Author Question: A physician calls and says that all blood glucose results for his patients (from the blood drawn in ... (Read 63 times)

brutforce · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A physician calls and says that all blood glucose results for his patients (from the blood drawn in his office and then sent to the laboratory) show low blood sugar. There must be a problem with the laboratory instrument. What would you investigate to resolve his problem?

Question 2

How would a PT result be affected if the tube were only half full?

juliaf · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Due to the time delay in the physician's specimens being delivered to the laboratory, glycolysis takes place and the glucose values decrease. Check to see what the blood is collected in. With a gray top tube there should not be a problem. Most likely the tube is a red top or gel tube. Check to see if the specimens are being centrifuged within one-half hour of being drawn. If the specimens are being centrifuged, see if there is a long time delay in getting the specimen to the laboratory. The physician's office may need to be equipped with a centrifuge, specimen pour-off containers, and a method of refrigerating the specimen until a pickup can be made.

Answer to Question 2

If the tube for a PT test were only half full, the anticoagulant in the tube would be twice the ratio needed. The results of the testing from this tube would show the effect of the increased ratio of anticoagulant. The PT would have a falsely elevated value.