1. . A patient is suspected of having a gastrin-secreting tumor. The physician drew the blood sample 2 days ago and stored it at 4°C. Now the physician calls to ask the laboratory where to deliver the specimen and whether overnight storage will affect the result. Which one of the following answers is the best response?

2. A 65-year-old man with colon cancer is hospitalized with a diagnosis of sepsis caused by Clostridium perfringens. The collection of a blood sample was difficult because of poor vascular access. On centrifugation, a sample of serum appeared hemolyzed. Which one of the following tests would be least likely to be affected by in vitro hemolysis and therefore more likely to help in the diagnosis of intravascular hemolysis?

3. You are asked to measure the zinc (Zn) level in a specimen from a 23-year-old woman to confirm suspected Zn deficiency. You measure Zn in your laboratory by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Which one of the following settings could lead to higher Zn levels?