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

Exercise 10

A laboratory is obtaining erratic serum osmolarity results on a patient who is being monitored at 6 a.m., 12 p.m.,

6 p.m., and 12 a.m. Osmolarities are not performed on the night shift; therefore, the midnight specimen is run at

the same time as the 6 a.m. specimen.

a. What two reasons could account for these discrepancies?

b. What substance is causing the erratic results?

c. If a friend were secretly bringing the patient a pint of whiskey every night, would this affect the results? Explain your answer.

Step 1 of 3

a. Reason for discrepancies:

• The serum is not separated immediately after the sample is collected from the patient

• The specimen is not refrigerated in time (within 20 min from collection of the sample)