Medical terms for phlebotomy students

278 medical terms for phlebotomy students, with plain definitions and sources.

24-hour urineAll urine for 24 hours: flush the first morning void and note the time, then save every void through the next…
ABO blood groupSystem that types blood as A, B, AB or O, depending on which A and B antigens are on the red cells.
acid citrate dextroseACD: additive in pale yellow-top tubes; WHO lists HLA tissue typing, paternity testing and DNA studies.
additiveAnything put in a collection tube on purpose, such as an anticoagulant, clot activator, separator gel or preservative…
adulterated specimenA drug-test specimen containing a substance not normally found in urine, or an abnormal amount of a natural one…
advance directiveA legal document, such as a living will or health care power of attorney, stating care wishes for when the patient…
aerobic bottleBlood culture bottle whose medium supports organisms that grow with oxygen; paired with an anaerobic bottle in a set.
airborne precautionsUsed for TB, measles or chickenpox: a negative-pressure isolation room (AIIR) and a fit-tested N95 or better…
airborne transmissionSpread by droplet nuclei (under about 5 micrometers) that stay suspended in air, as with tuberculosis, measles and…
alcohol-based hand rubHand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, rubbed over all hand surfaces until dry (about 20 to 30 seconds).
aliquotA portion of serum, plasma or urine transferred from the original tube into a labeled secondary tube, so several tests…
anaerobic bottleBlood culture bottle whose medium supports organisms that grow without oxygen; paired with an aerobic bottle in a set.
analytical phaseThe testing step itself, when the instrument or test system measures the specimen.
anchoringHolding the skin taut with the thumb below the site, pulling toward the hand, so the vein stays still as the needle…
anemiaToo few red cells or too little hemoglobin, lowering oxygen delivery. Repeated blood draws can contribute, especially…
antecubital fossaThe hollow at the front of the elbow where the median cubital, cephalic and basilic veins lie; the main venipuncture…
antibodyA protein the immune system makes against a specific antigen. Antibodies against foreign red-cell antigens are why…
anticoagulantPrevents clotting: tube additives like EDTA, citrate and heparin, and blood thinners like warfarin, which make…
antigenA marker the immune system recognizes. Red-cell antigens such as A, B and the Rh factor decide a person's blood type.
antisepticA germ-killing agent for skin and living tissue, such as 70% isopropyl alcohol for routine venipuncture; disinfectants…
apheresisCollection in which blood is drawn, one part such as plasma or platelets is separated and kept, and the rest is…
arterial punctureInserting a needle into an artery, such as the radial artery, to collect arterial blood, mainly for blood gases…
arteriovenous fistulaA surgical joining of an artery and a vein, usually in the arm, for hemodialysis. That arm is never used for…
arteriovenous graftA soft tube joining an artery and a vein under the skin for hemodialysis access; that arm is not used for draws.
arteryA vessel carrying blood away from the heart under high pressure. It pulses when palpated, which helps the phlebotomist…
atriumAn upper heart chamber. The right one collects blood coming back from the body; the left one collects oxygen-rich…
autologous donationBlood a person donates for their own later use. FDA allows a lower hemoglobin minimum for autologous donors (11.0 g/dL).
basal stateThe body early in the morning after an overnight fast and rest, before exercise; many reference values come from…
basilic veinVein on the little-finger side of the antecubital area; the last choice, because the brachial artery and median nerve…
batteryTouching a person without consent. Drawing blood from a patient who refused, or withdrew consent, can be battery.
bevelThe slanted, sharp tip of a needle. For venipuncture the bevel faces up as the needle enters the vein.
