Collection & Transport of Clinical Samples MCQ Quiz | Specimen Handling

1. What is the correct “order of draw” for blood collection using evacuated tubes to prevent cross-contamination of additives?

2. Which anticoagulant is present in a lavender-top tube and is primarily used for hematology tests like a Complete Blood Count (CBC)?

3. A light blue-top tube, used for coagulation studies such as PT and aPTT, contains which anticoagulant?

4. Which sample is most appropriate for arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis to measure blood pH, PaO2, and PaCO2?

5. For analysis of microbiology, chemistry, and cytology, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) should ideally be collected in:

6. For a routine urine culture to detect urinary tract infection, which type of sample is preferred to minimize contamination?

7. On microscopic examination, a good quality sputum sample for microbiology is best identified by:

8. Which transport medium is commonly used for preserving the viability of fastidious organisms like Neisseria gonorrhoeae from swabs?

9. For ova and parasite (O&P) examination, how should a stool sample be handled?

10. A blood sample for ammonia level testing must be transported to the lab under which condition to prevent falsely elevated results?

11. What is the most critical requirement for labeling a patient specimen to prevent medical errors?

12. Vigorous shaking or improper handling of a blood collection tube is most likely to cause which pre-analytical error?

13. Green-top tubes contain which anticoagulant and are often used for plasma chemistry tests?

14. What is the most common reason for rejecting a 24-hour urine collection specimen?

15. The most common source of contamination in a blood culture sample is:

16. For most routine bacteriology cultures, specimens should ideally be transported to the laboratory within:

17. A gray-top tube contains sodium fluoride as a glycolytic inhibitor and potassium oxalate as an anticoagulant. It is used for which test?

18. What is the primary difference between serum and plasma?

19. How should CSF tubes be transported to the lab immediately after a lumbar puncture for meningitis evaluation?

20. The best specimen for anaerobic culture is:

21. Cary-Blair transport medium is ideal for preserving the viability of which type of pathogens from fecal specimens?

22. Which of the following is considered a critical pre-analytical variable that can lead to a major patient safety incident?

23. A Serum Separator Tube (SST), often with a gold or tiger top, contains a clot activator and a thixotropic gel. What is its primary purpose?

24. For which type of testing is a strict “chain of custody” protocol most critical?

25. When collecting a throat swab for a streptococcal pharyngitis test, which area should be actively swabbed while AVOIDING contamination from other oral surfaces?