Final answer:
To prepare a blood specimen for transport to an outside laboratory, a medical assistant must wait for the blood to clot to form serum, correctly label the specimen, store it according to temperature requirements, and follow safety guidelines for packing and transportation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preparing a Blood Specimen for Transport
As a medical assistant or a medical laboratory assistant (MLA), preparing a blood specimen for transport to an outside laboratory involves several critical steps. After a phlebotomy procedure, the collected blood is often placed in a tube allowing for the blood to clot, forming serum, which is essential for many types of blood analysis. This process typically takes about an hour. During this time, the blood cells clot and the clear serum is separated from the clotted cells. The collected serum is then carefully placed into a transport container, which can be a specialized container designed to prevent spillage and contamination. It's crucial to label the specimen correctly with patient identification, date, and time of collection. The specimen should be stored according to the required temperature conditions, which may require refrigeration or freezing.
For transportation, the sample is safely packed in a biohazard bag, along with any necessary paperwork, such as a lab requisition form or test order. It's important to follow all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for handling and transporting biological specimens, ensuring the safety of both the courier and the laboratory staff who will be receiving and analyzing the sample.