Which of the following is a valid reason for specimen rejection?

A specimen can be rejected for several reasons, particularly when the quality of the sample compromises the accuracy of test results. One valid reason for specimen rejection is when a specimen in a lavender stopper tube is grossly hemolyzed. Hemolysis refers to the breakdown of red blood cells, which can release intracellular components into the serum or plasma. This alteration can interfere with various laboratory tests, especially those measuring analytes sensitive to hemolysis, such as potassium or liver enzymes.

When a specimen is grossly hemolyzed, the serum may appear red or pink, indicating the presence of free hemoglobin. This can lead to falsely elevated levels of certain substances or alter the results entirely due to the presence of hemoglobin, thus rendering the test results unreliable. As a result, if a specimen is noted to be grossly hemolyzed, it is typically rejected to ensure that accurate and reliable results are obtained.

The presence of a clot in a red stopper tube can also be a valid reason for rejection, particularly if that tube is meant for plasma tests. However, not all specimen tubes have the same requirements or reagents, and context matters significantly.

Specimens collected at a specific time, like for blood cortisol, is not a rejection reason by itself