In all the chapters the Case Studies represent situations similar to those that the medical assistant may encounter in daily practice. Students are encouraged to consider the case study as they read each chapter.

You have been employed as a medical assistant in a physician's office for approximately a year, and part of your duties include the performance of waived laboratory tests in the POL. The POL is supervised by a pathologist and is also staffed by a full-time medical laboratory technologist. When you arrive at the office one morning, you are informed by the office manager that the laboratory technologist has called in sick and that you will have to take over the performance of the Level I testing in addition to the waived testing. You have never been trained for the Level I testing, you do not know how to operate the instruments for this testing, nor are you familiar with the proper quality control procedure.

As you read this chapter, consider the following questions:

1. What is a POL?

2. What enactment regulates laboratories, personnel, and the testing they perform?

3. What is the difference between waived testing and Level I testing?

4. Does quality control have an impact on laboratories? If so, how?

5. Should you perform the testing as requested? Why or why not?