Collection ProceduresQuestion 20 of 100
A light blue tube is filled only two thirds of the way because the vein collapsed. What should the phlebotomist do?
a.Pour the contents into a second light blue tube to reach the fill line
b.Send it and note 'short draw' on the requisition
c.Discard the tube and recollect a properly filled citrate tube
d.Add saline to the tube to reach the fill line
Explanation
A short-filled citrate tube violates the required 9:1 ratio and produces falsely prolonged PT and aPTT results, so it must be recollected rather than reported with a comment. Combining two partially filled tubes doubles the anticoagulant relative to blood and makes the error worse. Adding any diluent to an evacuated tube is never acceptable because it alters both the ratio and the analyte concentration.
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