Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

What should be done when a blue stopper vacutainer does not fill properly?

1. Pour a little from a red tube into the blue one

2. Submit the tube for testing

3. Fill another blue tube partly full and mix two together

4. Repeat the procurement procedure and properly fill another blue tube

The correct answer is: Repeat the procurement procedure and properly fill another blue tube

When a blue stopper vacutainer does not fill properly, the recommended action is to repeat the procurement procedure and ensure another blue tube is filled correctly. This is crucial because blue-top tubes are specifically designed for coagulation tests, which require precise blood-to-additive ratios to ensure accurate results. If the tube is not filled to the appropriate level, it can lead to erroneous test outcomes due to an improper ratio of anticoagulant to plasma. Reinitiating the collection process ensures that the sample will be valid for the tests required and not compromised by improper filling. This step also minimizes waste and maintains the integrity of the laboratory's testing capabilities. Other options, such as transferring blood from one container to another or combining partially filled tubes, are not advisable. These methods introduce the risk of contamination, dilution, and inconsistency, which can further skew the results. Testing an improperly filled tube would similarly yield unreliable outcomes, which can have serious implications for patient management and diagnosis. Hence, repeating the procedure is the safest and most effective solution.