CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician) Practice Exam

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Why must microbiological tests be rushed to the lab?

Accelerate results
Ensure accuracy
Immediate processing
Make sure the organisms are alive

The correct answer is: Make sure the organisms are alive

Microbiological tests are crucial for diagnosing infections, and the viability of the organisms being tested plays a critical role in obtaining accurate results. When samples are collected, particularly specimens like blood, urine, or swabs from infection sites, the organisms present must remain alive to be properly identified and assayed. By rushing these samples to the lab, it maximizes the chances of maintaining their viability, which is essential for the lab to perform culture and sensitivity tests effectively. This prompt transport ensures that metabolic activity and growth potential of bacteria or fungi can be assessed accurately, which in turn influences treatment decisions. If there is a delay in processing, it can compromise the integrity of the sample, potentially leading to false-negative results or misidentification of the pathogens present. In contrast, while accelerating results, ensuring accuracy, and enabling immediate processing are important, they are secondary to the necessity of keeping the microorganisms alive for proper evaluation.