Authors
Laurel Manor Kirk, BS, MLS(ASCP)
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Jackson Hospital
Marianna, Florida
Kristina Jackson Behan, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
Professor, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
University of West Florida
Pensacola, Florida
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:
- define sepsis and septic shock;
- explain the rationale for collecting blood cultures STAT in patients with sepsis;
- evaluate lactic acid levels in sepsis therapy;
- interpret abnormal laboratory results to help identify intravenous (IV) fluid contamination of specimens; and
- describe the recommended method to collect blood when IV lines are present.