Laboratory

Question 1

LAB01
The veterinary surgeon has recently obtained a urine sample from a patient with signs of cystitis. The sample has been centrifuged and you are required to prepare this sample for examination under the microscope to examine the sediment.

a) Make and prepare the slide for examination.
b) Using the microscope provided, find a crystal and
place it in the centre of the field of view. (Please note: you are not expected to
identify this crystal).
c) Identify the crystal shown in the photograph.

Note: The photograph will be selected from a range of common crystals found in small
animal and equine urine.

Answer 1

1. Select a pipette
2. Select microscope slide
3. Wear gloves
4. Remove most of the supernatant and dispose of correctly
5. Sediment not disturbed
6. Re-suspend the sediment in remaining supernatant fluid (by flicking the tube or gently shaking it)
7. Pipette up a small amount of remaining supernatant and sediment
8. Place sufficient sample onto microscope slide
9. Carefully place a cover slip over the sample avoiding air bubbles
10. Label slide
11. Dispose of used pipette, urine and used materials into the hazardous waste bin
12. Slide prepared correctly for examination (e.g. supernatant removed, crystals not damaged)
13. Safe practice: gloves worn and no contamination of self with urine
14. Place slide on microscope, correct way up
15. Look at the stage directly whilst racking it up so that it is positioned just below the objective lens
16. Look down eyepieces
17. Adjust the coarse and fine focus to focus the microscope
18. Methodically scan the area
19. Locate a crystal
20. Correctly identify the urine crystal in the photograph

Question 2

LAB02
You are nursing a patient with anaemia.

The veterinary surgeon requests that you obtain a daily PCV for this patient.
You are required to:
a) Prepare the blood sample and set up the centrifuge for this test
b) Obtain a PCV reading using the Hawksley haematocrit reader from the preprepared sample provided.
c) Record your results including units

Note: You are not required to start the centrifuge

Answer 2

1. Wear Gloves for the duration of the task
2. Select EDTA sample
3. Mix sample gently
4. Remove 1 or 2 plain capillary tubes
5. Insert capillary tube into sample (holding the sample tube at an angle)
6. Fill the tube at least ¾ full
7. Place finger over top end of tube or keep tube horizontal
8. Remove from sample
9. Wipe outside of capillary tube with a tissue
10. Plug end of capillary with soft clay sealant
11. Place capillary tube into the microhaematocrit centrifuge
12. Clay plug is against outer rim
13. Balance the centrifuge
14. Screw inner safety lid down over samples
15. Close and lock main lid
16. Set at 10,000 rpm (or fast setting depending on make of centrifuge)
17. For 5 minutes
18. Dispose of any used capillary tubes into the glass waste (if applicable) and other used materials into the clinical waste
19. Capillary tube prepared to produce a PCV of diagnostic quality
20. Safe practice: Gloves worn and no contamination of self or
    equipment with blood
21. PCV reading: Place pre-prepared capillary tube into PCV reader
22. Sealed end at the bottom
23. Bottom of red blood cell (RBC) layer is at the zero line of the reader
24. Top of the plasma is at the 100% line of the reader
25. Move the adjustable PCV reading line to intersect the top of the RBC layer
26. Record PCV result correctly as a percentage

Question 3

LAB03
You are nursing a patient with dysuria.

Using the equipment available and the urine sample provided obtain and record the following parameters:
a. A refractometer urine specific gravity reading
b. A dipstick reading

Note: The examiner may ask to check your refractometer readings throughout the task.

Answer 3

1. Place 2-3 drops of distilled water on the prism
2. Hold refractometer up to light source and look down eye piece
3. Calibrate the refractometer to 1.000 on the USG (or W) scale
4. Lift cover and dry prism surface using a dry tissue
5. Wear Gloves
6. Invert tube to gently mix the urine sample
7. Pipette 1-2 drops of urine onto the prism surface
8. Close the cover
9. Hold up to light source and look down eye piece
10. Read and record the specific gravity reading, having correctly calibrated refractometer
11. Rinse the prism with water
12. Dry the prism
13. Select urine dipstick test strips
14. Remove one test strip
15. Replace lid immediately
16. Cover test strip pads with urine
17. Immediately note the time
18. Wait for the appropriate length of time
19. Read and record dipstick measurements accurately
20. Dispose of used dipstick and used material into hazardous waste
21. Safe practice: Gloves worn and no contamination of self with urine

Question 4

LAB04
You are nursing a patient that is showing signs of anaemia.