blood alcohol testMeasures ethanol in blood. Clean the site with a non-alcohol antiseptic; legal or forensic specimens also follow chain…
blood cultureBlood put into culture bottles so the lab can grow and identify bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream; careful skin…
blood culture contaminationGrowth of skin bacteria that entered the bottle during collection, giving a false-positive culture; prevented by…
blood culture setOne aerobic and one anaerobic bottle filled from the same venipuncture. Adult recommendations give about 20 to 30 mL…
blood pressurePressure of circulating blood against artery walls, recorded as systolic/diastolic in mm Hg. A cuff used in place of a…
blood transfer deviceSafety device for moving syringe blood into vacuum tubes; the tube vacuum draws the blood in, so the plunger is never…
bloodborne pathogensDisease-causing germs carried in human blood, such as HBV, HCV and HIV. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard protects…
bluing agentBlue dye put in the toilet tank at a drug-test collection site so the employee cannot dilute the specimen with toilet…
brachial pulseThe pulse of the brachial artery at the inner elbow. The artery runs near the basilic vein, which is why that vein is…
breachHIPAA: PHI used, disclosed or accessed in a way the Privacy Rule forbids, putting its privacy or security at risk…
buffy coatNarrow whitish band of white cells and platelets resting between packed red cells and plasma after an anticoagulated…
calcaneusThe heel bone. An infant heel puncture that reaches it can cause bone infection (osteomyelitis).
calibrationTesting and adjusting an instrument so its readings match the true amount of the substance measured, as often as the…
capillaryThe smallest blood vessel, where oxygen, nutrients and wastes pass between blood and tissue. A skin puncture collects…
Category B infectious substanceShipping class for specimens that may hold infectious agents but are not high risk; labeled UN3373 and packed in…
central venous catheterA thin tube placed in a large vein, ending near the heart, for long-term medicines or nutrition; it can also be used…
centrifugationSpinning specimens to separate cells from serum or plasma, using the tube maker's time and speed; serum tubes must…
centrifugeMachine that spins tubes fast to separate serum or plasma from cells. Load matched, balanced tubes; open the lid only…
cephalic veinVein on the thumb side of the forearm and antecubital area; the second choice for venipuncture after the median…
chain of custodySigned, dated record of each person who has a specimen, from collection to disposal, so a forensic or drug-test result…
chain of infectionSix-step path germs follow: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry…
chlorhexidine gluconateAntiseptic used, often in 70% alcohol, for blood donation and blood culture skin prep; WHO advises against it in…
cholesterolA fatty substance in blood measured in a lipid panel. Fast only when the order says so, usually for 9 to 12 hours.
clean-catch midstream specimenUrine collected after cleaning the urethral area: start voiding into the toilet, catch the middle portion in a sterile…
clot activatorAdditive that makes blood clot faster so serum can be obtained; carried over into a citrate tube, it can distort…
clotted specimenClots in a tube that should stay unclotted, often from too few or too-late inversions; rejected for hematology and…
clotting timeThe time a serum tube stands at room temperature, as the tube maker specifies, so the clot forms fully before…
coagulationClotting: the chain of reactions in which clotting factors turn fibrinogen into a mesh of fibrin that holds a blood…
cold packCold compress applied to a hematoma in the first 24 to 48 hours to limit swelling, later followed by warm compresses.
collapsed veinA vein that flattens during the draw, often when a large tube or syringe pulls too hard on a small vein; use smaller…
collectorIn DOT drug testing, the person who instructs the employee, receives and inspects the specimen, and starts and…
contact precautionsGown and gloves put on entering the room and removed before leaving, with patient-dedicated equipment such as…
copaymentA fixed dollar amount the patient pays for a service, such as $25 per visit, as opposed to coinsurance, a percentage.
covered entityHIPAA category that must protect PHI: health plans, health care clearinghouses, and providers (a lab, for example)…
critical valueA result showing a possibly life-threatening condition (a panic or alert value); the lab must tell the ordering…
crossmatchTesting done before a transfusion, except in emergencies, to check that donor blood is compatible with the patient's…
Custody and Control FormCCF: the federal form that documents a workplace drug-test specimen's chain of custody, from the employee to the…
dead volumeExtra sample an analyzer needs to pipet accurately, beyond the volume the test itself uses; part of a test's minimum…
decontaminationOSHA term: using physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate or destroy bloodborne pathogens until a surface or…
dehydrationA shortage of body water. Post-procedure care, as after a blood donation, includes encouraging fluids (hydration).
