CAP Pro Course - Phlebotomy - Common Pitfalls in Specimen Processing (2025 & 2026)

Author: Carol Becker, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Reviewer: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBTCM

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Recognize the importance of certain preanalytical variables in the provision of quality specimens for laboratory testing.
  • Describe specific processing and handling errors that can potentially affect laboratory testing.
  • Define common specimen rejection criteria.
  • Outline proper centrifuging procedures, including work practices that promote safe specimen processing and handling.

Course Outline

  • Recognize the importance of certain preanalytical variables in the provision of quality specimens for laboratory testing.
      • Preanalytical Variables
      • Common Sources of Preanalytical Error in Blood Collection
      • Blood Collection Additives and Their Use
      • Primary Specimen Identification and Labeling
      • Guidelines for Body Fluid Labeling and Handling
      • General Considerations in Handling Common Body Fluids
      • A random urine specimen is received in the laboratory for urinalysis testing. The specimen's collection, transport, and processing details are as foll...
      • A pleural fluid specimen is received in the laboratory for testing. The primary specimen container (a large drainage bag) is appropriately labeled wit...
      • Tammy is called to the emergency department (ED) to draw blood on a patient. The physician has ordered a stat chemistry panel, a complete blood count ...
      • A nurse has collected a prothrombin time (PT) that was ordered on a hospitalized patient. What type/color of blood collection tube should she have sel...
  • Describe specific processing and handling errors that can potentially affect laboratory testing.
      • Common Specimen Processing and Handling Errors
      • Effects of Transportation, Time, and Temperature on Blood Specimens
      • Processing Serum and Plasma Specimens
      • A Note About Specimen Storage
      • Which of the following actions preserves blood analyte stability and helps ensure accurate test results?
      • A courier for Memorial Hospital arrives at his clinic destination at the usual morning time to make the pickup of specimens from the locked box outsid...
      • A green-top sodium heparin blood collection tube is received today, 9/2/24 at 11:05 AM, in specimen processing with an order for basic metabolic panel...
      • A phlebotomist is very busy in the outpatient laboratory today. Before her lunch, she quickly draws one more patient, labels the specimen, and sends t...
  • Define common specimen rejection criteria.
      • Common Reasons for Specimen Rejection
      • Specimen Label Correction
      • Ralph is a busy phlebotomist who just completed a difficult phlebotomy and is almost late for a mandatory training session at 10 AM. He drops off an u...
      • A patient presents to the outpatient laboratory with a 24-hour urine specimen (unpreserved) and the physician orders for a creatinine clearance and ro...
      • A new employee in the specimen processing department receives a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen aliquoted into three tubes from the medical/surgica...
      • A courier has delivered some specimens from the outreach clinics to the specimen processing area. These blood specimens for a variety of tests have no...
  • Outline proper centrifuging procedures, including work practices that promote safe specimen processing and handling.
      • Phases of Centrifugation
      • Proper Centrifugation Operation
      • Disinfection Procedures for Centrifuge Spills
      • Engineering Controls and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
      • A specimen processor is preparing to centrifuge four tubes. Tube A needs to be relocated before centrifugation. After examining the tube configuration...
      • The possibility for plastic or glass blood collection tubes to break or leak during centrifuging exists. For this reason, when a tube break/leak occur...
      • Which of the following configurations represents the correct placement of tubes within a centrifuge?
      • Which of the following statements is true regarding the centrifugation of blood specimens?
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for MLS, MT, and MLT personnel, phlebotomists, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author Information: Carol Becker, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM is a retired Program Director for the Clinical Laboratory Science program and Histology program at OSF St. Francis Medical Center located in Peoria, Illinois. Carol received her Master's degree at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, and her Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL.
Reviewer Information: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBTCM, has over 20 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. He is the former Director of the Clinical Laboratory Technology Program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. Alex holds BS degrees in Biology and Medical Technology from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA from the University of Georgia.

This course is part of the CAP Competency Assessment Hub.

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