Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

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What is the process of taking a portion of a sample for testing known as?

Aspirate
Aliquot
Biopsy
Extract

The correct answer is: Aliquot

The process of taking a portion of a sample for testing is best known as an aliquot. This term specifically refers to a representative portion that is taken from a larger whole, particularly in laboratory settings. By preparing an aliquot, technicians can ensure that the sample being tested is similar in composition to the original sample, allowing for accurate and reliable test results. While aspirate usually refers to drawing a fluid sample from a patient, it does not inherently involve taking a portion for later testing. A biopsy is a procedure used to remove a small piece of tissue for diagnostic purposes, but it is not a general term for sampling in laboratory procedures. Extract refers to the process of obtaining a substance from a mixture, but it does not specifically imply that a portion is being taken for analysis. Therefore, aliquot is the most appropriate term in this context.