Safe blood collection and blood analysis
Use safe and appropriate products, focus on the patient
Save blood collection for a quality blood sample starts with patient-centered behavior, choosing the right products for the individual situation as well as providing a safe, protected environment for both patient and healthcare worker.
Ensure the best possible conditions
As a next step, safety in the blood analysis process means being sure of the best possible conditions for a correct analysis and accurate diagnosis, which requires observation of sample handling guidelines including correct labeling and transportation. Ensuring that specimens are correctly labeled helps to prevent any risk of misdiagnosis or errors in therapy and medication.
By transporting samples safely, which means in accordance with biohazard regulations, not only keeps staff members involved in the process protected from possible risk of infection, it also keeps the samples in the best possible condition up until analysis.
Know the guidelines
Furthermore, being aware of existing guidelines and avoiding possible errors, such as applying a tourniquet too firmly or for too long, can make an essential contribution to producing samples of quality.
When available, make use of digitalization
Application of up-to-date tools that bring digitalization to routine healthcare procedures like blood collection increases the level of automation, reducing the chances of human error. It could, for example, provide on-screen guidance taking the healthcare worker through the order of draw and handling of specimens, making safe and reliable blood collection easily achievable, thereby significantly reducing the risk caused by handling mistakes, whilst at the same time increasing efficiency.
Thus, a combination of being aware of suitable product choices for different conditions, being aware of best practice guidelines and using the best available technology can all combine for consistent reliable sample quality and good results.
