American Medical Technologist (AMT) Practice Exam

When specimens are forcibly drawn into evacuated tubes, hemolysis is a significant potential issue. Hemolysis refers to the rupture of red blood cells, leading to the release of hemoglobin into the plasma. This can occur when there is excessive pressure applied during the drawing process, which can stress the cells beyond their capacity to withstand increased turbulence. For example, using a syringe to draw blood too quickly or applying force when pulling a vacuum can cause cells to break apart. Hemolysis can compromise the integrity of the blood sample, skew results, and lead to inaccurate laboratory findings, particularly affecting tests that measure components sensitive to cellular integrity, like potassium levels. In this context, other options may present issues, but they relate to different aspects of specimen collection. For instance, clotting is usually a concern if the blood is not adequately mixed with the anticoagulant or if it's allowed to sit too long after collection, while contamination pertains to external substances entering the specimen. Underfilling is primarily an issue of volume rather than a mechanical aspect of the drawing process. Thus, hemolysis stands out as the primary risk associated with the forceful drawing of blood samples into evacuated tubes.