American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) Phlebotomy Practice Exam

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For how long should blood be allowed to clot in a Standard Serum Separator Tube (SST)?

At least 15 minutes
At least 30 minutes but no longer than 2 hours
At least 1 hour
At least 2 hours but no longer than 4 hours

The correct answer is: At least 30 minutes but no longer than 2 hours

For a Standard Serum Separator Tube (SST), allowing blood to clot for at least 30 minutes but no longer than 2 hours is essential for optimal results. When blood is collected in an SST, it contains a gel that facilitates the separation of serum from the cellular components upon centrifugation. The 30-minute clotting time is important because it ensures that the blood has sufficiently clotted, allowing for the separation of serum without the risk of hemolysis or other complications that can arise from prolonged clotting. If clotting is less than 30 minutes, the sample may not be fully clotted, which could lead to inaccurate test results due to the presence of fibrinogen or other clotting factors. On the other hand, allowing the sample to clot for longer than 2 hours can risk degradation of some components due to prolonged exposure to an activated clotting process. The specified range balances the need for proper clot formation while also maintaining sample integrity for accurate laboratory analysis. Thus, the specified timeframe ensures the efficacy of the SST as a diagnostic tool in phlebotomy practices.