Final answer:
Blood samples must be accurately labeled with the patient's name, date and time of collection, type of test, and phlebotomist's initials or ID to ensure effective identification and prevent errors.
Step-by-step explanation:
When drawing blood for laboratory analysis, it is crucial to label each sample correctly to ensure accurate identification and prevent medical errors. Four essential pieces of information must be included on the label:
- The patient's name
- The date and time the sample was collected
- The type of test to be performed
- The phlebotomist's initials or identification
Accurate labeling is a key component of patient safety and quality control in medical testing. It is important that the labels are affixed to the samples immediately after collection to avoid any mix-up.