Collection ProceduresQuestion 3 of 100
A patient has small veins and the phlebotomist leaves the tourniquet in place while palpating for two full minutes. What analytic problem is most likely?
a.Hemoconcentration with falsely elevated protein, calcium and potassium
b.Complete clotting of the EDTA specimen
c.Dilution of the specimen with interstitial fluid
d.Loss of platelets from the sample
Explanation
The tourniquet should stay on no longer than one minute; beyond that, plasma water leaves the vessel and protein-bound and cellular analytes concentrate. This produces falsely elevated total protein, albumin, calcium, potassium and hematocrit. Tourniquet time does not dilute the sample or cause the EDTA tube to clot, and platelets are not selectively lost.
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