LabQ Clinical Exercise 2: Clinical Chemistry: Evaluation of Abnormal Chemistry Results in Specimens Drawn From Intravenous Lines

Author:

Nicholas C. Spies, MD.  

Department of Pathology 

Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine 

Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine 

St. Louis, Missouri 

Primary Audience:

Phlebotomists, Laboratory Technologists, Laboratory Directors

Secondary Audience:

Pathologists, Clinical Scientists (Includes all sub-specialty areas), Students, Pathologist Assistants, Residents, and Students

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to: 

• describe the potential sources of measurement error in specimens drawn directly from intravenous lines; 

• highlight the compositions of common solutions infused;  

• discuss the tools available for detecting these errors; and  

• determine the expected impact these errors should have on chemistry results.