VUMC Diagnostic Laboratory Nursing Leadership Type and Size Conversion Information February 8,2007 Excellence Through Automation!

Laboratory Automation Project

Change in Practice Change in the Size of the Tube – 13 X 100 (4.5  3.5 draw volume) Change in the Color of the Tube – Light Green – Dark Green

Chemistry Tube Type Conversion Old Gold SST 13 X Old Red 13 X 100  Light Green PST 13 X 100

Chemistry Microtainer Tube Conversion Old Gold SST Mircotainer + Old Red Mircotainer  Light-Green Microtainer

Tube Size Conversion New 13 X 100 Tubes

Why Change ? Diagnostic Laboratory Moving to Full Scale Automation Reduction in Sample Process Time

No Change Lavender Light Blue

Phlebotomy Don’ts Don’t Shake a Tube

Phlebotomy Do’s Do Mix Tube by Inversion at Least 20 Times for Mircotainer Tubes Do Mix Tube by Inversion at Least 10 Times for All Other Tube Types

Phlebotomy Do’s Do Label Specimen With Patient Name and Medical Record Number and Place Label to Match With Manufacturer Label.

EXCEPTION  Therapeutic Drug Monitoring TDM Requests Can Not Be Collected in Light Green or Gold (Gel Barrier Tube) If a TDM Is Ordered and Submitted in a Light Green or Gold Tube It Can’t Be Processed. The Patient Will Need To Be Redrawn. TDM Requests Require Dark Green or Red Tubes

Phlebotomy Don’ts Don’t Send Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Requests in Light Green or Gold (Gel Barrier Tubes) They Will Not Be Accepted

Phlebotomy Do’s Do Draw Therapeutic Drug Tests in Red or Dark Green Tubes

Phlebotomy Do’s Do Call the Diagnostic Laboratory for Any Questions or Concerns

Tube Inventory

Operation Clean Sweep Check for Expired Tubes Check for Hidden Tubes –Drawers –Cabinets –Closets

Label Attachment Correct Label Attachment is: –1. Not Crooked –2. Not Over the Top –3. Not Over the Bottom –4. Not Crinkled –5. Not Upside Down –6. Not Swirled

Tube Additives

Complete Requisition Required –Patient Name –Patient Medical Record Number –Collection Date –Collection Time –Physician Name –Physician Code –ICD-9 Code –Clinic Code

Keys to Desired Outcome Key Points –Tube Size 13 X 100 –Tube Color –Proper Inversions –Patient Identification –Specimen Labeling –Completed Requisition –Conversion Completed by 2/8/2007

Questions