| Question | Answer |
| What is the definition of universal precautions? | Treating all human blood, body fluids, and tissues as if they were infectious. |
| What are 5 safety practices required by OSHA? | Handwashing.
No eating, drinking, smoking in the lab.
No mouth pipetting.
Sharp objects go in the sharps container.
Wear protective clothing. |
| What are 4 hazards of being an MLT? | Fire Hazards
Chemical Hazards
Electrical Hazards
Needle Punctures |
| What does PPE stand for? | Personal protective equipment |
| What does HPV stand for? | Hepatitis B Vaccine |
| When creating your own cleaning solution for counter-tops, what percentage of bleach is required in the solution? | 10% (or 1 part bleach per ten parts water) |
| What does MSDS stand for? | Material Safety Data Sheet |
| What are the 4 steps to take in case of a fire? (HINT: RACE) | Rescue
Alarm
Close
Extinguish
RACE |
| What are 5 things to remember to do to prevent an infection? (Infection control?) | Personal health and hygiene
Wear gloves
Handwashing
Remove lab coats when leaving the lab
Remove gloves when leaving the lab |
| What are the 3 basic components of whole blood? | Erythrocytes
Leukocytes
Platelets |
| What is the difference between blood plasma and blood serum? | Blood plasma contains fibrinogen and is unclotted.
Blood serum has no fibrinogen and is clotted. |
| What are the 3 layers of blood that has been centrifuged? | Plasma (on top)
Buffy coat (thin middle layer)
Red blood cells (red bottom layer) |
| What are RBCs? | Red blood cells. Also called erythrocytes. |
| What are WBCs? | White blood cells. Also called leukocytes. |
| What color are plasma and serum? | Pale yellow |
| What is hemolysis? | The rupturing of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and the release their contents (hemoglobin) into surrounding fluid. |
| What color is a hemolyzed blood specimen? | Pink-red. |
| What color is an icteric blood sample? | Dark yellow. |
| What does an icteric blood sample have more of? | Bilirubin |
| When a blood specimen is lipemic, that means it has more ___? | Lipids (fats) |
| What does a lipemic blood specimen look like? | Milky yellow |
| What 6 basic pieces of equipment are required when performing a venipuncture? | Evacuated tubes
Needles and holders – 22 or 21 gauge
Tourniquet
Syringes and butterflies
Solutions for skin preparation – 70 % isopropyl or betadine |
| What are the 3 basic components of an evacuated tube design? | Sterile needle
A holder
The evacuated tube |
| What are the 5 parts of an evacuated tube needle? | (From top to bottom)
Point
Bevel
Shaft
Hub
Stopper
Sheath |
| What are the 4 parts of a needle adapter design? | Needle
Tube advancement mark
Rubber sleeve
Adapter itself |
| What are the 4 kinds of tourniquets? | Flat latex strips
Velcro/buckle closures
Rubber tubing
Blood pressure cuffs |
| What are 3 reasons for using a tourniquet when drawing blood? | Assists in vein location (makes veins bulge)
Impedes venous but not arterial blood
Minimizes bruising |
| What are the 6 basic colors of blood tubes and what are they for? | Lavender - EDTA (anticoagulant) - Hematology
Light blue - Sodium citrate (coagulant) - coagulation
Green - Heparin (anticoagulant) - Chemistry/hematology
Gray - K oxalate - glucose assays
Yellow - SST - Chemistry
Red - has no additive - Che |
| What does SST stand for? | Serum separator tube |
| Name 3 anticoagulants that work through the use calcium binding? | EDTA
Sodium citrate
Potassium/ammonium oxalate |
| Name 3 anticoagulants that work through thrombin inhibition? | Heparin,
sodium,
ammonium,
lithium |
| What is the most important step when drawing blood from a patient? | Identify the patient |
| Name 3 things you need to know about ID bands. | Always compare the band with the requisition
They must be worn by the patient
Do not trust room and bed signs |
| Name the 4 steps in preparing a patient to have their blood drawn. | Reassure the patient.
Explain blood draw procedure.
Do not explain the test!
