Question

Light blue tubes for coagulation studies should be inverted how many times following removal and prior to placing them in the rack?

a) 1-2 times
b) 3-4 times
c) 5-6 times
d) 7-8 times

Answer 1

Light blue tubes used for coagulation studies should be inverted 3-4 times to ensure proper mixing of the anticoagulant with the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

When processing light blue tubes for coagulation studies, it is important to invert the tubes adequately to ensure proper mixing of blood with the anticoagulant present in the tube. The correct number of inversions is 3-4 times. This helps in preventing clotting and also ensures that the anticoagulant is thoroughly mixed with the blood specimen. Inverting the tube less than 3 times may not be sufficient for mixing, and inverting it more than 4 times is unnecessary and could potentially cause hemolysis.