Which action should you take to ensure patient safety when a requisition lists incorrect information before collection?

Prepare for the CAMLPR Specimen Collection Competency Test. Practice with diverse question sets including multiple-choice and flashcards. Each question includes hints and explanations to help you become proficient before the exam.

When a requisition lists incorrect information, patient safety hinges on correcting the order before any specimen is collected. The requisition tells exactly which tests to run, which patient it belongs to, and how the specimen should be handled. If details are wrong, collecting anyway can lead to the wrong tests being performed, misidentification of the patient, mislabeling the sample, or processing errors that affect results and treatment. Pausing collection and contacting the clinician who ordered the test or a supervisor to fix the requisition ensures accuracy and prevents potential harm.

Choosing to proceed and fix later risks errors that could delay diagnosis or lead to inappropriate care. Using the patient’s last known information assumes data accuracy that may not hold for the current test, and filling in missing data with defaults can misidentify the patient or the test, leading to safety and accuracy problems.