Question

60. Vicki is part of the phlebotomy team in a major hospital. Today people on 04:30 shift called in sick, so the team is behind in completing the morning draws. When Vicki finally reaches her last patient she is tired, her feet hurt, and she just wants to get finished and take a break. The tests ordered are a CBC and electrolytes. Vicki cannot find a suitable antecubital vein to draw, so she decides to use a hand vein. She selects an SST and a lavender top for the draw. Blood fills the SST slowly. She is afraid the blood will stop coming, so she removes it when it is about halt tun, puts it in her tube holder, and engages the lavender top. The lavender is barely Ye full when the blood stops flowing and she cannot get it going again, so she discontinues the draw. She gives the lavender-top tube a couple of quick shakes and then picks up the SST to mix it, but it has already clotted. Upon returning to the lab, she submits both specimens for processing, telling processor it was a difficult draw and heads off on her break. The processor rejects the lavendel top but accepts the SST for testing Questions: Which tube was for the CBC and which one was for the electrolytes? What is the additive in each of the tubes? ki handled both specimens incorrectly. What did she do wrong and what resu orrect handling have on the specimen, the testing process or test results?

Answer 1

For CBC Lavender-Top Tube can use, for electrolytes SST TUBE can use

The additive for CBC tube is EDTA is the anticoagulant used in this  tube

the additive for SST tube is clot activator but no anticoagulants.

According to order of draw she needs to collect blood first in lavender top ,vigorous mixing of a blood sample can cause hemolysis.