How should bilirubin-sensitive specimens be protected during collection and transport?

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Multiple Choice

How should bilirubin-sensitive specimens be protected during collection and transport?

Bilirubin is highly sensitive to light, and exposure to light can break it down, causing photodegradation that skews measurement results. Protecting bilirubin-sensitive specimens from light during collection and transport prevents this degradation and helps ensure accurate bilirubin readings. Using amber-colored containers or wrapping the specimen in foil blocks light from reaching the sample, keeping bilirubin stable until analysis. While processing promptly and storing properly are good general practices for preserving specimens, they don’t specifically address the light sensitivity of bilirubin. Exposing the sample to direct sunlight would accelerate degradation and lead to unreliable results.

Bilirubin is highly sensitive to light, and exposure to light can break it down, causing photodegradation that skews measurement results. Protecting bilirubin-sensitive specimens from light during collection and transport prevents this degradation and helps ensure accurate bilirubin readings. Using amber-colored containers or wrapping the specimen in foil blocks light from reaching the sample, keeping bilirubin stable until analysis.

While processing promptly and storing properly are good general practices for preserving specimens, they don’t specifically address the light sensitivity of bilirubin. Exposing the sample to direct sunlight would accelerate degradation and lead to unreliable results.

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