What can be done to ensure quality results when performing a test?

Using new and unexpired reagents and tubes is essential for ensuring quality results in laboratory testing. Over time, reagents can degrade or lose their efficacy, leading to inaccurate or inconsistent results. Expired reagents may not react as expected during testing, which can compromise the integrity of the results. Similarly, using new, properly labeled collection tubes ensures that the specimen is collected in a suitable environment, reducing the risk of contamination. This practice aligns with standard protocols for specimen collection and processing, which emphasize the need for quality materials to achieve reliable outcomes.

Other choices involve practices that could jeopardize the accuracy and safety of the testing process. For instance, overfilling collection tubes can lead to issues like sample hemolysis or improper anticoagulation, affecting test results. Skipping patient identification verification raises concerns about mislabeling and incorrect results, which could lead to serious consequences in patient care. Lastly, not cleaning equipment can result in cross-contamination between samples, further jeopardizing the quality of test results. Thus, using new and unexpired reagents and tubes stands out as a fundamental step to uphold the integrity and accuracy of laboratory testing.