fasting blood sugar (FBS): oxhemolyalate/fuoride
Fasting specimens
- Requires collection of blood while the patient is in the basal state- patient has fasted and refrained from strenuous exercise for 12 hours prior to the drawing
- It is the phlebotomists responsibility to verify if the patient has been fasting for the required time
- NPO- nothing by mouth
Timed specimens
- These tests are often used to monitor the level of a specific substance or condition in the patients blood at a certain time of day
- The specimen is drawn at a specific time for different reasons:
- To measure blood levels of hormones
- To determine blood levels of medications
- To monitor changes in the patient’s condition
Two hour postprandial
- This test is used to evaluate diabetes
- Fasting glucose levels is compared with the level 2 hours after eating a full meal or ingesting a measured amount of glucose (glucola)
- 3 hour GTT- is used to test hyperglycemia (abnormally high blood sugar level) this will be needed to diagnose diabetes
- draw fasting blood -> patient eats -> every hour for three hours draw a tube = 4 tubes total
- 5 hour GTT- is used to evaluate hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar level) for a possible disorder in metabolism
- draw fasting blood -> person eats -> every hour for five hours draw a tube = 6 tubes
- These tests are done as early as 7:00 AM- 9:00 AM. —-Bloods drawn later in the morning will be rejected by the laboratory
Therapeutic blood monitoring
- Test is used to monitor blood levels of certain medications to ensure patient safety and also maintain a plasma level
- Blood is drawn to coincide with the lowest level or the highest level
- Lowest (trough) levels are collected 15 minutes before the scheduled dose
- Highest level or peak time will vary depending on the medication, and the route of administration (I.V, oral or I.M (intramuscular injection) -> 1-2 hours after oral medication
- communicate with attending nurse ab medication times
Chilled specimens
- Some tests require that the specimen collected be chilled immediately after collecting in crushed ice or ice water mixture
- The specimen must be immediately transported to the laboratory for processing
- ammonia and lactic acid specimen should be placed in ice water slurry
- arterial blood gas should be placed in ice bath
- cold agglutinin must be at body temp (37C)
Light sensitive blood specimen
- These specimens are to be protected from light by wrapping the tubes in aluminum after they are drawn
- Exposure to light could alter the test results for; bilirubin, folate, vitamin A and B6
Battery
you may be charged with battery if you draw from a patient without requisition forms
-intentional touching or force in harmful manner
Consent
- Patient must sign a form that says they cannot leave once they start a GTT because the patient might get hurt or eat something -> (patient comes in fasting and then takes in a lot of glucose -> they may fall and get hurt)
- If patient insist on leaving then call the doctor and ask him to explain or ask him to reschedule
Good samaritan
You save someone’s life but break their rib in the process -> good samaritan law will not allow you to sue them even if they do not survive
Pre-analytical error
- Error that occurs prior to drawing the blood that affects the blood results
- Misidentification
- Using the wrong tube
- Effects the results before the drawing ever occurs
- Improper fast or exercise
- Improper time of collection
- Patient posture
- Improper site preparation- clean the site properly
- Medication interference- if requisition said no morning medicine you must make sure
Analytical error
-Errors made during the collection of blood
-Extended tourniquet time- (band on arm) should not stay on for more than one minute or it will cause hematomas
-Not enough blood drawn, under filing tubes, vacutainers, must be at least ¾ full
-More addictive than blood in tube
-Not waiting 30 minutes to centrifuge after SST draw
Hemolysis
-Failure to invert tube
Post-analytical error
- Failure to separate plasma from cells
- Improper use of serum separator
- Processing delays- timed collections
- Improper storage conditions
Libel
written defamation
Slander
when you speak defamation
Sputum specimen
-phlebotomist should instruct to breathe deeply and cough up the specimen into container
Cleaning station with blood
use a 1:10 ratio of water and sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) in order to clean station properly
- let it sit for 20 mins
- wear goggles and face mask if spill is large
use as antiseptic for the skin
- hydrogen peroxide
- isopropyl alcohol
- benzalkonium chloride- use when allergic to isopropyl
Povidone iodine
- do not use on potassium, bilirubin, uric acid, phosphorous test bc can affect test results
- can cause false elevation of potassium in pt.
