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

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Prepare for the ASCP Histotechnician Certification Exam with practice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your knowledge and skills to excel in the exam.

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When is the trough specimen typically collected for therapeutic drug monitoring?

Immediately after medication is administered
30 minutes after the dose
30 minutes before the dose
1 hour after the dose

The correct answer is: 30 minutes before the dose

The trough specimen for therapeutic drug monitoring is collected to measure the lowest concentration of a drug in the bloodstream just before the next dose is administered. This timing is crucial because it helps ensure that the medication is at its therapeutic level without reaching toxicity. Collecting the trough level 30 minutes prior to the next dose allows for accurate assessment of drug accumulation and clearance, which is essential for properly adjusting dosages and treatment plans for individual patients. The other timing options do not align with the purpose of trough monitoring. Collecting immediately after administration would reflect peak levels, while collecting 30 minutes after the dose would also provide peak concentrations rather than trough levels. Collecting one hour after the dose is still too soon to accurately assess the minimum concentration just prior to the next dose. Thus, the correct approach for therapeutic drug monitoring is to obtain the trough specimen 30 minutes before the next scheduled dose.