deliriumSudden, often reversible confusion. A delirious patient may not give reliable identifiers, so a nurse or guardian…
dermal punctureCapillary collection: a lancet pierces the fingertip, or an infant's heel, to obtain a few drops of blood for…
dermisThe skin layer under the epidermis that contains capillaries and nerves; a dermal (skin) puncture reaches it to…
diabetes mellitusLong-term condition in which glucose stays too high because the body makes little insulin, responds poorly to it, or…
diaphoresisHeavy sweating. With pallor, nausea or dizziness during a draw, it can warn of a vasovagal reaction and fainting.
diastolic pressureThe second, lower blood pressure reading: arterial pressure between beats, while the ventricles rest and fill.
dilute specimenUrine whose creatinine and specific gravity both fall below the values normally expected for human urine.
discard tubePlain tube drawn first when a winged set is used and sodium citrate is the first tube, so tubing air does not leave…
discard volumeBlood first withdrawn from a vascular access line and set aside, so flush solution does not dilute or contaminate the…
disinfectionKilling most pathogens on objects and surfaces, such as the drawing chair. Disinfectants are for surfaces; antiseptics…
diurnal variationNormal rise and fall of some substances over the day; cortisol, for example, is highest in the morning and much lower…
doffingTaking off PPE: gloves, then eye protection, gown, and mask or respirator last, followed by hand hygiene.
donningPutting on PPE: hand hygiene, gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, then gloves over the gown cuffs.
donorA person who gives blood or blood components. FDA requires health screening and checks of temperature, pulse, blood…
donor eligibilityThe determination, made before each collection, that a person is qualified to donate blood or blood components; an…
dorsal hand veinsVeins on the back of the hand, the next site to assess when the antecubital veins cannot be used.
droplet precautionsA mask put on when entering the room of a patient with a droplet-spread infection such as influenza or pertussis; no…
droplet transmissionSpread by larger respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing or talking that fall within a short distance, as with…
drug screenA test of urine or another specimen for drugs or their breakdown products. Workplace collections follow strict…
dyspneaDifficult or labored breathing (shortness of breath). A patient who becomes short of breath during collection needs…
edemaSwelling from excess fluid in the tissues. An edematous (swollen) arm is not used for venipuncture; choose another site.
EDTAEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid: binds calcium to keep blood unclotted; the lavender-top additive for hematology…
empathyRecognizing and naming the patient's feeling while keeping the focus on them ("That sounds stressful"), unlike…
engineering controlsSafety devices that remove or isolate the hazard itself (OSHA), for example a sharps container or a needle with a…
erythemaRedness of the skin from increased blood flow. Unlike petechiae or a bruise, it fades (blanches) when pressed.
erythrocyteRed blood cell: a disk-shaped cell without a nucleus that carries oxygen bound to hemoglobin.
evacuated tubeA sealed tube with a preset vacuum that draws a set blood volume when its stopper is pierced by the back of a…
evacuated tube systemClosed system of a multisample safety needle, a tube holder and vacuum tubes. Needle and holder go into the sharps…
exposure control planThe employer's written OSHA plan naming jobs with exposure, how the standard is carried out, and how exposure…
exposure incidentBlood or OPIM reaching the eye, mouth, another mucous membrane or broken skin, or entering through a needlestick or…
express consentConsent the patient states directly, aloud or in writing; required for invasive or riskier procedures.
false imprisonmentHolding or restraining someone against their will with no legal right to do so.
fasting blood glucoseGlucose measured after at least 8 hours with no food or drink other than water.
