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

Exercise 13

State possible technical errors that could result in the following discrepancies:

a. An unusual number of Gram stains reported as grampositive cocci fail to be confirmed by positive cultures.

b. A physician complains that CSF differentials are being reported only as polynuclear and mononuclear cells.

c. Bacteria observed on the cytospin differential cannot be confirmed by Gram stain or culture.

d. The majority of CSF specimens sent to the laboratory from the neurology clinic have glucose readings less than 50% of the corresponding blood glucose results performed in the clinic.

Step 1 of 4

a.

The possible technical error occurred is debris or precipitated stain is mistaken for gram positive cocci.