Sample Collection and Processing Flashcards
Which tube has no additive and can be used to send serum for blood chemistry?
Red top tube
Serum separator tube with a gel that promotes clot formation, and can be used to provide serum for chemistry and serology.
Tiger Top/Marble Top
Which tube contains EDTA with a K+ salt for anticoagulation by binding calcium?
Purple top tube
Which tube is best for sending CBC, PCR, and fluid analyses due to its ability to preserve cell morphology?
Purple top tube
What electrolyte abnormalities can be expected in a chemistry sent in a tube contaminated with EDTA?
High K+ and low Ca++
Hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia due to the K+ salt present and the chelation of Ca++ to prevent clotting.
The green top tube contains which additive, that prevents clotting by inhibiting thrombin?
Heparin
Which tube is best for avian and reptile CBC and chemistry panels because it better prevents lysis of cells?
Green top tube
This tube contains citrate as an anticoaglant Ca++ chelator, and is used for coagulation panels (PT, aPTT, FDP)
Blue top tube
Why is the gray top tube best to use for serial glucose testing?
It contains fluoride which inhibits glycolysis/glucose metabolism.
Which tube contains sodium fluoride oxalate?
Gray top tube
Which of the following tubes inhibit clotting by chelating Ca++?
Purple Green Blue Gray Red Tiger
Purple - EDTA
Blue - Citrate
Gray - sodium fluoride oxalate
What are the best veins to get blood from?
Large veins:
Jugular
Cephalic
Saphenous
According to RUSVM, how much blood should we be sending off for a CBC/SMAC?
5mL
What can give a falsely decreased platelet count of labs?
Traumatic phlebotomy –> platelet activation and clot formation
According to RUSVM, what size needle should we be using for filling blood tubes?
20g or larger
ACCORDING TO RUSVM, which tubes should be filled first after a blood draw?
Tubes with anticoagulant. But then also don’t contaminate other tubes with anticoagulant, so I guess, like, remove the needle after the first tube and either use a new needle to fill the other tubes or take the top off the tube and fill the next one without a needle. Seems dumb but ok.
Vacuum tubes contain a certain amount of additive that works best with a specific amount of blood.
If a purple, EDTA, tube is underfilled, what cell changes can you expect to see?
Low blood volume will maintain an excess of EDTA and K+ salt, which will shrink erythrocytes.
Changes on labs include falsely low PCV and MCV.
When taking blood for a CBC, it should be analyzed within one hour or refrigerated because:
If blood sits out for 24 hours, the erythrocytes will swell, leading to increased MCV
What will refrigerating a blood film and freezing a blood sample do?
cause cell lysis
You spin down a blood sample for testing, but things get busy and you forget to separate serum from the clot for about 3 hours. What change can you expect to see on the chemistry?
Lower blood glucose levels due to RBCs using it for E.
