What can cause inaccurate results during testing?

Improperly stored or transported specimens, contamination, or hemolysis can significantly affect the accuracy of test results. Each of these factors can introduce variables that alter the sample's composition or integrity.

For instance, if a specimen is not stored at the correct temperature or is delayed in transport, it may degrade or change chemically, leading to erroneous results. Contamination from external sources, such as skin flora, additives from tubes, or even substances in the environment, can compromise the sample integrity and skew the measurements. Hemolysis, which is the breaking down of red blood cells, can release intracellular components into the plasma, causing alterations in the levels of various analytes.

Thus, ensuring that specimens are properly collected, stored, and transported is critical to maintaining the validity of laboratory tests.