NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Specimen HandlingMedium
A phlebotomy technician is preparing to transport a blood specimen that requires protection from light. Which of the following methods is most appropriate?
- AStoring the tube in a dark refrigerator.
- BUsing a labeled brown-top tube.
- CPlacing the tube in a clear plastic bag.
- DWrapping the tube in aluminum foil.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Wrapping the tube in aluminum foil.
Wrapping the tube in aluminum foil provides effective and immediate protection from light, which is crucial for light-sensitive analytes like bilirubin or porphyrins.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While a dark refrigerator might block some light, it's not a standard or reliable method for active transport protection and primarily addresses temperature, not light.
- B. While some tubes are colored to filter light, brown-top tubes are not standard for light-sensitive specimens; aluminum foil is the common and most reliable method.
- C. A clear plastic bag offers no protection from light, making it unsuitable for light-sensitive specimens.
Light Protection
Certain analytes are sensitive to light and can degrade, leading to inaccurate results. Specimens for these tests must be protected from light exposure during collection, transport, and storage.
- Use aluminum foil or amber containers.
- Common for bilirubin, porphyrins, vitamin B12.
- Exposure can cause false low results.
Memory trick: Block the sun, don't let it run, for accurate results, the battle's won!