What should you do if a patient’s specimen arrives mislabeled or with missing information?

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Multiple Choice

What should you do if a patient’s specimen arrives mislabeled or with missing information?

When a specimen arrives with a mislabeled or missing information, patient safety and result accuracy come first. Do not release the specimen for testing until you have confirmed the patient’s identity and corrected the labeling. The right course is to document the issue, involve the appropriate personnel to verify identity, and re-label the specimen correctly. If identity cannot be verified or the labeling cannot be corrected in a timely manner, collect a new sample with proper labeling and a correct requisition. This approach prevents mix-ups that could lead to testing the wrong patient, wrong diagnosis, or inappropriate treatment. Verifying identity typically involves matching patient identifiers on the requisition (such as name, date of birth, or a unique patient ID) with the patient and with the label, and updating the label and paperwork before the specimen proceeds. Collecting a fresh sample is warranted only if identity cannot be confirmed; otherwise, re-labeling and confirming details is sufficient to move forward safely.

When a specimen arrives with a mislabeled or missing information, patient safety and result accuracy come first. Do not release the specimen for testing until you have confirmed the patient’s identity and corrected the labeling. The right course is to document the issue, involve the appropriate personnel to verify identity, and re-label the specimen correctly. If identity cannot be verified or the labeling cannot be corrected in a timely manner, collect a new sample with proper labeling and a correct requisition.

This approach prevents mix-ups that could lead to testing the wrong patient, wrong diagnosis, or inappropriate treatment. Verifying identity typically involves matching patient identifiers on the requisition (such as name, date of birth, or a unique patient ID) with the patient and with the label, and updating the label and paperwork before the specimen proceeds. Collecting a fresh sample is warranted only if identity cannot be confirmed; otherwise, re-labeling and confirming details is sufficient to move forward safely.

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