Question

The CPCT has orders to collect blood cultures, CBC, PTT, and an iron panel. He forgets to draw for the PTT. Which of the following actions should the CPCT take?

A) Inform the nurse and document the omission
B) Draw the PTT immediately and document the delay
C) Wait until the next scheduled blood draw to collect the PTT
D) Ignore the omission, as PTT is not essential for the patient

Answer 1

The CPCT should inform the nurse, document the omission, and potentially draw the PTT immediately as per protocol. Ignoring the omission is not acceptable. The technician's observation of agglutination with both anti-A and anti-B antibodies indicates an AB blood type.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) forgets to draw blood for a Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) test that is ordered, they should take immediate action to correct the mistake. It is important for the CPCT to follow the proper protocol, which would typically involve informing the nurse and documenting the omission. Depending on the urgency of the situation and institutional policy, the CPCT may also need to draw the PTT immediately and document the delay. Waiting until the next scheduled blood draw might cause significant delays in patient care and is generally not advisable unless specifically directed by a healthcare provider. Ignoring the omission is not an acceptable action, as the PTT is an essential test for assessing the coagulation pathway and can be critical before surgical procedures or in the monitoring of certain medications.

Regarding the blood type question, the visible agglutination in both wells after adding anti-A and anti-B antibodies indicates that the technician has conducted the test correctly. This response is normal and shows that the patient has AB blood type, which is characterized when there is a presence of both A and B antigens on the surface of the red blood cells.