Specimen HandlingQuestion 75 of 100
A phlebotomist notices the expiration date on a box of lavender tubes passed last month. What is the concern?
a.The tube color will fade and cause misidentification
b.Vacuum and additive reactivity decline, so fill volume and results become unreliable
c.Nothing, since expiration applies only to reagents
d.The stopper will not fit the holder correctly
Explanation
Evacuated tubes lose vacuum and additive effectiveness over time, so an expired tube may underfill or fail to anticoagulate properly, producing unreliable results. Expired tubes are removed from stock and not used. Color coding and stopper fit are not the reason for the date, and expiration dating applies to collection devices as well as reagents.
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