CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARY LOUISE
TURGEON
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Fundamentals of the Clinical Laboratory — Clinical
Laboratory Overview & Profession
Stem
A new graduate MLS is assigned to a 24-bed rural hospital lab
that routinely sends chemistry tests to a regional reference lab
overnight. Turnaround times for emergent troponin requests
have become inconsistent, causing clinicians to complain. The
lab director asks you to recommend the best immediate change
,to improve emergent cardiac troponin turnaround while
maintaining regulatory compliance. Which action is best?
A. Implement point-of-care troponin testing in the emergency
department under a POCT oversight plan.
B. Add a STAT courier pick-up at 23:00 to bring specimens
earlier to the reference lab.
C. Purchase a low-throughput automated chemistry analyzer
and run troponin tests in-house without notifying regulators.
D. Require physicians to reserve troponin testing for inpatients
only to reduce workload.
Correct Answer
A
Rationale — Correct
Implementing POCT for troponin in the ED addresses
turnaround directly and, when done under an established POCT
oversight plan with validation, training, and QC, meets
regulatory requirements. This option balances patient care
need and compliance.
Rationale — Incorrect
B. A late courier may not meet emergent timing and is only a
partial workaround.
C. Bringing testing in-house without regulatory notification
violates CLIA and accreditation rules.
D. Restricting orders compromises patient care and clinical
judgment.
,Teaching Point
POCT with formal oversight improves emergent turnaround
while preserving compliance.
Citation
Turgeon, M. L. (9th ed.). Clinical Laboratory Science. Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Fundamentals of the Clinical Laboratory — CLIA 1988 &
External Regulation
Stem
A clinical lab receives a notice of routine inspection citing failure
to enroll in proficiency testing (PT) for a moderate-complexity
analyte that the lab performs in-house. The lead technologist
reports that they believed their internal QC made PT
unnecessary. As program director, what is the most appropriate
corrective action to both resolve the citation and prevent
recurrence?
A. Begin PT enrollment for that analyte, document corrective
action, and institute staff education and auditing of regulatory
requirements.
B. Stop performing that analyte permanently to avoid PT
obligations.
C. Continue testing but run duplicate internal QC daily and
record it as PT.
, D. Appeal the citation, arguing PT is redundant when internal
QC is adequate.
Correct Answer
A
Rationale — Correct
CLIA requires PT enrollment for specified analytes; appropriate
correction includes enrolling in PT, documenting actions, and
preventing recurrence via education and audit — restoring
compliance and quality.
Rationale — Incorrect
B. Ceasing testing may harm patient care and isn't an optimal
first response.
C. Internal QC cannot substitute for externally administered PT.
D. Appealing without corrective actions leaves patient safety
and compliance at risk.
Teaching Point
PT is required for many non-waived tests and complements
internal QC; it cannot be substituted.
Citation
Turgeon, M. L. (9th ed.). Clinical Laboratory Science. Ch. 1.
3
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARY LOUISE
TURGEON
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Fundamentals of the Clinical Laboratory — Clinical
Laboratory Overview & Profession
Stem
A new graduate MLS is assigned to a 24-bed rural hospital lab
that routinely sends chemistry tests to a regional reference lab
overnight. Turnaround times for emergent troponin requests
have become inconsistent, causing clinicians to complain. The
lab director asks you to recommend the best immediate change
,to improve emergent cardiac troponin turnaround while
maintaining regulatory compliance. Which action is best?
A. Implement point-of-care troponin testing in the emergency
department under a POCT oversight plan.
B. Add a STAT courier pick-up at 23:00 to bring specimens
earlier to the reference lab.
C. Purchase a low-throughput automated chemistry analyzer
and run troponin tests in-house without notifying regulators.
D. Require physicians to reserve troponin testing for inpatients
only to reduce workload.
Correct Answer
A
Rationale — Correct
Implementing POCT for troponin in the ED addresses
turnaround directly and, when done under an established POCT
oversight plan with validation, training, and QC, meets
regulatory requirements. This option balances patient care
need and compliance.
Rationale — Incorrect
B. A late courier may not meet emergent timing and is only a
partial workaround.
C. Bringing testing in-house without regulatory notification
violates CLIA and accreditation rules.
D. Restricting orders compromises patient care and clinical
judgment.
,Teaching Point
POCT with formal oversight improves emergent turnaround
while preserving compliance.
Citation
Turgeon, M. L. (9th ed.). Clinical Laboratory Science. Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Fundamentals of the Clinical Laboratory — CLIA 1988 &
External Regulation
Stem
A clinical lab receives a notice of routine inspection citing failure
to enroll in proficiency testing (PT) for a moderate-complexity
analyte that the lab performs in-house. The lead technologist
reports that they believed their internal QC made PT
unnecessary. As program director, what is the most appropriate
corrective action to both resolve the citation and prevent
recurrence?
A. Begin PT enrollment for that analyte, document corrective
action, and institute staff education and auditing of regulatory
requirements.
B. Stop performing that analyte permanently to avoid PT
obligations.
C. Continue testing but run duplicate internal QC daily and
record it as PT.
, D. Appeal the citation, arguing PT is redundant when internal
QC is adequate.
Correct Answer
A
Rationale — Correct
CLIA requires PT enrollment for specified analytes; appropriate
correction includes enrolling in PT, documenting actions, and
preventing recurrence via education and audit — restoring
compliance and quality.
Rationale — Incorrect
B. Ceasing testing may harm patient care and isn't an optimal
first response.
C. Internal QC cannot substitute for externally administered PT.
D. Appealing without corrective actions leaves patient safety
and compliance at risk.
Teaching Point
PT is required for many non-waived tests and complements
internal QC; it cannot be substituted.
Citation
Turgeon, M. L. (9th ed.). Clinical Laboratory Science. Ch. 1.
3