fasting specimenBlood drawn after no food or drink except water for the ordered time, at least 8 hours for fasting glucose. Document a…
fibrinProtein threads formed from fibrinogen during clotting that bind platelets and blood cells into a clot.
fibrinogenA clotting protein in plasma that is converted into fibrin; plasma contains it, serum does not.
filter paper cardNewborn screening card with printed circles. Fill each circle with blood from one side until soaked through; dry flat…
first morning voidUrine passed on waking, usually the most concentrated sample of the day; preferred for urine pregnancy tests.
fomiteAn object that carries germs from person to person, such as a shared glucose meter, tourniquet or drawing chair that…
formed elementsThe solid part of blood: red cells, white cells and platelets (cell fragments), suspended in the liquid plasma.
four Ds of negligenceMemory aid for a negligence claim: a Duty of care, Dereliction (breach) of that duty, Direct cause of the injury, and…
galactosemiaAn inherited disorder in which the body cannot process galactose, a sugar from milk lactose; affected infants need a…
gaugeThe number for a needle's bore: the higher the gauge, the thinner the needle. A 21-gauge needle is typical for routine…
gender identityA person's inner sense of their own gender, which may differ from the sex recorded at birth; ask the patient's name…
glucose challenge testPregnancy screening step: the patient, not fasting, drinks a glucose solution and blood is drawn 1 hour later; a high…
glucose tolerance testFasting blood draw, then a measured glucose drink (usually 75 g), then more draws on schedule over up to 3 hours to…
glycolytic inhibitorAdditive, most often sodium fluoride in gray-top tubes, that keeps cells from consuming glucose after collection, so…
half-lifeThe time for a drug's blood level to fall by half; it is one reason peak and trough levels must be drawn at the…
hand hygieneCleaning hands with alcohol-based rub or soap and water. Wash with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled, and…
heel stickCapillary puncture on the medial or lateral plantar surface of an infant's heel, used from birth to about 6 months…
hematocritThe share of whole blood volume made up of red cells. Donors must meet FDA minimum hemoglobin or hematocrit values.
hematomaSwelling from blood leaking into tissue at the puncture, for example when the needle goes through the vein or the arm…
hemoconcentrationRise in cell and protein concentration when plasma water leaves the vein, as with a tourniquet left on too long…
hemoglobinIron-based protein packed inside red cells; it picks up oxygen in the lungs, releases it to tissues and makes blood…
hemolysisRupture of red cells that releases hemoglobin and potassium into serum or plasma, tinting it pink to red and falsely…
hemostasisThe body's process for stopping bleeding: the vessel narrows, platelets form a plug, then coagulation builds a fibrin…
heparinAnticoagulant that blocks thrombin. Green-top tubes hold lithium or sodium heparin for plasma chemistry; it is also…
hormoneA chemical messenger carried in the blood. Some hormones, such as cortisol, rise and fall over the day, so timed draws…
hyperglycemiaHigh blood glucose: thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination, blurry vision and tiredness. Report it and follow facility…
hypertensionBlood pressure that stays above the normal range over time; also called high blood pressure.
hypoglycemiaLow blood glucose: shaking, sweating, hunger, a pounding heart or confusion. For an alert patient, offer quick sugar…
hypotensionLow blood pressure. It can make a patient dizzy or faint, so watch closely during and after the draw.
iatrogenic anemiaAnemia caused by medical care, such as repeated blood draws; collect only the volume needed, especially from infants…
icterusDark yellow serum or plasma caused by high bilirubin; bilirubin in icteric samples can falsely lower some chemistry…
implanted portA reservoir under the skin of the chest attached to a central venous catheter; a trained provider reaches it with a…
implicit biasUnconscious associations, for example about race, gender, age or weight, that can shape judgments and care.
