Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Procedures, Examinations and DiagnosticsHard
A medical assistant runs quality control on a point-of-care glucose meter each morning. Today, the control solution result falls outside the acceptable range printed on the test strip vial. What should the medical assistant do next?
- AProceed with patient testing but flag the results as unreliable
- BReport the result as normal since one failed control is not significant
- CRepeat the control test with a new control solution and strip before using the meter on patients
- DAdjust the meter's calibration settings manually to match the expected range
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Repeat the control test with a new control solution and strip before using the meter on patients
When QC results fall outside the acceptable range, the medical assistant must troubleshoot by repeating the test with fresh control solution and a new strip; the meter cannot be used for patient testing until QC passes, and manual calibration adjustment is not appropriate for CLIA-waived devices.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Testing patients with a failed QC device produces unreliable results and is not acceptable practice.
- B. Ignoring a failed QC violates CLIA quality control requirements and patient safety standards.
- D. Manual calibration adjustment is not permitted for CLIA-waived point-of-care devices by untrained staff.
POC QC Failure Protocol
When point-of-care control results fall outside the acceptable range, testing must stop and the device retested with fresh reagents/controls before patient use resumes.
- Never use a device on patients after failed QC
- Repeat with new control solution and new strip/cartridge
- Document QC failures and corrective actions per CLIA requirements
Memory trick: 'Failed control? Stop, swap, and retest before you test the rest.'