ASCP Phlebotomy Technician Certification Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Success!

Delta checks serve an essential role in laboratory testing by identifying significant changes in a patient's laboratory results over time. This quality control measure allows laboratories to compare current results with previous ones for the same patient, enabling the detection of unexpected shifts or discrepancies that may indicate potential errors in testing, sample handling, or changes in the patient’s medical status.

The practice of implementing delta checks is particularly useful in clinical settings, as it can alert healthcare providers to critical changes that may require immediate attention or further investigation. For instance, if a patient’s blood glucose level drastically changes from one test to the next without any explanation, it would raise a flag for the laboratory personnel to review the results more thoroughly.

While the other options refer to important aspects of laboratory operations—such as equipment functionality, compliance with standards, and standardization of procedures—they do not specifically address the unique focus of delta checks on identifying significant variations in test results over time.