implied consentConsent shown by actions, such as holding out an arm after the draw is explained; accepted only for routine, low-risk…
incident reportInternal, confidential safety report of any unplanned event that harmed or could have harmed someone, near misses…
infectionInvasion and growth of disease-causing microorganisms in the body. Skin antisepsis before a puncture lowers the risk…
informed consentAgreement given after the patient understands a procedure's purpose, risks, benefits and alternatives; needed for…
insulinPancreatic hormone that moves glucose from the blood into cells, lowering blood glucose. Insulin without enough food…
inversionGently turning a filled additive tube upside down and back, the number of times the manufacturer specifies, to mix…
isopropyl alcoholThe usual antiseptic for routine venipuncture, as 70% alcohol, applied with firm pressure and left to air-dry before…
jaundiceYellow skin and eyes from too much bilirubin. The patient's serum or plasma may look dark yellow (icteric), which can…
just cultureA safety culture that encourages reporting errors and near misses and fixes system causes, while still holding people…
lactose tolerance testBlood glucose drawn before and at timed points after a lactose drink; glucose that fails to rise suggests lactose…
lancetSterile, single-use device that punctures the skin for capillary collection; its length is chosen for the site and the…
latex allergyAllergy to natural rubber latex. Use latex-free gloves, tourniquets and supplies for an allergic patient.
leading zeroZero before a decimal point for amounts under one (0.5 mg). Omitting it (.5 mg) is on the Do Not Use list: the dose…
leukocyteWhite blood cell: a cell with a nucleus that defends the body against infection; types include neutrophils…
Levey-Jennings chartGraph of control results over time with lines for the mean and 1, 2 and 3 standard deviations, used to spot shifts and…
lipemiaCloudy, milky serum or plasma from high blood fats, often after a heavy meal; it can interfere with tests, one reason…
lithium heparinHeparin salt in many green-top tubes for plasma chemistry. It adds lithium, so lithium levels use sodium heparin…
Luer adapterConnector joining a winged set's tubing to a tube holder; it may be a threaded Luer lock or a friction-fit Luer slip.
lumenThe hollow channel inside a needle or vessel. Needle gauge describes the size of the needle's lumen.
lymphedemaSwelling from blocked lymph drainage, which can follow lymph node removal for breast cancer; do not draw from the…
malpracticeNegligence by a professional: care below the accepted standard of the profession that injures the patient.
mandated reporterSomeone required by state law to tell authorities when they suspect a child, an elder or another vulnerable person is…
mastectomySurgical removal of a breast. Draw from the opposite arm; if both sides are affected, the provider decides which site…
median cubital veinVein crossing the antecubital fossa between the cephalic and basilic veins; first choice for venipuncture because it…
MedicaidGovernment health coverage for many low-income people, funded jointly by federal and state money; who qualifies and…
medical asepsisClean technique: hand hygiene, gloves and cleaning of equipment and surfaces that lower germ counts and limit their…
microcollection containerSmall tube for capillary blood from a skin puncture, plain or with an additive; most analyzers need a carrier tube or…
minimum necessaryHIPAA rule to use or share only the least PHI needed for a task. It does not apply to disclosures to a treating…
multisample needleDouble-ended needle for the evacuated tube system: one end enters the vein, the other pierces each tube stopper in the…
N95 respiratorA tight-fitting NIOSH-approved respirator that filters small airborne particles. It needs a fit test before first use…
nasopharyngeal swabA thin, flexible swab passed through the nose to the back of the nasal passage to collect secretions for testing.
needle hubThe base of a needle that attaches to the holder or syringe; a flash of blood appears there when the vein is entered.
needle safety deviceBuilt-in feature, such as a shield or a retracting needle, engaged right after the needle leaves the vein to prevent…
needleless systemA device that collects fluids after access is established, or gives fluids, without using a needle (OSHA).
needlestick injurySkin puncture by a used needle. Wash with soap and water, report at once, and get a prompt medical evaluation.
