Chapter Venipuncture Procedures 151 LABELING EXERCISE 8-2: REQUISITION AND BLOOD SPECIMEN LABEL How to correctly fill out the label for this blood specimen from an inpatient: – Time of collection: 0600 hours – Test that was collected: NHA Ammonia, Glucose, Bilirubin (direct), Hgb Hemoglobin, BMIP Basic Metabolic Panel, Lact Lactic Acid, BUN Blood Urea Nitrogen, Pit CL Platelet Count, Prothrombin Time, Lytes Electrolytes CBC Complete Blood Count, PTT Partial Thromboplastin Time, APR Rapid Plasma Reagin, Chol Cholesterol, ESA Erythrocyte Sed Rate, T&S Type and Screen, PSA Prostate Specific Antigen, EIOH Alcohol, Other, D-dimer – Patient Information: – Name: Jane Doe – Identification Number: 0331724395 – Birth Date: 06/14/1965 – Referring Physician: Coleman – Date Collected: 05/04/2020 – Time Collected: 0600 – Special Instructions: None – Laboratory Test Requisition: Any Hospital USA 1123 West Physician Drive Any Town USA
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Here is how the blood specimen label should be correctly filled out based on the requisition and collection information provided:
Patient Name: Jane Doe ID Number: 0331724395 Date of Birth: 06/14/1965 Date of Collection: 05/04/2020 Time of Collection: 0600 Collected By: (Include collector’s initials or tech ID if required by facility) Tests Ordered: NHA, Glucose, Bilirubin (direct), Hemoglobin, Basic Metabolic Panel, Lactic Acid, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Platelet Count, Prothrombin Time, Electrolytes, Complete Blood Count, Partial Thromboplastin Time, Rapid Plasma Reagin, Cholesterol, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Type and Screen, Prostate Specific Antigen, Alcohol, D-dimer Referring Physician: Coleman Special Instructions: None Facility: Any Hospital USA, 1123 West Physician Drive, Any Town USA
Explanation
Correctly labeling a blood specimen is essential in ensuring patient safety, accurate diagnostics, and compliance with healthcare regulations. A proper label allows the laboratory to match the specimen with the requisition and eliminates the risk of misidentification. For inpatient specimens, labels must be completed immediately at the bedside and must match the details recorded on the requisition form.
The patient’s full name, unique identification number, and birth date are critical identifiers that ensure the sample is linked to the correct person. The collection date and time provide context for time-sensitive tests, such as ammonia or lactic acid, which can degrade if not processed promptly. Including all requested tests ensures the lab prepares the proper tubes and protocols. The referring physician allows results to be routed correctly for diagnosis or treatment decisions.
For high-volume panels like the Basic Metabolic Panel or Complete Blood Count, abbreviated codes may be used internally for efficiency. However, full test names should still be understood to avoid misinterpretation. Any special handling or fasting instructions would also typically be included, though in this case, none were required.
Using ink, not pencil, and applying the label securely to the tube are essential. The collector’s initials are added to ensure traceability in case of sample-related issues. An accurately filled label builds the foundation for reliable and safe laboratory testing.
