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FactorsAffectingResults|PathologyServices

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FactorsAffectingResults

General
Adviceon

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Thefollowingfactorscanaffecttheresultsobtainedfromsamplesandshouldbetakeninto
considerationwheninterpretingresults.

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CollectiontoTestTime

Delaybetweenthecollectionofasampleandthetestingofthesamplecanaffecttheresults

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obtained,particularlyifnotstoredattheappropriatetemperature(seebelow).Forbacteriological
investigationitcanresultin:

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Anovergrowthofcommensalorganismswhichcanobscureanypathogens,or

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Information
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Misrepresentationofthenumbersoforganismspresent

Forserologicalexaminations,itmayresultindegradationofantibodies/antigensinthesamples.
Thiscanresultinfalsenegativeorfalsepositivereactions(duetocrossreaction).

Clinical

Biochemistry

Temperature

Haematology

Blood

Storageofsamplesforextendedperiodsatinappropriatetemperaturescanresultin:

Transfusion

Immunology

Overgrowthoforganisms(seeabove)iftoowarm

Cellular

Degradationofantibodies,etc.iftoowarminserological/viralsamples.

Pathology
Microbiology
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Department

Bacterialdeathiftoocold.

Ingeneral,samplesshouldbekeptrefrigerated(48oc)untiltheycanbetransported.Theexception
tothisisbloodculturesamples,whichshouldbekeptatroomtemperature(1525oc)

Laboratory

Hours

Consultants

SampleCollectionTime

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General

ConsiderationsInmostcasesthetimeatwhichasampleiscollectedwillhavenoeffectonresults.Insomecases,
Quality

however,itisanimportantfactor:

Assurance

RecommendedFormycobacterialinvestigationofurine,completeearlymorningurinearerequired(from3
consecutivedays)asthisincreasesthepossibilityofisolatingthemycobacteria.
Samples
Sample
Acceptance
/Rejection
Criteria
AdviceOn
Specimen
Collection
Emergency
Specimens
Adviceon
Sample
Transport

Forexaminationofurinesforschistosomiasis,aurinesampleshouldbetakeninthemiddleof
theday(afterlightexercise)asthisiswhentheparasiteisshedinthelargestnumbers.

AppropriateSample

Itisimportanttoensurethatthecorrectsampleistakenforthetestrequired.Anincorrectsample
canaffecttheresultobtainedorcancausenoresulttobeissuedasitisnotpossibleforthattestto
beperformedonthatsample.Examplesinclude:

MidstreamUrineforM/C/S)butaTerminalUrineforSchistomoniasisinvestigation
Virologyswabstakenforbacterialinvestigationthemediumintheswabcontainsantibiotics

Factors

topreventbacterialgrowthandthereforecannotbeusedforthistest.

Affecting

Results

Availability

ofResults

Requests

AppropriateCollectionContainer

for

Further/Additional
Itisimportanttoensurethatthesampleistakeninthecorrectcontainerforthetestrequired.
Tests

Examplesinclude:

Turnaround

Times

Bloodsamplesformolecular(PCR)testingshouldbecollectedinanEDTA(redtopped)

Andrology
PointofCare
(POCT)
KeyContacts

Test
Repertoire

bloodtubeasthesensitivityofsuchtestsissignificantlyreducedwithclottedsamples,andaccurate
viralloadscannotbeobtainedwhereappropriate.
Urinesamplesforroutineculture(NOTTB)mustbecollectinsterileuniversalsanyother
container,includingfaecespots,arenotguaranteedsterileandcouldthereforecontaminatethe
sample.
Swabs/urinesforChlamydiaordualtestingMUSTbetakeninAbbottCollectionKits(orange
top)asthebufferpresentstabilisesthesampletoenhancethetesting.

Biochemistry

TestRepertoire

Immunology

Whichsamplesandcontainersarerequiredforwhichtestscanbefoundinthesectionentitled

TestRepertoire

RecommendedSamples.Ifyoucannotfindthetestyourequire,contactthelaboratorytodiscuss

Haematology

whatsamplesarerequired.

TestRepertoire
BloodScience
TestRepertoire

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