Needlestick Safety and Prevention ActFederal law signed November 6, 2000, that amended OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard: safer devices, a sharps injury…
negligenceHarm caused by failing to act with the care a reasonable person in the same role would use. A claim requires duty…
nerve injuryDamage to a nerve by the needle: electric-shock-like or stabbing pain, tingling or numbness. Remove the needle at once…
neutrophilGranular white cell that is most plentiful in blood; it is first to reach infected tissue, where it swallows and…
newborn screeningState-required blood tests from a few drops of a baby's heel, best collected at 24 to 48 hours of age, to find…
Notice of Privacy PracticesDocument a covered entity must give patients describing how their PHI may be used and shared and the privacy rights…
occult bloodBlood present in amounts too small to see, as in stool; found with a fecal occult blood test or a fecal immunochemical…
occupational exposureReasonably expected contact with blood or OPIM through the skin, eyes, mucous membranes or punctures as part of one's…
order of drawCLSI venous tube sequence that stops additive carryover: blood cultures, sodium citrate, serum tubes, heparin, EDTA…
orthostatic hypotensionA drop in blood pressure on standing up that causes dizziness or fainting; have a patient rest before getting up after…
osteomyelitisInfection of bone; a known complication of an infant heel puncture that reaches the calcaneus.
palpationFeeling with the index fingertip to find a vein and judge its size, depth and direction; the thumb is not used because…
pathogenAny disease-causing microorganism, such as the bloodborne viruses HBV, HCV and HIV.
Patient Care PartnershipAmerican Hospital Association plain-language guide to hospital patients' rights and expectations, such as safe care…
patient identifiersDetails unique to the patient, such as full name, birth date or medical record number; use at least two, never a room…
peak levelDrug level drawn when the concentration is highest, for example about 30 minutes after an IV antibiotic infusion ends…
petechiaeTiny red pinpoint dots from bleeding under the skin. They may appear below a tourniquet and can point to a platelet or…
pharynxThe throat, behind the nose and mouth. For a throat culture, the swab is rubbed along the back of the throat near the…
phenylketonuriaPKU: an inherited disorder in which phenylalanine builds up in the blood and, untreated, causes intellectual…
phlebitisInflammation of a vein, most often from a clot (thrombophlebitis); a phlebitic vein is avoided for venipuncture.
phlebotomyDrawing blood, by venipuncture or skin puncture, for laboratory testing, donation or treatment.
plantar surfaceThe sole of the foot. Infant heel punctures are made on its medial or lateral sides.
plasmaThe liquid part of unclotted blood, separated by centrifuging a tube that contains an anticoagulant; it still contains…
plateletThrombocyte: a small cell fragment that sticks at a vessel injury to form a plug and helps clotting. Low counts raise…
portal of entryHow a pathogen gets into a new host, for example through a needlestick, broken skin or a mucous membrane.
portal of exitHow a pathogen leaves its reservoir, for example in blood from a puncture site or in droplets from a cough.
post-analytical phaseSteps after testing: verifying and reporting results and getting them to the ordering provider and the medical record.
potassium oxalateAnticoagulant often paired with sodium fluoride in gray-top glucose tubes.
povidone-iodineIodine antiseptic. Carried into a sample it may falsely raise potassium, phosphorus or uric acid, so alcohol is…
pre-analytical phaseSteps before testing: ordering, patient preparation, identification, collection, labeling, handling and transport…
probingMoving the needle around blindly under the skin to find a missed vein; WHO advises avoiding it because it can damage…
proficiency testingOutside testing of unknown samples to check a lab's accuracy; CLIA does not require it for waived tests, but it is…
prolonged bleedingBleeding at the puncture site past about 5 minutes; keep pressing, never bandage over active bleeding, and notify the…
pulmonary circulationBlood flow from the right ventricle through the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, and back to the left atrium.
pulseThe throb of an artery with each heartbeat. A pulse under the fingertip means an artery is there; do not puncture it…
quality controlTesting control samples with known values to prove a test system works. When controls fail, patient results are held.