The veterinary surgeon has asked you to prepare and stain a blood smear from a blood sample which has just been obtained from the patient.

a. Demonstrate how you would prepare the smear.
b. Check and comment on the quality of the smear you have prepared.
c. Stain the blood smear provided by the examiner using the Diff-Quik™ solutions.

Answer 4

1. Wear gloves
2. Select microscope slide
3. Select spreader slide
4. Select EDTA sample
5. Gently mix sample
6. Select a plain capillary tube
7. Insert tube into blood sample
8. Draw up small amount of blood into the tube
9. Place a finger over top of tube or keep tube horizontal to prevent leakage of
   blood
10. Remove tube from sample
11. Dot a small amount of blood near one end of slide
12. Discard capillary tube into sharps bin
13. Clean and ensure the spreader surface of the slide is dry
14. Hold blood sample slide firmly on work surface
15. Place spreader on opposite end of the slide to the blood
16. Draw spreader back to the drop of blood
17. Allow blood to spread along edge of spreader
18. Push spreader away from blood drop
19. Use a single, smooth motion
20. Smear produced of reasonable diagnostic quality (EDTA sample selected and smear with edge and tail)
21. Rapidly air dry the slide
22. Label the slide
23. Check and comment on the quality of the smear
24. Diff-Quick™ technique:
    Slide dipped into the fixative solution (pale blue)
25. Dipped five times for one second each time
26. Excess fluid allowed to drip back into the jar
27. Slide dipped into stain solution 1 (red)
28. Dipped five times for one second each time
29. Excess fluid allowed to drip back into the jar
30. Slide dipped into stain solution 2 (purple)
31. Dipped five times for one second each time
32. Excess fluid allowed to drip back into the jar
33. Slide rinsed with distilled water
34. Slide placed vertically and left to dry
35. Smear correctly stained
36. Safe practice: Gloves worn and no contamination of self with blood sample or
    stain solutions

Question 5

LAB05
The veterinary surgeon is consulting and has passed you a microscope slide. The vet has asked you to examine it under the microscope for any evidence of parasites.

a. Set up the microscope, locate and focus on the parasite on the prepared slide.
b. Write down the Vernier scale reading to relocate the parasite if the slide is
moved.
c. Identify the ectoparasites on the photographs provided by the examiner.

Answer 5

1. Check that the light intensity switch (rheostat) is turned to the lowest setting to avoid damage to the light bulb
2. Turn on the microscope
3. Rack down the mechanical stage as low as possible
4. Select the lowest power objective lens (x4 or x10 depending on the microscope)
5. Place the microscope slide on the stage, correct way up
6. Look at the stage directly whilst racking it up so that it is positioned
   just below the objective lens
7. Look down the eye piece
8. Adjust the rheostat to a medium setting
9. Adjust the sub stage condenser to an appropriate height
10. Adjust the coarse and fine focus to focus the microscope
11. Focus on the parasite on the prepared slide
12. Read correctly the horizontal scale
13. Read correctly the vertical scale
14. Identify parasite A (scientific only)
15. Identify parasite B (scientific only)

Question 6

LAB06
The veterinary surgeon has requested that you obtain a blood sample via the jugular
vein for routine haematology from a feline patient.

a) Demonstrate hand hygiene using the World Health Organisation (WHO) 8 step
method and the alcohol gel provided
b) Select and prepare the equipment required for obtaining the blood sample

Note: Place the equipment in the tray, as indicated by the examiner.