Do not say procedure is painless! |
| Name 4 conditions you must verify with the patient before performing the blood draw. | Fasting
Medications
Activities
Notice any unusual conditions
FAMN (Famine) |
| When drawing blood, there are 3 things you can do to ensure the patient has been positioned comfortably and that the site of blood draw is well supported. What are they? | Place pillow under arm
Place fist under elbow
Place arm at downward angle to prevent reflux |
| Name 3 things you can do to ensure the safety of the patient when drawing blood? | Patient is sitting or lying down
Remove objects from patient’s mouth
Be alert for syncope (signs of fainting) |
| Name 5 things to keep close at hand when drawing blood from a patient. | Antiseptic pads
Gauze
Bandage
Needle disposal system
Examination requisition form
Extra tubes in case of loss of vacuum
Attach needle to adapter |
| Name five steps in applying a tourniqet to a patient when drawing blood. | Apply tourniqet for no more than 1 minute
Apply tourniquet for site selection
Release it for 2 minutes
Reapply the tourniquet when ready to draw blood
Release when blood flows |
| Three things to remember about selecting the site for a tourniquet are: | Locate tourniquet 3 to 4 inches above site
Avoid or cover arms with skin conditions
Avoid arms on the side of a mastectomy |
| When drawing blood, the three veins to use in the antecubital (inner elbow) region are: | Cephalic Vein
Basilic Vein
Median Cubital Vein |
| Three other alternative blood-draw sites to the inner elbow are: | Wrist
Hand
Feet |
| When selecting the site for drawing blood, you can ask the patient to __. | Make a fist. Do not allow them to pump their fist. |
| Why shouldn't the patient pump their fist when you are preparing to draw their blood? | It causes hemoconcentration |
| What is hemoconcentration? | A decrease in plasma volume due to an increase in the concentration of red blood cells in blood. |
| Name 6 things you should know about palpation. | Feeling is more important than sight
Probe with index finger, thumb has a pulse
Push, don’t stroke
Wear gloves to palpate
Determine the size, depth, direction
Remember that veins are spongy, tendons are rigid, arteries have a pulse |
| If you are experiencing difficulty in locating a vein: | Check both arms
Listen to patient’s suggestions of previously successful areas |
| Name 4 things to remember when drawing blood from a patient with an IV. | Ideally use other arm than the one with the IV
Avoid sites of previous IVs for 24–48 hours
Note same arm collection on requisition
Select site below infusion site, preferably use a different vein |
| Four things you should know about cleansing the site of a blood draw prior to venipuncture are: | Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol using a circular motion
Allow to air dry 30–60 seconds
Avoid wiping off with gauze
Failure to let alcohol dry causes a stinging sensation for patient
Specimen hemolysis? |
| Name 4 things you should do when assembling your equipment. | Perform while alcohol is drying
Screw the stopper-puncturing end of needle into the adapter
Insert first collection tube into the adapter
Advance tube only to mark on adapter |
| Three steps to aid in anchoring the selected vein during venipuncture. | Place thumb of nondominant hand 1–2 inches below site
Place fingers on back of arm
Do not anchor above and below site with thumb and index finger to avoid possible accidental self-puncture |
| Winged infusion sets are also known as __ | Butterflies |
| Three reasons for using a butterfly for blood draw are: | IV fluid infusion
Very small adult veins
Obtaining pediatric specimens |
| Three things to remember when inserting a needle are: | Insert needle with bevel up
Insert at 15–30 degree angle
Resistance lessens when the needle enters the vein |
| How do you prevent needle movement? | Brace the hand holding the adapter against the patient’s arm
Gently twist tubes on and off the needle |
| What are three things to remember when removing the needle from a patient. | Remove the tourniquet FIRST if still applied
(Failure to remove can cause a hematoma)
Patient may relax their fist
Withdraw needle and apply pressure to gauze at the same time |
| Three things to remember about applying pressure to the site of a blood draw are: | Capable patients can apply pressure
Arm is raised and outstretched (Do not bend the elbow)
Collector must apply pressure if necessary |
| Three things you should know about disposing of needles are: | Do this as soon as possible
Use conveniently located sharps container
NEVER BEND, CUT, OR RECAP NEEDLE |
| Three things you should know about labeling a blood sample tube are: | Label tube before leaving the patient (This lessens the chance of tubes being mixed up)
Use a pen
Verify information on preprinted labels |
| Four pieces of information that should be on the label of a blood sample are: | Patient’s name and ID number
Date and time of collection
Collector’s initials
Additional information, such as blood bank identification |
| Four things you should do while bandaging the patient's arm after a blood draw are: | Check arm before bandaging
Apply bandage over gauze for extra pressure
Tell patient to avoid carrying heavy objects
Tell patient to remove bandage within 1 hour |
| Seven complications that may arise when performing a venipuncture are: | Hemolysis
Burned or Scarred Tissue
Seizures or Tremors
Vomiting or Choking
Allergies
Mastectomy Patients
Inability to Obtain Specimen |
| Name 6 physiological factors that could affect blood test results. | Posture of patient when drawing blood
Diurnal rhythm (sleep schedule)
Exercise
Stress
Diet
Smoking |
| Eight reasons a blood specimen might be rejected are: | Test requisition and patient ID do not match
Tube unlabeled or mislabeled
Hemolyzed
Specimen collected at the wrong time
Specimen collect in the wrong tube
Specimen clotted when whole blood was needed
Specimen contaminated with IV fluid |
| Nine reasons for venipuncture complications are: | Ecchymoses
Syncope
Hematoma
Failure to Draw
Petechiae
Edema
Obesity
Intravenous Therapy
Hemoconcentration |
| Name 3 kinds of skin puncture collection devices. | Capillary Tubes
Microcollection Tubes
Unopettes |
