What is the proper action if a sample is collected with incorrect labeling?

What is the proper action if a sample is collected with incorrect labeling?

• A. Do Not Use; Document the Error and Recollect With Correct Labeling and Patient Identification
• B. Use the Sample Anyway
• C. Re-label and Use the Sample
• D. Ignore the Error and Proceed

Answer: (A)

Incorrect labeling makes a specimen unreliable for patient care, so the safest and most responsible action is to not use the sample, document the labeling error, and recollect with proper labeling and patient identification. This preserves patient safety by ensuring the test results match the correct patient and the right tests are performed. When this happens, stop processing the specimen, notify the supervisor according to your facility’s policy, and document the incident clearly in the patient record or incident report. For the recollection, label the specimen with the patient’s full name and at least one additional identifier (such as date of birth or medical record number), the date and time of collection, the tests ordered, and the phlebotomist’s initials. Verify the information before collecting to prevent another labeling error. Using the sample anyway, relabeling it, or ignoring the error can lead to misidentification and wrong patient results, which is unacceptable in clinical practice.

Incorrect labeling makes a specimen unreliable for patient care, so the safest and most responsible action is to not use the sample, document the labeling error, and recollect with proper labeling and patient identification. This preserves patient safety by ensuring the test results match the correct patient and the right tests are performed. When this happens, stop processing the specimen, notify the supervisor according to your facility’s policy, and document the incident clearly in the patient record or incident report. For the recollection, label the specimen with the patient’s full name and at least one additional identifier (such as date of birth or medical record number), the date and time of collection, the tests ordered, and the phlebotomist’s initials. Verify the information before collecting to prevent another labeling error. Using the sample anyway, relabeling it, or ignoring the error can lead to misidentification and wrong patient results, which is unacceptable in clinical practice.