NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Specimen HandlingMedium
A phlebotomy technician is preparing to transport a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen to the laboratory. Which of the following is the most critical consideration for this specimen type?
- ACentrifuging the specimen immediately after collection.
- BMaintaining the specimen at body temperature.
- CEnsuring rapid delivery to the laboratory.
- DProtecting the specimen from light exposure.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Ensuring rapid delivery to the laboratory.
CSF specimens, especially those for microbiology or cell count analysis, must be delivered to the laboratory and processed rapidly to maintain cell viability and prevent degradation. Delays can lead to inaccurate results.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Centrifugation may be performed in the lab for specific CSF tests, but it's not an immediate post-collection step by the phlebotomy technician and is secondary to rapid transport.
- B. While some CSF tests may benefit from warmth, rapid delivery is generally more critical for overall integrity, especially for cell counts and microbiology.
- D. Light protection is crucial for analytes like bilirubin, but not typically the primary concern for CSF.
CSF Specimen Urgency
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens require immediate transport to the laboratory for processing to ensure accurate cell counts, microbiology, and chemistry results.
- Time-sensitive for cell counts (cells lyse quickly).
- Crucial for microbiology (fastidious organisms).
- Deliver immediately; avoid delays.
Memory trick: CSF: Cells Survive Faster.