"Test Taking and Lab Testing"

"Test Taking and Lab Testing"

Written by: Christine R. Guerrero, RMT, MLS (ASCPi) CM

Preparing for an exam or test is like processing Laboratory tests. There is the
1. pre-analytical phase
2. analytical phase, and
3. post-analytical phase

Pre-analytical phase, is the before processing. A lot of preparation is needed to be done. There is the patient preparation, blood extraction, specimen preparation and etc... Making sure that there is no contamination or clerical error that will cause an erroneous and or random errors in the next stage. 

It is the same way with studying for the exam,

a. You should make enough preparation and avoid procrastination. 

b. Dedicate a "study area", with bright light or enough lighting, this comparable to the processing area in our lab, and we know that the Department Of Health is so hell bound on this requirements! *wink wink

c. Prepare your study material. And yourself mentally, psychologically, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
We should have all what we need in the chem testing for example, wait for the blood to clot, centrifuge, prepare the machines and reagents, control, standards, etc....

Analytical phase is the Studying part and the Test taking strategies. We study and process step by step the laboratory test procedures. We analyzed the test result and correlates it with the diagnosis. We study the Pathophysiology as an analyst and as a clinical scientist. It is the meat of the clinical laboratory, the studying and testing part.

And finally, the Post-Analytical phase whether in clinical laboratory works or in studying,

a. Compare How Well You Performed With How Well You Prepared. 

Identify when you began studying for the test and the strategies you used to prepare. Likewise, determine whether your time was used efficiently and what you can do in the future to improve test scores or your laboratory skills.

b. Laboratory Record keeping can also mean Keep All of Your Study Materials. Do not throw away tests. Sometimes teachers and aides make mistakes while correcting tests. Old tests can be used to prepare for comprehensive final exams and Licensure and Certification exams in the future. And please do not sell your books, you don't know when you might need it, right? I did it once before after taking the boards, but i regret it afterwards.

c. Evaluate Your Test Answers Review test questions to determine what you did right and wrong. Identify patterns, critique your performance, and make notes of what can be done differently in the future. After reviewing tests, develop specific goals to perform better in the future.