Lipemia is often associated with which preanalytical issue?

Lipemia is often associated with which preanalytical issue?

• A. Dehydration
• B. Hyperlipidemia
• C. Concomitant hemolysis
• D. Hypoalbuminemia

Answer: (C)

Lipemia means the serum or plasma appears milky due to high lipid content. In the preanalytical phase, samples can accumulate multiple interferences, and certain problems tend to appear together. A lipemic specimen is often accompanied by hemolysis when the blood draw is traumatic or when the sample is drawn through a line with lipid-containing infusions. This overlap happens because the same collection or handling issues that cause lipids to appear in the serum can also damage red cells, leading to hemolysis. Recognizing lipemia thus prompts the lab to check for concomitant hemolysis, since both interferences can distort many test results. Dehydration can make plasma appear more concentrated but isn’t specifically linked to lipemia. Hyperlipidemia is the underlying condition that causes lipemia, not a preanalytical issue. Hypoalbuminemia affects protein measurements and isn’t a direct contributor to lipemic appearance.

Lipemia means the serum or plasma appears milky due to high lipid content. In the preanalytical phase, samples can accumulate multiple interferences, and certain problems tend to appear together. A lipemic specimen is often accompanied by hemolysis when the blood draw is traumatic or when the sample is drawn through a line with lipid-containing infusions. This overlap happens because the same collection or handling issues that cause lipids to appear in the serum can also damage red cells, leading to hemolysis. Recognizing lipemia thus prompts the lab to check for concomitant hemolysis, since both interferences can distort many test results.

Dehydration can make plasma appear more concentrated but isn’t specifically linked to lipemia. Hyperlipidemia is the underlying condition that causes lipemia, not a preanalytical issue. Hypoalbuminemia affects protein measurements and isn’t a direct contributor to lipemic appearance.