Specimen Labeling and Handling — Practice Checklist

Step-by-Step Procedure (8 steps)

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.

Instructor Competency Checkpoints (5)

Your instructor or preceptor will be watching for all of these during sign-off.

• 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.

Critical Mistakes — Avoid These

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

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

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

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

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