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You are here: Geisinger Medical Laboratories > Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog > Blood Specimen Collection and ProcessingThe first step in acquiring a quality lab test result for any patient is the specimen collection procedure. The venipuncture procedure is complex, requiring both knowledge and skill to perform. Several essential steps are required for every successful collection procedure: Venipuncture Procedure:
Fingerstick Procedure:
Heelstick Procedure (infants):The recommended location for blood collection on a newborn baby or infant is the heel. The diagram below indicates the proper area to use for heel punctures for blood collection.
Order of Draw:Blood collection tubes must be drawn in a specific order to avoid cross-contamination of additives between tubes. The recommended order of draw is:
Labeling The SampleAll specimens must be received by the laboratory with a legible label containing at least two (2) unique identifiers. The specimen must be labeled with the patient's full name (preferably last name first, then first name last) and one of the following:
Areas to Avoid When Choosing a Site for Blood Draw:Certain areas are to be avoided when choosing a site for blood draw:
Techniques to Prevent Hemolysis (which can interfere with many tests):
Blood Sample Handling and Processing:Pre-centrifugation Handling - The first critical step in the lab testing process, after obtaining the sample, is the preparation of the blood samples. Specimen integrity can be maintained by following some basic handling processes:
What color tubes are used for which tests in phlebotomy?PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES. What is the order of draw by tube color?The recommended order is as follows:. Blood culture tubes.. Sodium citrate tubes (e.g., blue-stopper). Serum tubes with or without clot activator, with or without gel separator (e.g., red-, gold-, speckled-stopper). Heparin tubes with or without gel (e.g., green-stopper). EDTA tubes (e.g., lavender-stopper). What test is a light blue top sodium citrate tube used for?On July 22, 2021, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Becton Dickinson for certain sodium citrate blood specimen (light blue top) collection tubes used to collect, transport and store blood samples for coagulation testing to aid in the identification and treatment of coagulopathy in patients with ...
Which of the following tubes should be drawn first?The correct order of draw follows: Blood culture tube or bottle. Sodium citrate tube (eg, blue closure) Serum tubes, including those with clot activator and gels (eg, red, red-speckled, gold closures)
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