DOs of Specimen Collection

• Verify the patient identification prior to any specimen collection.
• Identify the patient by using at least TWO patient identifiers, one of which is numeric and neither of which refers to the patient’s location.
• ID band should be attached to the patient, not to the bed, wall, clothing etc.
• Each specimen container must be labeled in the patient’s presence (Label At Bedside) and must include the following information:
• Patient’s full name (last name, first name)
• Patient’s medical record number (MRN)
• Date of specimen collection
• Time of specimen collection (time sensitive specimens)
• Specimen description or anatomic site of the specimen (non-blood body fluids, microbiology, cytology and surgical tissue specimens)
• Specimens must be collected in the proper containers in the correct order-of-draw (above):
• The label must be affixed directly to the container.
• Label every specimen container with the correct container label.
• Collect specimens for each printed container label.
• Specimens must be submitted either with a requisition or by computer order.
• Double check specimens and lab requisitions for any labeling discrepancies before submission.

DON'Ts of Specimen Collection

• Do not pre-label specimen containers prior to collection.
• Do not leave the patient until all specimen containers are labeled.
• Do not use outdated specimen containers.
• Do not affix specimen label to the biohazard transport bag or the container lid.
• Do not send unlabeled specimens with requisitions.
• Do not send specimens from more that one patient in the same bag.
• Avoid* use of butterfly collection sets as they contribute to hemolysis and clotting.
• Never draw blood cultures from an intravenous catheter (line) unless specifically ordered, always draw by peripheral venipuncture.
• Do not cover the bar code label on the blood culture bottle with the patient label.

* Note: When using a butterfly collection set for venipuncture and the light blue tube is the first tube collected, a waste tube (light blue tube) must be collected first to fill the dead space in the blood collection tubing and to assure the proper ratio of anticoagulant to blood. The waste tube must be discarded and not sent to the laboratory for testing.  Do not use a plastic red top tube as a waste tube because it contains a substance to facilitate clotting and it will affect the clotting studies.