NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Specimen HandlingEasy
A phlebotomy technician is preparing to aliquot a plasma specimen into multiple smaller tubes for different tests. Which of the following is the most important safety precaution to observe?
- APerforming the procedure under a fume hood.
- BUsing a new pipette for each aliquot.
- CWearing sterile gloves.
- DLabeling the new tubes before aliquoting.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Using a new pipette for each aliquot.
Using a new pipette for each aliquot prevents cross-contamination between the original specimen and the new tubes or between different aliquots, ensuring accurate results and maintaining specimen integrity.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A fume hood is typically used for handling hazardous chemicals or volatile substances, not routinely for aliquoting blood specimens unless specific volatile analytes are involved.
- C. Wearing sterile gloves is important for aseptic technique but not the most critical safety precaution specific to preventing cross-contamination during aliquoting.
- D. Labeling new tubes before aliquoting is essential for identification but is a pre-analytic step for organization, not a safety precaution against contamination during the aliquoting process itself.
Aliquot Safety
Aliquoting involves transferring a portion of a specimen into separate tubes. Preventing cross-contamination is paramount to maintain specimen integrity and ensure accurate test results.
- Use a new pipette for each aliquot.
- Avoid splashing.
- Wear PPE (gloves, lab coat, eye protection).
Memory trick: New tip for every sip, keeps the samples pure, no slip!