Why is blood for a glucose test collected into a tube containing fluoride oxalate?

Fluoride stops blood cells using up glucose by glycolysis while the sample waits. Oxalate prevents clotting, so the glucose level stays as it was when taken.

Why is EDTA suitable as an anticoagulant for blood counts but not for potassium or calcium tests?

EDTA binds calcium to stop clotting and preserves the shape of blood cells. The potassium salt of EDTA would falsely raise potassium results and lower calcium results.

How are specimens packaged for sending to a pathology laboratory?

The specimen goes in a sealed, leak-proof container inside a bag with absorbent material, and the form goes in a separate pocket. Specimens sent by post or courier use triple packaging marked UN3373.

What happens when a specimen arrives at the laboratory reception?

Reception staff check that the details on the specimen label match the request form. Each specimen is given a unique laboratory number and sorted to the correct department.

CCEA A-Level Life and Health Sciences 0008

Experimental Techniques

Topic overview Standard solutions, titrations and qualitative tests Rates of reaction and organic preparations Physics measurements: oscillations, resistivity, lenses and critical angle Biological tests, colorimetry, chromatography and osmosis

Human Body Systems

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Medicine, Drugs and Clinical TrialsDouble Award

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Topic overview Body temperature and clinical thermometers Blood pressure readings and the sphygmomanometer Heart activity experiments and EEG traces X-ray tubes, radiographs and CT scans Flexible endoscopes, optical fibres and lasers Ultrasound A-scans, B-scans and acoustic impedance MRI scanning and gamma camera imaging Alpha, beta and gamma radiation and half-life Radiopharmaceuticals, radiotherapy and radiation protection

Sound and LightA2 option

Topic overview Transverse and longitudinal waves and wave graphs Phase difference and the electromagnetic spectrum Outer, middle and inner ear Sound intensity and the decibel scale Standing waves, harmonics and resonance tubes Hearing response, phons and equal loudness curves Structure of the eye, rods and cones Accommodation, lens power and correcting long sight Total internal reflection and fibre-optic communication Dipole antennas, wireless networks and radar Attenuation of radio waves and the Doppler effect

Genetics, Stem Cell Research and CloningA2 option

Topic overview DNA structure and the evidence for the double helix RNA, genes and the triplet code Genotype, phenotype and monohybrid inheritance Dihybrid crosses, epistasis and the chi-squared test DNA replication and the Meselson–Stahl experiment Meiosis and genetic variation Insulin, factor VIII and chymosin from genetically modified microbes Recombinant DNA technology and gene cloning Genetic engineering, food supply and ethics Gene therapy and cystic fibrosis Genetic disease, screening and counselling Genetic fingerprinting and gel electrophoresis Stem cells, therapeutic cloning and their ethics

MicrobiologyDouble Award

Topic overview Bacteria, fungi and protozoa Viruses, viroids and prions Classifying bacteria, fungi and viruses Light and electron microscopy Laboratory safety, biocontainment and quality assurance Aseptic technique, growth media and inoculation Counting and measuring microbial growth Growth requirements and growth inhibition Antibiotics, PCR, gene therapy and pharmaceutical microbiology The gut microbiome in health and disease

Oral Health and DentistryDouble Award

Topic overview Structure of the mouth and the five basic tastes Salivary glands, saliva and the composition of teeth Ingestion, teeth and digestion in the mouth Dental caries and acid erosion Periodontal disease, tooth loss and dental antibiotics Dental materials, prosthodontics and the dental team

Histology and PathologyDouble Award

Topic overview Specimen processing, data protection and safety law Clinical biochemistry tests and electrophoresis Blood smears and identifying blood cells Blood grouping, cross-matching and transfusion Diagnostic and surveillance work in hospital microbiology Preparing and staining tissue sections Recognising tissues, atheroma and emphysema on slides

Analytical Chemistry TechniquesDouble Award

Topic overview Volumetric analysis in industry and healthcare Applied titrations of vinegar, indigestion tablets and bleach Redox titration of iron tablets and evaluating titrations Principles of colorimetry Colorimetric analysis of copper ore, aspirin and iron Thin-layer chromatography and its uses Visualising chromatograms and identifying painkillers and pigments Calorimetry and combustion Molar enthalpy and bond energy calculations Qualitative tests for cations and gases

Enabling TechnologyDouble Award

Topic overview ECG and EEG machines in patient monitoring Ultrasound and IVF equipment in fertility treatment Prosthetic limbs, hearing aids and cochlear implants Workflow and equipment in a medical laboratory Ongoing monitoring of a long-term condition Health data collection, databases and data protection

Histology and Pathology

Specimen processing, data protection and safety law

3 things to know
A2 8

Overview

The pathology departments, request forms, fluoride and EDTA tubes, packaging, reception, rejection and storage of specimens, reporting results, data protection, health and safety duties, COSHH and RIDDOR.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Numbers

What did the Data Protection Act 1998 require of pathology laboratories?

Key term

Name the four main departments of a hospital pathology service.

Key term

Why must a request form include clinical details and the date and time the specimen was taken?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Name the four main departments of a hospital pathology service.
Model answer
The four main departments are clinical biochemistry, haematology, microbiology and histopathology. Each analyses patient specimens to help doctors diagnose and treat disease.
2
Why must a request form include clinical details and the date and time the specimen was taken?
Model answer
Clinical details tell the laboratory which tests matter and help staff interpret the results. Some results, such as glucose and hormone levels, change with time of day or delay before testing.
3
Why is blood for a glucose test collected into a tube containing fluoride oxalate?
Model answer
Fluoride stops blood cells using up glucose by glycolysis while the sample waits. Oxalate prevents clotting, so the glucose level stays as it was when taken.
4
Why is EDTA suitable as an anticoagulant for blood counts but not for potassium or calcium tests?
Model answer
EDTA binds calcium to stop clotting and preserves the shape of blood cells. The potassium salt of EDTA would falsely raise potassium results and lower calcium results.
5
How are specimens packaged for sending to a pathology laboratory?
Model answer
The specimen goes in a sealed, leak-proof container inside a bag with absorbent material, and the form goes in a separate pocket. Specimens sent by post or courier use triple packaging marked UN3373.
6
What happens when a specimen arrives at the laboratory reception?
Model answer
Reception staff check that the details on the specimen label match the request form. Each specimen is given a unique laboratory number and sorted to the correct department.

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