What information is critical for a phlebotomist when collecting a specimen?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the essential information that a phlebotomist needs to know while collecting a blood specimen. This may include patient identification, proper technique, equipment required, and any specific instructions related to the specimen collection process.
Answer
Patient identification (name and date of birth) and labeling collection tubes.
The critical information for a phlebotomist when collecting a specimen includes proper patient identification using at least two identifiers (such as name and date of birth), verifying the identity continuously during the process, and ensuring proper labeling of the collection tubes.
Answer for screen readers
The critical information for a phlebotomist when collecting a specimen includes proper patient identification using at least two identifiers (such as name and date of birth), verifying the identity continuously during the process, and ensuring proper labeling of the collection tubes.
More Information
Proper patient identification and labeling are critical to prevent specimen mix-ups and ensure the accuracy of lab results.
Tips
Common mistakes include not verifying patient information multiple times or failing to label tubes immediately.
Sources
- WHO Guidelines on Drawing Blood - Best practices in phlebotomy - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Phlebotomy Clinical Labs | Department of Pathology | UC Davis Health - health.ucdavis.edu
- Introduction to Specimen Collection - Labcorp - labcorp.com