Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Procedures, Examinations and DiagnosticsHard
A medical assistant is performing daily quality control on a point-of-care glucose meter using both a low-level and a high-level control solution. The low control result falls within the acceptable range, but the high control result falls outside the acceptable range. What should the medical assistant do next?
- ADo not report patient results; troubleshoot the meter and repeat QC before patient testing
- BRepeat only the low control test to confirm meter accuracy
- CReport patient glucose results as usual since the low control passed
- DAverage the two control results and use that value to validate the meter
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Do not report patient results; troubleshoot the meter and repeat QC before patient testing
If either control level fails QC, the meter cannot be considered reliable and must not be used for patient testing until the problem is identified and resolved and QC passes at both levels. Passing one control level does not compensate for failure at another level.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Repeating only the passing control ignores the actual failure and does not resolve the issue.
- C. Incorrect — both control levels must pass before patient testing, not just one.
- D. Averaging control results is not a valid QC practice; each level must independently pass.
POC QC Two-Level Failure
Both low and high control levels must fall within acceptable ranges before a point-of-care device can be used for patient testing; failure at either level requires troubleshooting before use.
- Both levels of QC must pass independently
- Failure at any level halts patient testing
- Troubleshoot and repeat QC before resuming testing
Memory trick: 'Both lights must be green before you go' — both QC levels must pass