NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Collection RoutineMedium
A phlebotomy technician is collecting a blood specimen for a cold agglutinin test. Which of the following special handling procedures is required for this specimen?
- ATransport in an ice slurry.
- BProtect from light immediately.
- CKeep the specimen at body temperature.
- DCentrifuge and separate serum within 30 minutes.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Keep the specimen at body temperature.
Cold agglutinins are antibodies that react to red blood cells at cold temperatures. Therefore, specimens for cold agglutinin testing must be kept warm (at body temperature) to prevent the agglutination of red blood cells, which would lead to inaccurate results.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Transporting in an ice slurry is for specimens like ammonia or lactic acid, not cold agglutinins.
- B. Protecting from light is for light-sensitive analytes like bilirubin, not cold agglutinins.
- D. Centrifugation within 30 minutes is a general guideline for some tests, but not the primary special handling for cold agglutinins, and warming is more critical.
Cold Agglutinin Specimen Handling
Specific handling required for blood samples to be tested for cold agglutinins, which are antibodies that become active at cold temperatures.
- Must be kept warm (37°C) during and after collection.
- Prevents agglutination of red blood cells.
- Typically collected in a red top tube.
Memory trick: Cold Agglutinins hate the Cold, keep them Warm to make them fold (not clump).