Cc

• Proper patient identification is the first step in sample collection (accession of test request).
• Proper techniques in specimen collection must be strictly followed, including the observance of confidentiality.
• Conscious inpatients/hospitalized patients should be asked for their full name and confirm using ID bracelets.
• Sleeping patients should be awakened before collection.
• Serum and plasma are normally pale yellow, but if they appear dark or orange, it indicates a high bilirubin level.
• Turbid or milky specimens could be a result of inadequate fasting for Lipid profile due to Chylomicrons.
• Kapag tama naman yung fasting ng patient pero ganiyan pa rin yung serum, it is not a reason for rejection.
• Unconscious patients should ask a relative or nurse or physician and record the name of the person, ID bracelets.
• Infants and children and mentally incompetent patients should ask a relative or nurse and record the name of the person, ID bracelets.
• Outpatient/ambulatory patients should have their ID verified by the receptionist.
• Patients without ID bands or those patients who are unable to participate in the identification process should have their information verified with a family member or caregiver.
• The unidentified emergency patient should be given a temporary ID but clear designation until an accurate ID is made.
• The human body contains approximately 5 quarts (4.73 L) of whole blood.
• Adult males contain 5-6 L of whole blood.
• Adult females contain 4-5 L of whole blood.
• Whole blood is composed approximately of 60% plasma and 40% cells.
• Plasma, which is unclotted, contains electrolytes & nutrients (lipids, amino acids, protein, etc) and is primarily concerned in clinical chemistry.
• Skin puncture, also known as dermal puncture, is a method of collecting specimens from the capillaries, which is a mixture of arterial and venous blood, along with interstitial and intracellular fluid.
• A finger stick to obtain blood is preferred for children older than 1 year old.
• Before blood collection, wipe the first drop of blood using dry cotton or gauze to remove contamination from interstitial fluid/alcohol.
• Indications for skin puncture include no accessible veins, fragile veins, thrombotic veins, POCT samples, and newborns and infants.
• Skin puncture sites preferred for newborns and infants include lateral plantar heel surface, palmar surface of the fingers, plantar surface of the big toe, and earlobes.
• Capillary tube should be filled with 3/4 blood.
• Capillary blood sample from skin is more of arterial blood.
• Capillary tube is filled with blood by mechanism of capillary action.
• Skin puncture sites to be avoided for newborns and infants include central arch area of an infant's heel, fingers of newborn or infant, thumb, index, and 5th fingers.
• Umbilical artery is the ideal site for newborns.
• Capillary puncture is ideal if you only need a small amount of specimen and can also be an option if there is a repeated venipuncture and resulted in severe vein damage, burned patients.
• During blood collection, do not milk the site to prevent hemolysis and excess tissue fluid.
• Radial artery is the best site for adults.
• Cells contain RBCs, WBCs, and platelets and are not concerned in clinical chemistry.
• Arterial puncture involves obtaining blood from a patient’s artery without a tourniquet, and is used in blood gas analysis and pH measurement.
• Venous blood is deoxygenated, dark red.
• Arterial puncture is the hardest to control and requires special attention; there could be occlusion or air in the arteries which could affect the circulation of the artery.
• Arterial puncture is performed by physicians (MD) and respiratory therapists (RT), also includes trained technicians and nurses (basta may training).
• Arterial blood is oxygenated, bright red.
• Arterial blood is oxygenated with a bright red color, contains oxygen, and is coming from the lungs to the heart.
• Blood is the most common specimen used in clinical chemistry among all of these biological specimens.
• Serum is clear, colorless, and without fi brinogen, while plasma is pale yellow, in an anticoagulated tube, and with fi brinogen.
• In arterial puncture, blood is obtained/withdrawn from a patient’s artery, blood samples are collected without a tourniquet, and it is used in blood gas analysis and pH measurement.