What is the primary consequence of hemolyzed blood requiring recollection?

The primary consequence of hemolyzed blood requiring recollection is altered test results. Hemolysis occurs when red blood cells break down and release their intracellular components into the serum or plasma. This process can interfere with various laboratory tests leading to inaccurate or invalid results. For example, hemolysis can affect the measurements of potassium, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and several other analytes, leading to misleading information regarding a patient’s health status or condition.

Since accurate test results are crucial for diagnosis and treatment decisions, a hemolyzed sample necessitates recollection to ensure reliability in the laboratory analysis. While there are other considerations regarding hemolyzed samples, such as potential for increased blood volume or infection risk, the primary focus here is on the reliability of test results, making altered test results the key concern.