Final answer:
The two most common problems in clinical chemistry samples are Hemolysis and Lipemia. Hemolysis results from the rupture of red blood cells, while Lipemia is the presence of high lipid concentrations in the blood. Both can interfere with accurate laboratory testing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two most common problems encountered in samples to be evaluated for clinical chemistry are Hemolysis and Lipemia. Hemolysis refers to the rupture of red blood cells in the sample, leading to the release of hemoglobin and other intracellular components into the plasma or serum. This can cause inaccurate test results because it impacts the measurement of various analytes. Lipemia, on the other hand, is the presence of a high concentration of lipids in the blood, which can also interfere with the analysis by, for example, altering the specimen's clarity and thus affecting spectrophotometric measurements.
Pathological conditions like jaundice or icterus, which involve the accumulation of hemoglobin degradation products such as bilirubin, can impact clinical chemistry results. The increased levels of bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) lead to a yellow discoloration of tissues, a sign often associated with different types of anemia or liver function issues.