Answer 6

1. Remove all hand and wrist jewellery, roll sleeves up
2. Nails well-manicured, clean and unvarnished. False nails are not
   permitted
3. Apply 3-5mls of alcohol rub to palms (usually one pump)
4. Rub hands palm to palm (minimum 3 strokes)
5. Rub right palm over the back of the left hand with interlaced fingers (minimum 3 strokes)
6. Rub left palm over the back of right hand with interlaced fingers (minimum 3 strokes)
7. Palm to palm with interlaced fingers (minimum 3 strokes)
8. Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked (minimum 3 strokes)
9. Rotationally rub the left thumb clasped in the right palm (minimum 3 strokes)
10. Rotationally rub the right thumb clasped in the left palm (minimum 3 strokes)
11. Rotationally rub clasped fingers of the right hand in left palm (minimum 3 strokes)
12. Rotationally rub clasped fingers of the left hand in the right palm (minimum 3 strokes)
13. Air dry hands or ensure hands are dry before selecting equipment
14. Effective hand hygiene technique used (WHO method)
15. Select a pair of gloves
16. Select clippers
17. Select clipper blades
18. Apply clipper blades correctly
19. Check clippers are functioning
20. Select appropriate antiseptic skin preparation solution and one gauze
    swab
21. Select one cotton wool swab for post venepuncture pressure
22. Select appropriate needle
23. Select appropriate syringe
24. Assemble needle and syringe
25. Correct syringe & needle assembled aseptically, without the risk of needle stick injury
26. Pre-loosen plunger of syringe
27. Select appropriate blood sample tube
28. Label sample tube appropriately (patient name & date)

Question 7

SW01
The veterinary surgeon has requested that an aural swab is taken for bacterial culture by an external laboratory.

Using the equipment provided, take an aseptic sample from the left ear of this patient.

Package the sample to meet UN packaging instruction P650, ready for dispatch to the
external laboratory.

This will be collected by courier.

Please note: You have already washed your hands.

Answer 7

1. Select charcoal swab
2. Ask for assistance and give instructions for the patient be restrained
3. Select and wear gloves prior to commencing the procedure
4. Using the swab, collect sample from the ear without contamination
5. Collect sufficient sample for analysis by gently rotating swab to cover all surfaces
6. Sample collected without causing trauma to the ear
7. Replace swab into the cover tube and secure
8. Remove gloves and dispose of correctly
9. Label swab with the location sample is being collected from
10. Label swab with the animal’s name or ID, owners name and the date
11. Sample correctly collected and labelled using a safe, effective and aseptic technique
12. Insert client’s name on laboratory form
13. Insert animal’s details on laboratory form
14. Sample type submitted on laboratory form
15. Insert test required on laboratory form
16. Wrap swab in cushioning material (wrap bubble wrap then place cotton wool inside bag)
17. Place swab in biohazard bag
18. Remove air from biohazard bag and seal
19. Place laboratory form in biohazard bag (separate compartment from sample)
20. Place form and sample into outer packaging
21. Secure outer packaging
22. Place completed package in Courier Tray – ready for submission
23. Sample packed to meet United Nations packaging instructions P650
24. Contaminated gloves not worn during completion of steps 9-22

Question 8

SW02
The veterinary surgeon has requested that a swab is taken for bacterial culture by an
external laboratory.

Using the equipment provided, take an aseptic sample from the right carpus of this
patient.

Package the sample to meet UN packaging instruction P650, ready for dispatch to the
external laboratory.

This sample will be collected by courier.

Please note: You have already washed your hands.

Answer 8

1. Select charcoal swab
2. Select and wear gloves prior to commencing the procedure
3. Using the swab, collect sample from the wound without contamination
4. Collect sufficient sample for analysis by gently rotating swab to cover all surfaces
5. Sample collected without causing further trauma to the patient
6. Replace swab into the cover tube and secure
7. Remove gloves and dispose of correctly
8. Label swab with the location sample is being collected from
9. Label swab with the animal’s name or ID, owners name and the date
10. Sample correctly labelled using safe, effective and aseptic technique
11. Insert client’s name on the laboratory form
12. Insert animal’s details on laboratory form
13. Sample type submitted on laboratory form
14. Identify test required on laboratory form
15. Wrap swab in cushioning material (wrap in bubble wrap and cotton wool in bag)
16. Place swab in biohazard bag
17. Remove air from biohazard bag and seal
18. Place laboratory form in biohazard bag (separate compartment from sample)
19. Place form and sample into outer packaging
20. Secure outer packaging
21. Place completed package in Courier Tray – ready for submission
22. Sample packed to meet United Nations packaging instructions P650
23. Contaminated gloves not worn during completion of steps 8-21