14.2

• Cold agglutinins are antibodies often formed in response to infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a cause of atypical pneumonia.
• (agglutination is the process of sticking together).
• A patient with cold agglutinins is sometimes asymptomatic, but the presence of the antibodies can cause problems if the patient’s body temperature falls. - cardiopulmonary bypass
• cryofibrinogen (an abnormal type of fibrinogen)
• cryoglobulin (an abnormal serum protein).
• Chilling is used to prevent chemical changes that would alter test results.
• Exposure to light can break down or alter certain blood constituents.
• This is done by wrapping the tube in aluminum foil immediately after collection.
• Place one drop of blood on a clean slide, 1⁄2to1 inch from the end, centered between the two sides.
• Place the edge of a second slide, the “spreader,” onto the first slide in front of the blood at a 25-to30-degree angle,
• An acceptable smear must have a feathered edge, meaning that the cells appear to thin out farther from the original drop.
• Some analytes are unstable or volatile. Because of this, the tests must be performed rapidly after the sample is taken.
• chain of custody, a protocol that ensures that the sample is always in the custody of a person legally entrusted to be in control

  of it.
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse has established requirements for patient preparation snd specimen handling in COC samples.
• Blood smears are made to allow microscopic examination of the blood cells.
• The blood smear is used for determining the proportion of the various blood cell types, called a differential count;
• Malaria is caused by blood-borne protozoa of the genus Plasmodium.
• Malaria is diagnosed with a blood smear, drawn as a stat or timed collection just before the onset of fever or chills.
• The test requires twotothree regular smears, plus a thick smear.
• Lower glucose levels indicate a problem with lactose-metabolism.