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When a patient is being diagnosed and treated, the various laboratory tests performed during the diagnosis play a vital role in it. The accurate diagnostic and therapeutic decisions depends on the accuracy of these test results. To ensure the maximum accuracy proper patient preparation, specimen collection and handling are necessary. Precision of these results depends on the purity of the specimen and use of proper specimen collection equipments.
All lab & health care personnel should follow proper sterile techniques and guidelines for the careful collection of specimen and disposal of contaminated specimen and other biological materials. They should follow the proper precautions regarding the use of sterile equipments like needles. All person involved in specimen collection and preparation should take the responsibility to adhere to the recommended guidelines specified to ensure the safety of patients and themselves.
The lab personnel should review the proper test description prior to collecting specimen, including type of specimen to be taken, the procedure, collection materials, volume and the handling and storage guidelines. The patient should be informed in advance about fasting, diet and medication restrictions. The quality of the specimen collected can be maintained if the materials and containers are used in strict accordance with the proper instructions. To ensure the most accurate and best laboratory results, appropriate transport systems and timely delivery of specimens to the lab are critical. Specimens of bacterial culture must not be stored for more than 24 hours prior to sending laboratory. The specimen sensitive to cold temperatures should not be refrigerated. Genital, internal ear or eye specimens should never be refrigerated.
General Mistakes in Specimen Collections
While collecting specimen, we do some common mistakes, which should be taken care of:
* Lab personnel often do mistakes in labeling the specimen correctly and in specifying the applicable info on the test form.
* The quantity of specimen taken for test is not sufficient to conduct the test.
* Proper container isn't used to preserve the specimen.
* Incomplete and inaccurate patient instructions before collecting the specimen.
* Lids of specimen containers or other specimen collection devices are often loosened resulting in leakage and/or contamination of specimen.
* Specimen is often stored at inappropriate temperature resulting in the degradation in the quality of sample.The news come from http://www.bossgoo.com/