UC Irvine Pathology Services has established a uniform policy for specimen acceptance/rejection that: Show
To protect patients from adverse errors made due to improperly labeled specimens, the laboratory policy demands that proper labeling criteria are always met. Every specimen brought to the laboratory must have a label on the container in which it is held. It is not acceptable to label only the lid, transport bag, or other container used to transport the specimen. The label must contain the following legible information:
When available, use the addressograph to enter all data on a prepared label being sure to fill in the additional information required that is not on the addressograph plate. For patient safety, it is essential that the following be adhered to when submitting blood specimens for CROSSMATCHING purposes. Use special pink-top (EDTA) tubes.
If the Blood Bank does not have a previous ABO/Rh on file for the patient, and the patient's initial blood type is other than type O, the Blood Bank will request a second sample to be collected for an ABO/Rh confirmation. Failure to properly label the tubes will require that the specimens be redrawn. If the patient requires blood as an emergency and another sample cannot be drawn, an Emergency Release Form must be signed for uncrossmatched group O blood. Specimens must be accompanied with a specimen transmittal or clinic encounter form that must match the specimen label. All handwritten requisitions accompanying specimens must have the following legible information:
Specimens must be submitted in the correct tube type or appropriate transport material in a leak-proof container. It is the caregiver’s responsibility to understand the correct specimen and transport requirements prior to collecting specimens. All patient specimens MUST be placed in biohazard bags for transport to the Laboratory. Laboratory procedures will not be performed on unacceptable specimens. Specimens collected using the incorrect tube type and transport material will not be tested. Specimens received showing evidence of leakage will not be tested. The nursing station from which the specimen originated will be notified. Mislabeled Specimens Specimens received unlabeled, double labeled, or with a requisition bearing a name and/or medical record number different than what is affixed to the specimen will not be tested. The patient’s nurse and/or physician will be notified to recollect the specimen.
A specimen is incompletely labeled if some of the required information is missing:
Specimens identified as precious specimens such as ascites fluid, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, joint fluid, pleural fluid, surgical tissue/aspirate and certain timed specimens where the specimen cannot be recollected without undue harm to the patient will be tested only if the following conditions have been satisfied:
Receipt time of the specimen in the laboratory will be the time all information is obtained, not the time the incorrectly submitted specimen was first brought to the laboratory. The Blood Bank requires a new specimen for each unlabeled or mislabeled specimen, no exceptions. Which of the following actions should the Assistant take to ensure proper specimen processing?Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure proper specimen processing? Verify that the requisition form has been completed.
Which of the following veins should a medical assistant recognize as the preferred vein for routine phlebotomy?Which of the following veins should a medical assistant recognize as the preferred vein for routine phlebotomy? The median cubital vein is a prominent vein located in the antecubital space, and it does not roll or move away from needles. The median cubital vein is the preferred vein due to accessibility.
Which of the following veins is the preferred vein for routine phlebotomy?Of these, the median cubital vein is usually the vein of choice for phlebotomy: It is typically more stable (less likely to roll), it lies more superficially, and the skin overlying it is less sensitive than the skin overlying the other veins. Antecubital veins, right arm.
Which of the following tubes should be used when collecting blood for a erythrocyte sedimentation rate ESR )?Blood is typically collected in a black top ESR vacuum tube that contains a 3.2% sodium citrate anticoagulant. Whole blood collected in a lavender EDTA tube is also acceptable. The sample must be in its own tube (black or lavender) and cannot be combined with other tests due to the volume required.
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