Specimen Collection and Lab Processing — Practice Checklist

Step-by-Step Procedure (7 steps)

1. 1.

   Confirm the test order and give the patient clear collection instructions specific to the specimen type (e.g., clean-catch midstream urine technique).

2. 2.

   Provide the correct container for the specimen type and any required preservative or transport medium.

3. 3.

   Label the container with patient identifiers before or immediately upon receiving the specimen — never after setting it aside.

4. 4.

   For point-of-care testing (e.g., urine dipstick, rapid strep), follow the manufacturer's exact procedure and timing, since misreading a color-change test outside its window gives an invalid result.

5. 5.

   For specimens going to an outside lab, package and store them per that lab's requirements (refrigerated, room temperature, or frozen) and complete the requisition accurately.

6. 6.

   Log specimen chain-of-custody information where required (e.g., certain drug screens) and ensure the log and label match exactly.

7. 7.

   Dispose of any contaminated materials per OSHA bloodborne pathogen and biohazard waste protocols.

Quality Checkpoints (4)

Confirm each of these before considering the task complete.

• Container and labeling match the patient and are applied immediately, not after the specimen sits unlabeled.

• Point-of-care tests are read within their validated time window, not early or late.

• Outside-lab specimens are stored and transported at the correct temperature for that specific test.

• Biohazard waste is disposed of per protocol, not mixed with regular trash.

Avoid These Mistakes

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  Reading a rapid test result after its validated window has passed, which can produce a false positive or false negative.

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  Collecting a urine specimen without giving the patient clear clean-catch instructions, leading to a contaminated sample and a need to recollect.

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  Letting a temperature-sensitive specimen sit at room temperature too long before it reaches the lab.

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  Labeling a batch of specimens all at once after collecting several, instead of immediately after each one.