American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Histotechnician Certification Practice Exam

When collecting blood from a patient in reverse isolation, which of the following statements is true?

1. All articles must be double bagged

2. Articles removed from the room need not to be double bagged

3. Only contaminated articles need double bagging

4. All blood samples must remain in the room until processing

The correct answer is: Articles removed from the room need not to be double bagged

In the context of reverse isolation, the key focus is on protecting immunocompromised patients from potential infections. When collecting blood from a patient in this setting, the correct understanding of how to handle articles ensures that contamination is minimized and the patient remains safe. The statement that articles removed from the room need not be double bagged is true in this scenario because the purpose of reverse isolation is specifically to avoid exposing the patient to pathogens. Articles that are not contaminated do not pose a risk of carrying infectious agents that could harm the patient. Therefore, there is typically no requirement for these articles to be double bagged, as that is more relevant to items that have come into contact with potentially infectious materials. In contrast, items that might be contaminated or represent a greater risk to the patient's health would require more stringent handling, such as double bagging, to prevent any pathogens from escaping and thereby exposing the patient during the course of their care. This careful handling is a pivotal part of maintaining the integrity of reverse isolation protocols.