AMCA PTC flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

CLIA '88

Federal law regulating laboratory testing; classifies tests by complexity and sets personnel, quality control, and proficiency testing requirements.

Informed consent

Patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after receiving information about purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives; must be documented.

HIPAA Privacy Rule

Protects individually identifiable health information; requires patient authorization for most disclosures unless a legal exception applies.

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

Requires exposure control plan, HBV vaccination offer, PPE, and post-exposure evaluation for workers with occupational exposure to blood.

Chain of custody

Documentation of each person who handles a specimen, with date, time, and purpose; required for forensic or legal testing.

Standard of care

The degree of care a reasonably prudent health care professional with similar training would provide in similar circumstances.

Hand hygiene

Most effective infection control measure; use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled, alcohol-based rub otherwise.

Standard precautions

Infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis; treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious.

PPE removal order

Remove gloves first, then goggles, gown, and mask last; perform hand hygiene immediately after removal.

Sharps container

Puncture-resistant, leak-proof, biohazard-labeled container; replace when three-quarters full and never overfill.

Airborne precautions

Used for pathogens <5 µm (e.g., TB, measles); require N95 respirator and negative-pressure room.

RACE

Fire safety acronym: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate.

Two patient identifiers

Use full name plus date of birth or medical record number; never use room number or bed location.

Bedside labeling

Label specimens immediately after collection at the patient's side with name, ID, date, time, and collector's initials.

Mislabeled specimen

Specimen with incorrect or incomplete labeling must be rejected; never relabel a tube that has left the patient's side.

Newborn identification

Use mother's name and infant's assigned ID number, plus footprint or identification band.

Median cubital vein

Preferred venipuncture site in the antecubital fossa; large, well-anchored, and least painful.

Tourniquet application

Apply 3–4 inches above site for no more than 1 minute; release before needle removal to prevent hematoma.

Site cleansing

Clean with 70% isopropyl alcohol in concentric circles from center outward; allow to air dry for 30 seconds.

Basilic vein caution

Avoid if possible due to proximity to brachial artery and median nerve; risk of arterial puncture or nerve injury.

Capillary puncture site

Use middle or ring finger in adults; avoid thumb, index, and fifth finger; use heel in infants.

Needle gauge

Inversely related to diameter: 21G is larger than 23G; use 21G for routine venipuncture, 23G for small veins.

Order of draw

Blood culture, light blue, red/gold, green, lavender, gray for evacuated tubes; prevents cross-contamination.

Light blue tube

Contains sodium citrate for coagulation tests; must be filled to the fill line or rejected.

Lavender tube

Contains EDTA for hematology tests; invert gently to mix and avoid hemolysis.

Butterfly needle

Winged infusion set for small or fragile veins; tubing adds dead space that must be accounted for.

Venipuncture angle

Insert needle at 15–30° angle with bevel up; avoid probing or excessive manipulation.

Blood culture collection

Collect before antibiotics; cleanse site with chlorhexidine or iodine; inoculate aerobic and anaerobic bottles.

Midstream urine

Clean-catch specimen: cleanse, void first portion, collect midstream, and cap; minimizes contamination.

Sputum collection

Obtain early morning specimen; instruct patient to cough deeply; collect in sterile container.

Centrifugation

Spin serum tubes at 1000–1200 × g for 10–15 minutes; separate serum within 2 hours of collection.

Specimen transport temperature

Follow test requirements: room temperature, refrigerated (2–8°C), or frozen (-20°C); use leak-proof containers.