NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Collection RoutineMedium
A phlebotomy technician is collecting a blood specimen for a bilirubin test on a newborn. Which of the following special handling procedures is required for this specimen?
- ACentrifuge the specimen within 15 minutes of collection.
- BProtect the specimen from light.
- CPlace the specimen in an ice slurry immediately.
- DCollect the specimen in a pre-warmed tube.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Protect the specimen from light.
Bilirubin is highly photosensitive and will degrade when exposed to light. Therefore, specimens for bilirubin testing must be protected from light, typically by wrapping the tube in foil or placing it in an amber-colored container.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While centrifugation is often required, there is no specific 15-minute timeframe for bilirubin that overrides light protection.
- C. Ice slurries are used for specimens needing to slow metabolic processes (e.g., ammonia, lactic acid), not bilirubin.
- D. Pre-warmed tubes are used for cold agglutinins, not bilirubin.
Bilirubin Specimen Handling
Bilirubin is a light-sensitive analyte. Specimens collected for bilirubin testing must be immediately protected from light to prevent its degradation and ensure accurate results.
- Photosensitive analyte.
- Degrades with light exposure.
- Wrap tube in foil or use amber tube.
Memory trick: Think 'B' for 'Bilirubin' needs 'Block Light'!