- should be used to decontaminate the site for ABG and blood culture collection
- use this to clean the site for blood alcohol levels test
- can be used for blood culture
what temperature should semen samples be stored
36-38C
- 6F
- pt abstains from ejaculation for 2-7 days
- must be given to lab within one hour
implied consent
- rolling up sleeve
- putting arm out
- patient can be unconscious and in an emergency situation
transporting specimens
- put specimens in a locker container to avoid spills
- if it is hot transport samples in a box with cold packs and a biohazard label
capillary blood drops on filter paper
- you should apply the blood drops to the printed side of the filter paper
- must dry for min 4 hours
- if the first blood circle is not full, create a separate second larger circle
- puncture site should not touch the filter paper
WBC count point of care test
- expected range is 4.4-11/mm^3
- anything outside this range must be immediately reported to provider
capillary blood draw
- select the third or fourth finger
- use the second drop of blood
- position puncture device so its perpendicular to the fingerprint ridges
- you should touch the slide to the blood at 1.3 to 2.5cm from the end of the slide
what needle do you use on an older adult with fragile, easy to collapse veins
- syringe and butterfly assembly and transfer to an ETS tube
- syringe minimizes pressure on fragile veins
- using a regular ETS tube would cause too much pressure
- using a pediatric tube may not provide enough blood
Glucometer
-quality control testing should be done every day it is used
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) clinical laboratory workflow pathway
- pre examination phase- processing the specimen, provide post puncture care
- examination phase- review and verify results
- post examination phase- entering critical laboratory data
dermal samples
- because hematology tests are most affected by clotting lavender should be used first
- it minimizes platelet clumping and microclot formation
- red top would be collected last bc it is necessary for it to clot
mastectomy
-if a pt has a mastectomy on one side you should draw from the arm on the opposite side to prevent lymphedema and infection
before leaving a pt room
-mark each specimen with the date, time and initials on each tube was drawn
health hazard
blue
heel
-site for any pt under 1 year old
cholesterol point of care test
- expected ranges from 140 to 200 mg/dL
- anything outside of this is reported to provider
OSHA vaccine
-hepatitis B vaccine must be provider to employees for free at least 10 days after hire
fainting
- pts prone to fainting should be laying in a reclined position
- supine position
N95
worn with pts that have airbone conditions (tuberculosis, measles, vericella)
-a regular mask if worn for pts with droplet contagious conditions (rubella, meningitis, diphtheria, mumps, pertussis, influenza)
contact precautions
- wear goggles, gloves and gown
- diphtheria, herpes, simplex, scabies, hepatitis A, respiratory syncytial virus, wound and skin infections
Petechiae
- microcapillary bleeds that are associated with coagulation abnormalities
- appear as small tiny red dots below the tourniquet
- you do not have to stop
Hemoconcentration
elevated blood levels
Edema
accumulation of fluid in one area of the body
Urticaria
-raised welts, often called hives
nerve injury
-a sharp, painful, and tingling sensation that radiates down the patient’s arm.
Accession number
- identifies specimens in the laboratory
- should not be on requisition form
chemical exposure
- remove clothes
- wash for minimum 15 minutes
order of draw for capillaries
- different that regular order of draw
- increased rate of coagulation affects it
- release of thromboplastin causes blood to clot quickly
- blood gas collection
- purple, lavender, pink, pearl tubes containing EDTA
- green
- any other additive
- serum
hemolysis
-to avoid hemolysis make sure the alcohol at the site is completely dried
EDTA
- hematology
- yields only plasma
PT/PTT test
-anticoagulant sodium citrate is used
potassium oxalate
-additive used for chemistry tests