Sample Collection Flashcards
what are the 6 advantages of an in-house lab?
fast turn around out of hours improved patient monitoring and care available in more remote areas smaller sample volume so less invasive may save costs
what are the 6 main pre-analytical factors which have a big effect on lab results
poor sampling haemolysed, lipaemic or icteric plasma wrong anti-coagulant wrong anticoagulant/blood ratio transportation of sample storage of sample
what pre-analytical factors can cause haemolysis?
collection method - vein collapse or over enthusiastic sampling!
what can avoid lipaemic samples?
fasted samples
what should a sample be labelled with?
patients number (internal samples) or patient name/owner name
what must be included on the form for the external lab?
identify samples that were collected
identify tests required and send correct samples for these tests
identify clinician
a basic history
drug history
previous reference of lab if known/relevant
what should be included on the basic history for the external lab form?
presentation and other lab and imaging findings
if using sample for drug monitoring what should be included?
time of administration
what is the fluid limit for sending samples by post?
50ml
how must samples be packaged for posting?
sealed container
padded with enough material to absorb any leaks
sealed in a leak-proof bag
put inside a solid container
what must not be sent by post?
class 4 pathogens
what must be alerted for during postage and for the recipient?
possible zoonoses
cytotoxic samples
what tests is blood often sampled for?
haematology
biochemistry
serology
PCRs
what must be checked before sample collection of blood?
type of tube required and volume of blood/plasma
why should 3x more than plasma volume required be collected during blood sampling?
PCV - approx half of the sample will be cells
how can haemolysis and platelet clumping be avoided?
performing clean sticks (first time) without creating vacuum/collapsing veins
what should happen if sample collection was difficult?
be noted on history and passed onto lab
what assays must be taken at specific timings?
dynamic assays e.g. bile acid stimulation
when should drug assays be taken?
at either peak (highest expected level) or trough (lowest expected level)
what assays can lipaemia affect?
total proteins, bile acids and bilirubin
what effect can stress of animals on collection have?
altered parameters
where can blood be collected from in all species?
jugular vein
what are the main collection veins in small animals?
cephalic and saphenous vein
what vein is used for collection in birds?
cubital/wing
