Paper II — 2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) — Q10
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Paper II
2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) · 100 marks · 180 min
Question
A CSF sample was received in microbiology lab without requisition form. How will you
manage this situation
Q104 marksShort Answers
Answer
The correct decision is to not process the CSF sample — a requisition form is essential, as it carries critical patient identification details, clinical information, and the specific tests requested, all necessary for appropriate processing, interpretation, and reporting.
Management:
Do not process the sample until a proper requisition form accompanies it.
Store the sample appropriately in the interim (given CSF is an invasive, often irreplaceable specimen) while the missing documentation is being resolved — rather than discarding it outright, given the difficulty of re-obtaining CSF.
Immediately contact the requesting ward/clinician, informing them of the missing requisition form, and request that it be sent promptly, or that the necessary patient/clinical details be verbally/electronically confirmed and formally documented as an interim measure.
Document the incident as per laboratory quality-assurance/incident-reporting protocol.
Given the clinical urgency typically associated with a CSF sample (suspected meningitis), this process should be expedited rapidly rather than causing prolonged delay to diagnosis/treatment, and the clinical team should be reminded that empirical antibiotic therapy for suspected bacterial meningitis should never be withheld pending laboratory processing.
Use this incident to reinforce with ward staff the requirement that all samples be accompanied by a complete requisition form at the time of collection/transport, to prevent recurrence.
