OSMT (Ontario Society of Medical Technologists) Practice Exam

What must be done with heat labile reagents?

1. Be heated to 85C on 3 consecutive days

2. Not be heated above 21C

3. Be frozen rapidly on liquid CO2

4. Be slowly warmed to 37C

The correct answer is: Be slowly warmed to 37C

The correct response is that heat labile reagents must be slowly warmed to 37°C. This requirement is crucial for preserving the stability and effectiveness of heat-sensitive substances. These reagents can degrade or lose their functionality when exposed to high temperatures or sudden temperature changes, making controlled warming essential. By slowly raising the temperature to 37°C, the integrity of the reagents is maintained, ensuring that they remain effective for their intended use within laboratory protocols. This careful handling helps to avoid denaturation or chemical alterations that could occur if heat labile reagents were subjected to a rapid increase in temperature or extreme conditions. The other options suggest either inappropriate temperature conditions or methods that could jeopardize the stability of these reagents. For instance, heating to 85°C or freezing with liquid CO2 could cause irreversible damage to heat labile components, rendering them unusable for any subsequent experiments or analyses. The emphasis on gentle and gradual increases in temperature aligns with best practices in laboratory settings for handling sensitive materials.