AMCA Phlebotomy Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The best course of action when faced with a delay in processing samples due to laboratory backups is to refrigerate the samples until they can be processed. Refrigeration helps to preserve the integrity of the samples, slowing down any potential degradation or alteration that might occur if they were left at room temperature. For many types of specimens, particularly blood and other bodily fluids, proper temperature control is important to maintain viability and ensure accurate test results.

Sending samples immediately when processing cannot be completed effectively does not account for the potential degradation during transport, especially if the samples require specific conditions that cannot be maintained outside the laboratory. Room temperature storage might also compromise the quality of the samples. Disposing of all samples is not a viable solution since it eliminates the possibility of obtaining crucial diagnostic information. Therefore, refrigerating samples is the correct action to take in order to ensure they remain viable for accurate testing later on.