Important Updates Added to Standard That Details the Collection of Blood Specimens

Implementing best practices during the collection and handling of blood specimens and fulfilling quality management system requirements during preexamination procedures can reduce errors and will ensure a culture of patient safety within the laboratory.

In October 2007, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, formerly NCCLS) updated its document, Procedures for the Collection of Diagnostic Blood Specimens by Venipuncture; Approved Standard—Sixth Edition (H3-A6), which provides a descriptive, stepwise procedure for the collection of diagnostic specimens by venipuncture, including line draws, blood culture collection, and venipuncture in children.

Originally published in 1980, H3 was last updated in 2003 as H3-A5. Since that time, users had submitted enough questions regarding the topic to justify CLSI’s assembling a working group to address them, said Dennis J. Ernst, MT(ASCP), director, Center for Phlebotomy Education Inc, and chairholder for the development of the document. Additionally, it was time to make sure that any newly published research was considered for inclusion.

Read the full article as originally published in LABMEDICINE, March 2008.

“Lab Guidelines & Standards” is a monthly column published in LABMEDICINE. Watch for additional articles from the column in future issues of CLSI eNews.
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