Consolidated Political Compass Test (CPCT) Practice Exam

Transporting a blood specimen for ammonia testing requires careful attention to temperature stabilization to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the test results. The correct answer of using an ice slurry is important because ammonia is a volatile compound that can rapidly convert to its gaseous form and escape from the liquid sample if not adequately cooled. This cooling process helps to diminish the metabolic activity of the blood cells, which would otherwise continue to produce ammonia after the specimen is collected.

Using an ice slurry preserves the sample by significantly slowing down any biochemical processes that could lead to false elevation in ammonia levels. Maintaining the specimen at a low temperature up until the time of analysis is crucial for obtaining reliable test results. Therefore, using an ice slurry is the most effective method for transporting blood specimens for ammonia testing.

The other methods, such as transporting at room temperature or using a warm water bath, would not provide sufficient control of the temperature and could result in the degradation of the sample, leading to inaccurate test results. Back to the lab immediately, while timely, doesn’t guarantee that the sample will remain stable during transit unless appropriate cooling methods are used.