Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 28

Amniotic fluid specimens are placed in amber-colored tubes prior to sending them to the laboratory to prevent the destruction of:

A. Alpha-fetoprotein

B. Bilirubin

C. Cells for cytogenetics

D. Lecithin

Step 1 of 2

Amniotic fluid:

Fetus is surrounded by a membranous sac called amnion. The existence of fluid can be seen in amnion.

Collection of fluid:

Sterile syringes are used to gather fluid with the volume of 30 mL.

• The first 2 or 3 mL (milliliter) of amniotic fluid is discarded, because it is contaminated by maternal blood, cells, and tissue fluid

• Bilirubin test needs to protect the specimen from light, and to prevent bilirubin destruction in the fluid

• This can be achieved by placing the specimen in amber-colored tubes before sending them to laboratory

Therefore, the specimen is placed in amber-colored tubes to prevent the destruction of “bilirubin”. Hence, the correct answer is option.