ASCP ASCP Patient Identification and Specimen Labeling 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum number of patient identifiers required before blood collection according to CLSI standards?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- Four
Correct answer: Two
CLSI standards require at least two patient identifiers before specimen collection to ensure patient safety.
Question 2: Which of the following is an acceptable patient identifier for venipuncture?
- Room number
- Patient date of birth (Correct answer)
- Bed number
- Floor number
Correct answer: Patient date of birth
Date of birth is an acceptable identifier; room, bed, and floor numbers are location-based and not acceptable.
Question 3: When collecting from an inpatient, the phlebotomist should compare the requisition with:
- The nurse's notes
- The patient's armband (Correct answer)
- The room number sign
- The patient's chart only
Correct answer: The patient's armband
The phlebotomist must compare requisition information with the patient's armband to confirm identity.
Question 4: An unconscious patient without an armband needs blood drawn. What should the phlebotomist do?
- Draw blood and label later
- Refuse to draw without supervisor
- Have a nurse confirm identity and apply an emergency ID band before drawing (Correct answer)
- Draw using room number as identification
Correct answer: Have a nurse confirm identity and apply an emergency ID band before drawing
For unidentified or unconscious patients, a nurse must confirm identity and an emergency ID band must be applied before collection.
Question 5: Which method is considered the MOST reliable for identifying outpatients who lack a hospital armband?
- Asking the patient to state their name
- Government-issued photo ID (Correct answer)
- Insurance card
- Verbal confirmation of home address
Correct answer: Government-issued photo ID
A government-issued photo ID is the most reliable method for identifying outpatients because it provides visual verification.
Question 6: A patient spells their name differently than what appears on the requisition. The phlebotomist should:
- Draw blood using the name on the requisition
- Ask the patient to confirm and correct the requisition before drawing (Correct answer)
- Proceed and note the discrepancy in the chart after the draw
- Cancel the draw without notifying anyone
Correct answer: Ask the patient to confirm and correct the requisition before drawing
Any discrepancy in patient information must be resolved before specimen collection to prevent misidentification errors.
ASCP ASCP Patient Identification and Specimen Labeling 1
What is the minimum number of patient identifiers required before blood collection according to CLSI standards?