recollectionCollecting a new specimen when the first was rejected or lost; contact the patient and document the reason.
reference laboratoryAn outside laboratory to which specimens are referred for tests the collecting lab does not perform.
reference rangeThe values expected for a test in healthy people, set by each laboratory for its own method; results are compared only…
refluxBackflow of tube contents into the vein; keeping the arm angled downward while tubes fill prevents it.
regulated wasteOSHA term for liquid blood or OPIM, items that would release blood if squeezed or are caked with it, and used sharps…
requisitionThe test order, paper or electronic: patient name and identifiers, sex and age or birth date, ordering provider…
reservoirThe home where a germ survives and multiplies, for example an infected patient, a carrier or contaminated equipment.
respondeat superior"Let the master answer": an employer is liable for an employee's negligence within the scope of the job, such as a…
Rh factorRed-cell antigen tested with the ABO type: people who have it are Rh-positive; those who lack it are Rh-negative.
rolling veinA vein that slides away from the needle; anchoring the skin taut below the site holds it in place.
sclerosed veinA hardened, cordlike vein, often from damage or clotting; it does not spring back when pressed and is not used for…
scope of practiceThe tasks a worker is trained and allowed to do. Phlebotomists collect and handle specimens; they do not interpret…
seizureA burst of abnormal brain activity causing jerking, stiffening or lost awareness. Stop the draw, protect from injury…
sepsisA life-threatening reaction to infection that can damage organs. Blood cultures are drawn to find the germ in the…
serumThe liquid left after blood clots and is centrifuged; it lacks the clotting factors used up in the clot. Collected in…
serum separator tubeGold or red-gray (tiger) top. Its clot activator speeds clotting; when the tube is spun, its gel moves to sit between…
sharpsItems that can pierce or cut skin: needles, lancets, broken glass. Discard used ones immediately in a sharps container.
sharps containerClosable, puncture-resistant, leakproof container with a biohazard label for used sharps, kept upright within reach…
sharps injury logConfidential OSHA log of each contaminated sharps injury: device type and brand, where it happened and how, without…
shockDangerously low blood flow to the organs. Call for help; if no injury prevents it, lay the person flat with legs…
small-volume tubeStandard-size tube with a weaker vacuum that draws less blood; used for children and fragile veins to reduce vein…
sodium citrateAnticoagulant that binds calcium, used in light blue-top tubes for coagulation tests. Fill to the line to keep the 1:9…
sodium polyanethol sulfonateSPS: the anticoagulant listed for blood culture tubes, which are first in the venous order of draw.
specific gravityHow concentrated urine is compared with water. In drug testing, low specific gravity with low creatinine marks a…
specimen rejectionA lab's refusal to test a specimen that fails its written acceptance criteria, for example unlabeled, hemolyzed…
sphygmomanometerA blood pressure cuff with a gauge. It can serve as a tourniquet when inflated to just below the patient's diastolic…
split specimenOne urine void divided into two sealed bottles: the primary (Bottle A, at least 30 mL) for testing and the split…
sputumThick mucus coughed up from deep in the lungs, not saliva. The patient rinses with water, then coughs it into a…
standard precautionsInfection control used for every patient: treat blood and all body fluids except sweat as infectious, with hand…
strokeBrain injury from a blocked or bleeding brain vessel. Sudden face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech means…
substituted specimenA drug-test specimen whose creatinine and specific gravity are so far off that it is not consistent with human urine.
surgical asepsisSterile technique that keeps items completely free of microorganisms. In phlebotomy: never touch the needle shaft…
susceptible hostA person who can become infected, such as a patient with weak immunity or a worker who is not immune.
syncopeFainting: brief loss of consciousness when too little blood reaches the brain. If it starts during a draw, stop…
syringeBarrel and plunger used with a needle or winged set, often for small or fragile veins; a 1 to 5 mL syringe avoids…
systemic circulationBlood flow from the left ventricle through the arteries to the body's tissues and back through the veins to the right…
systolic pressureThe upper blood pressure number: the peak pressure in the arteries while the ventricles contract.
