Lab Workload

Choose the main reason why laboratory tests are ordered for patients.

• To confirm, monitor, or rule out medical conditions.

• To replace physical examinations.

• To reduce hospital waiting times.

What is usually the first step in the laboratory investigation of a patient?

• Data entry into the hospital billing system.

• Random sample collection.

• Clinical consultation and test request by a healthcare provider.

Select the example of a technical workload task in the medical laboratory.

• Filing hospital invoices.

• Performing sample analysis and validating test results.

• Organizing patient appointments.

Describe why different collection containers are used in the laboratory.

• To save on medical costs.

• Because every test requires specific containers for stability and accuracy.

• To match the patient's personal preference.

The common type of tube used for blood sample collection requiring coagulation

testing.

• Red top tube (Plain).

• Purple top tube (EDTA).

• Blue top tube (Citrate).

Give examples of technical workload activities in a clinical laboratory.

• Patient counselling, pharmacy stocking, billing.

• Equipment maintenance, sample analysis, quality control.

• Sample analysis, equipment selling, advertising.

Differentiate between the function of a red-top tube and a purple-top tube

• Both are for histopathology analysis.

• Red-top is for serum collection, purple-top contains EDTA for hematology.

• Both tubes contain the same anticoagulant.

Discover the effect of using the wrong collection container

• Possible rejection of the sample or inaccurate test results.

• Increased result accuracy.

• Proceed test, No effect on the result.

Estimate the potential consequences of skipping steps in the lab workflow.

• Improved productivity and reduced costs.

• Delayed diagnosis, increased error rates

• Automatic error correction by laboratory software.

Explain why laboratories use color-coded collection containers.

• To indicate the type of test.

• To avoid sample misplaced.

• To replace the need for labels.