#06-5558 Accrd Manual V7 - COLA

CRITERIA FOR QUALITY LABORATORY PERFORMANCEHandling:• criteria for properly mixing tubes with anti-coagulants to prevent clotting• centrifugation requirements (immediate or delayed)• accessioning or processing steps required prior to transport, storage, or testing• timing requirements between collection and testing Transportation:• Method of transport• Packaging of specimens• Temperature requirements during transport (on ice, room temp)Storage:• temperature and time requirements prior to testing• temperature and time requirements after testing if specimens retained• proper containers for storageThe manufacturer’s package insert or operator’s manual should define specimen handling and storagerequirements for each individual test. If your laboratory has additional or different requirements they mustbe specified.Many labs elect to write general policies and procedures for specimen collection, handling, and transportthen refer to the specific test procedure for more detailed requirements.PRE 13 RIs the manual provided by the reference laboratory for specimen collection and handling readily available topersonnel involved in the collection of specimens?Refer to procedure manual questions related to Pre-analyticPRE 14 RIf special tests are performed, do you provide containers with proper preservatives?This only applies to laboratories that perform special tests in-house, either for their own patients or for otherlaboratories. Your reference laboratory should provide containers with proper preservatives to your laboratoryfor any special tests that you send them.PRE 15 RIf patients collect their own specimens, are they given written instructions describing how to do so?To get the proper specimen, you should have written directions regarding the timing of collections (e.g., fora 24-hour urine, the patient should empty bladder at X o’clock and discard the specimen. Then collect allspecimens, including the one voided at X o’clock the next day). Information about medications, fasting,preservation, etc., should be included.PRE 16 EPrior to the collection of a patient’s specimen, is the patient’s identity verified using two separate identifiers?Laboratories should be aware of the emphasis in the medical community to reduce medical errors due to misidentificationof the patient. One mechanism to affect this is to utilize at least 2 patient identifiers (such asname, birth date, medical record number, or social security number) to verify that specimens are being collectedfrom the correct patient.Patients may be asked to state their name and birth date as a means of verifying their identity. In hospitalsettings identity may be verified verbally and/or by confirming the identification with the patient’s armband.16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT COLA PHONE 800.981.9883 | FAX 410.381.8611 | ON-LINE www.cola.org