Which action helps ensure correct patient identity during specimen labeling?

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Multiple Choice

Which action helps ensure correct patient identity during specimen labeling?

Verifying patient identifiers before labeling is essential to ensure the specimen belongs to the right patient and to prevent mislabeling. Before you label, confirm the patient’s identity using two unique identifiers—typically the patient’s full name and date of birth or medical record number—and compare them to both the patient’s armband and the test order. If you label after collection, or rely on an unstable identifier like room number, you increase the risk of swapping samples or delivering results to the wrong person, which can have serious safety consequences. Labeling at the time of collection only after identity has been confirmed keeps the link between the specimen and the patient accurate from the start.

Verifying patient identifiers before labeling is essential to ensure the specimen belongs to the right patient and to prevent mislabeling. Before you label, confirm the patient’s identity using two unique identifiers—typically the patient’s full name and date of birth or medical record number—and compare them to both the patient’s armband and the test order. If you label after collection, or rely on an unstable identifier like room number, you increase the risk of swapping samples or delivering results to the wrong person, which can have serious safety consequences. Labeling at the time of collection only after identity has been confirmed keeps the link between the specimen and the patient accurate from the start.

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