When obtaining a bilirubin specimen from a newborn with jaundice, what should the PCT do to ensure specimen integrity?

To ensure specimen integrity when obtaining a bilirubin specimen from a newborn with jaundice, turning off ultraviolet light during specimen collection is the appropriate action. Bilirubin is a light-sensitive substance; exposure to light can cause it to degrade, leading to inaccurate test results.

When a specimen is collected for bilirubin testing, it is critical to protect it from light as soon as it is drawn, which is why ensuring that no ultraviolet light is present during the collection process is essential. This helps maintain the stability of the bilirubin until it can be analyzed in the laboratory.

In contrast, obtaining a specimen from the bend of the arm is not ideal for newborns; it’s more common to collect blood from the heel for infants. Cleaning the puncture site with betadine would not address the need to protect the sample from light. Placing the specimen into a warmer immediately after collection does not serve to protect the specimen from light degradation, although temperature control can be important for certain types of specimens. Overall, turning off UV light during the collection process directly addresses the need to maintain the integrity of the bilirubin in the specimen collected from the newborn.