Collection

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Select and use correctly, the appropriate blood collection equipment using Occupational Health & Safety and also Infection Monitoring and prevention standards

Select the most suitable vein for venepuncture

Obtain a blood sample that is biologically representative for that patient

Provide the patient with the minimum amount of trauma or discomfort during the procedure

Correctly handle the specimen obtained so that it arrives at the laboratory in an optimal state for analysis

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• how do you acceptably identify a patient?
• what are the most common sites for venepuncture?
• how long should the tourniquet be tight for?
• what is the recommended order of draw?
• what factors make contribute to unsuccessful attempts?
• how is bloods taken when a person is receiving an IV infusion?
• what can cause hemoconcentration?

Post-Collection

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Accurately identify the patient, matching the request with verbal identification and the identification arm band

Correctly label the tubes and sign and date the request form filling in all required information

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• where and when should you label the specimen tube?
• what information must be included on the specimen tube label?
• what information must be provided in the Pathology Request Form?