Perform Blood Collection Specimen labelling Perform Blood Collection

Purpose To ensure all specimens are labelled exactly as the request form is written To prevent mislabelling, unlabelled specimens and potential risks Collectors should understand their obligations and responsibilities when performing this very repetitive role

Importantly Every effort must be made to ensure that all specimens are labelled correctly. 3 patient identifiers must be present and correct for specimens to be accepted for testing

Procedure All specimens must be labelled in the presence of the patient Requirements are: surname, first name, DOB, date, time of collection, gender, phlebotomist’s initials Label directly from form using a black pen Hold tube directly against form underneath the correct spelling of the patient’s name and DOB

Procedure Label each tube in capital letters Phlebotomist must spell the name, say DOB out loud whilst labelling tube… This prevents patient from talking and reassures the patient that details are correct This must be repeated for each tube that is labelled Each tube must be initialled by the collector This is a NATA requirement

Labelling Specific to Clinpath…. Adhesive labels on forms must not be used. If these labels have been used by the Doctor on a specimen, ensure all details are printed correctly

Barcoding Every patient episode will have a unique ID with a barcode This is performed following labelling of the tubes This is the phlebotomist’s confirmation that labelling is complete and matches the form exactly

Barcoding This allows lab instruments to ID patients immediately Usually come in groups of 12 identical numbers, both large and small All surplus barcodes must be disposed of immediately at completion of the episode

Barcoding Should be affixed to top right hand corner of request form (usually covers some information, such as lab phone number) Leave a small space between the top tube label and bottom, so that the volume of fluid can be seen Numbers should run parallel to the label

Barcoding If there are not enough barcodes, write the number in black pen on an adhesive blank label and apply to remaining containers All paperwork also require a matching barcode Blood culture bottles need barcodes on both bottles, over the existing barcode Urine pots to have a barcode on both the side and the lid

Request forms All information written by the collector must be in black pen Some pathology companies require a collection centre code to be written on the form, a staff ID number and the tubes collected, using additive names, not colour

Request forms Do not write codes on form before collection Do not complete date/ time/ collector ID prior to collection NATA requires phlebotomist to sign the form Each specimen must be complete and all labelling finished, checked and bagged before commencing another episode