Which is an example of a time-critical specimen and how should it be handled to preserve its integrity?

Prepare for the CAMLPR Specimen Collection Competency Test. Practice with diverse question sets including multiple-choice and flashcards. Each question includes hints and explanations to help you become proficient before the exam.

Time-sensitive specimens require immediate handling after collection to preserve the analyte at its true level. The best example is stat glucose or ammonia, where processing must happen right away or the sample must be kept on ice and transported quickly to the lab. Glucose levels fall quickly in whole blood because cells continue to metabolize glucose, so cooling slows this glycolysis and helps maintain an accurate value until testing. Ammonia is unstable and can rise if the specimen isn’t kept cold and processed promptly, so placing it on ice and expediting transport prevents artificial changes. The other options involve tests that are not intended to be processed immediately or have stability considerations that don’t require instant handling, such as routine orders that can wait, ESR that’s refrigerated but not urgent, or urine specimens that aren’t correctly preserved by leaving at room temperature.