tamper-evident sealSeal placed over a specimen bottle's cap and down its sides that shows if the bottle was opened; the collector dates…
teach-backAsking the patient to explain instructions in their own words to confirm understanding; a nod or "yes" is not proof.
temperature logRecord of refrigerator, freezer or room temperatures for stored supplies and specimens; never guess a missed reading…
temperature stripStrip on a drug-test collection container, read within 4 minutes; urine outside 32 to 38 °C (90 to 100 °F) is out of…
therapeutic drug monitoringMeasuring a medicine's blood level to keep it safe and effective. Record the drug, the time of the last dose and the…
throat cultureA swab rubbed along the back of the throat near the tonsils and sent to the lab to grow and identify germs such as…
thrombinClotting enzyme that turns fibrinogen into fibrin. Orange-top tubes use a thrombin-based clot activator to give serum.
thrombusA blood clot formed inside a vessel. A thrombosed vein feels hard or cordlike and is not used for venipuncture.
timed specimenA specimen collected at an ordered clock time or interval, such as a morning cortisol or a drug level; record the…
tourniquetBand tied 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in, about 4 to 5 finger widths) above the site to slow venous return so veins fill…
trailing zeroZero after a decimal point (5.0 mg). Do Not Use list: in medication orders 5.0 can be read as 50; write 5 mg. Lab…
transmission-based precautionsContact, droplet or airborne measures added on top of standard precautions when a patient has, or may have, an…
triglyceridesBlood fats measured in a lipid panel. Eating shortly before the draw raises them, which is why fasting may be ordered.
triple packagingA leakproof primary container inside leakproof secondary packaging, inside a rigid outer package; required for…
trough levelDrug level drawn when the concentration is lowest: at the end of the dosing interval, just before the next dose.
tube holderPlastic barrel that holds the tube and shields the hand. It stays attached to the used needle and is discarded with it…
turnaround timeTime from a test request or specimen receipt until the result is reported; labs track it as a key measure of service…
universal precautionsOSHA approach: handle all human blood and certain body fluids as though they contain HBV, HIV or other bloodborne…
urethraThe tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body; the area around its opening is cleaned before a…
urinalysisExamination of a urine sample's appearance, chemistry (often by dipstick) and, when ordered, a microscopic check for…
vasovagal reactionReflex slowing of the heart and drop in blood pressure: pale, sweaty, nauseated or dizzy, sometimes fainting, during…
veinA vessel that carries blood back toward the heart under low pressure. Superficial arm veins are the usual venipuncture…
vein finderA transilluminator or similar device that lights up veins under the skin to help locate a hard-to-find vein.
venipunctureEntering a vein with a needle to withdraw blood, usually at the antecubital area of the arm.
venous stasisSlowed blood flow in the veins below a tourniquet. Prolonged stasis causes hemoconcentration and can alter results…
ventricleOne of the two lower heart chambers: the right pumps blood to the lungs, the left to the rest of the body.
vital signsTemperature, pulse, respirations and blood pressure. Before a blood donation, temperature, pulse and blood pressure…
waived testCLIA category for tests cleared for home use, simple and accurate enough that errors are unlikely, or harmless if done…
whole bloodBlood with its cells and plasma together, kept unclotted with an anticoagulant; used for tests such as the CBC.
winged collection setShort needle with plastic wings and flexible tubing, used with a holder or syringe for small, fragile or hand veins…
work practice controlsSafer ways of doing a task that cut exposure risk, for example never recapping a used needle with both hands.
wound cultureA sample collected with a special swab from an open wound or burn and sent to the lab to grow and identify the germs…
wrong blood in tubeWBIT: a tube labeled with one patient's identity that holds another patient's blood, caused by identification or…