By binding calcium, potassium EDTA reduces clotting.
Inadequate site preparation is the main cause of contamination in blood culture draws. The possibility of persistent germs on the skin contaminating this test poses a special risk.
It is possible to dilute a blood sample using a diluent, such as 1% aqueous ammonium oxalate. While anticoagulants operate to stop blood clotting, preservatives work to stop changes in a specimen's chemical composition.
Blood alcohol levels are measured using gray tubes. When there is a gold center, red ones are used for a number of tests, including BMP, CMP, lipid, etc. Red ones with a black center are used for Dilantin and drug testing. Yellow ones are utilized in pediatrics. Lead, trace elements, and heavy metals are tested in royal blue tubes.
The sample from a patient who is not fasting will be lipemic, meaning that the serum and plasma have made the sample seem turbid. Increased blood triglycerides are the cause of this turbidity, which could affect tests that depend on light passage. Patients who are anxious frequently have increased levels of stress chemicals. Increased levels of WBC, creatinine, fatty acids, and muscle enzymes like creatine kinase can be brought on by brief exercise. Dehydration may lead to hemoconcentration, which causes numerous analytes to falsely increase.
Any errors or typos in samples or requisitions must be reported to a management and discussed with the nurse's station in order to be fixed. To avoid any misidentification, this ought to happen before the collection. You should perform this verification rather than the patient.
With the thumb of your free hand, draw down on the skin beneath the planned puncture site to finish anchoring the vein. With cephalic or basilic vein draws, it is very crucial to stretch the skin in this manner. This helps to lessen the discomfort of the puncture.
