Specimen Labeling and Handling

1Step-by-Step Procedure

1. 1

   Immediately after collection, while still at the patient's bedside, compare the printed or handwritten label against the patient's stated identifiers and wristband.

2. 2

   Label every tube or container individually — never label in a batch before or after leaving the room.

3. 3

   Include all required elements: patient full name, date of birth or medical record number, date and time of collection, and your initials.

4. 4

   Note any required special handling on the label or requisition: protect from light, keep on ice, deliver immediately, etc.

5. 5

   Place specimens in a leak-proof bag separate from the requisition paperwork, per biohazard transport protocol.

6. 6

   Transport time-sensitive specimens (e.g., blood gases, ammonia, lactate) to the lab immediately rather than batching them with routine specimens.

7. 7

   Document the collection in the patient's record or the lab information system as required by your facility.

8. 8

   If any step of the chain of custody is required (e.g., legal/forensic specimens), complete the chain-of-custody form at each handoff.

What Your Instructor/Preceptor Is Checking

• ✓

  Labels every specimen at the bedside, before leaving the patient, never afterward.

• ✓

  Includes all required label elements (name, identifier, date/time, initials).

• ✓

  Flags special handling requirements (light protection, cooling, STAT delivery) correctly.

• ✓

  Keeps specimens and paperwork appropriately separated per biohazard protocol.

• ✓

  Prioritizes time-sensitive specimens for immediate transport rather than batching.

Common Mistakes

• ⚠

  Pre-labeling tubes before the draw, which risks using the wrong tube on the wrong patient.

• ⚠

  Labeling specimens after leaving the room "to save time," which breaks the chain of identity verification.

• ⚠

  Missing the collection time on the label, which matters for many time-sensitive tests.

• ⚠

  Letting a light-sensitive specimen (e.g., bilirubin) sit in direct light before transport.

• ⚠

  Batching a STAT or time-sensitive specimen with routine specimens instead of sending it immediately.

Practice Tips

• →

  Treat "label at the bedside, every time, no exceptions" as a hard rule rather than a best practice — it's the rule most strongly tied to patient safety in this whole skill set.

• →

  If you're ever unsure whether a specimen needs special handling, check the requisition or ask rather than guess.

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