Labeling Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

The cerebrospinal fluid sample should be properly labeled with the tube number, patient's name and hospital number. The samples should be transported to the laboratory immediately.

Detection techniques can vary in both direct and amplified methodologies and can include labeling either the probe or the target molecule of interest:Chemiluminescence: Release of light energy at the end of a chemical reaction that is detected by a luminometer. Uses a label such as acridinium ester. Electrophoresis: movement in a matrix such as a gel that is caused by an electrical field.Enzyme: Uses enzyme and substrate principles to label the appropriate target or probe. Can be combined with fluorescence or dyes for detection.Fluorescence: Molecules that emit light at a longer wavelength when excited at a shorter wavelength. Detection techniques include fluorescent staining of nucleic acids as well as fluorescent labeled probes that are measured in a fluorometer or with fluorescent polarization.Radioactivity: Uses a labeling technique where the radioactive label is then measured in a scintillation counter. The earliest assays utilized radioactive decay.

Maintain a heightened awareness for unusual things such as suspicious packages or letters. Some characteristics of suspicious packages and envelopes include the following: Inappropriate or unusual labeling                          Excessive postage                                    Handwritten or poorly typed addresses    Misspellings of common words                Strange return address or no return address                                                  Incorrect titles or title without a name       Not addressed to a specific person                      Marked with restrictions, e.g. “Personal”, “Confidential”, or “Do not x-ray”                      Marked with any threatening language      Postmarked from a city or state that does not match the return address 

These are the relevant components of OSHA standard which are required for each facility: Facility must develop an Exposure control plan Preventive measures Hepatitis B vaccination Standard precautions Methods of control Engineering and work practice controls Personal protective equipment Housekeeping Labeling What to do if an exposure incident occurs

The following do not require biohazard labeling: Blood products in clinical use Individual specimen containers However, they are subject to Standard Precautions.

Locate potentially hazardous chemicals in your workplace. Describe the procedure for obtaining a copy of an MSDS. Recognize chemical labeling and its meaning. Discuss exposure control measures with your supervisor. Locate the MSDS book in your workplace.

The first specific PGx testing application most labs are likely to encounter is that used in patients taking warfarin. Recent studies have revealed that the variations seen in patients taking the anticoagulant warfarin are due to PGx factors. The consequences of incorrect warfarin dosing are obviously serious, with inadequate doses predisposing patients to thrombosis and higher doses placing them at risk for hemorrhage. The United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved updated labeling for Coumadin (warfarin sold by Bristol-Myers Squibb). The new labeling suggests that physicians incorporate PGx information into warfarin-dosing regimens for patients. Manufacturers of generic warfarin products are now adding similar labeling.

When the results on Mr. John Ready were called to the nurse, she was very surprised that the result of his CBC was normal. The nurse explained to the lab tech that Mr. John Ready had a known diagnosis of lower GI bleeding. His hemoglobin had been very low for the past 24 hours because of the internal bleeding, and she thought it was very surprising that his hemoglobin had normalized so quickly without having received a blood transfusion. Mr. Ready’s doctor decided the patient should be redrawn to ensure a correct result. The nurse further questioned if the phlebotomist could possibly have drawn the wrong patient because earlier that day Mr. Ready had been moved to room 831, and room 825 was presently occupied by a patient named Walter Redding. If Julie had checked the patient’s armband, she would have realized that the patient in 825 was the wrong patient.Relevant topics:Importance of patient ID, Patient identification continued, Specimen labeling, Specimen labeling Continued, Blood bank specimens

Label specimens at the bedside according to your institution’s standard procedures, or apply preprinted labels.Proper labeling is the single most critical task you are asked to perform.

Positively identify the patient in the usual manner.Collect a venous blood specimen in a red top tube.Complete the specimen label and the detachable armband stub before removing them from the card.Initial, date, and time the stamped specimen label (shown on upper right), and attach it securely to the blood specimen.

Labeling errors are the most common cause of incorrect laboratory results.If detected, the incorrectly labeled specimen will be rejected.If undetected, it will produce incorrect results which might adversely affect your patient’s care. 

Labeling of blood bank specimens is even more critical than labeling of other specimen types.If a patient gets the wrong unit of blood, a serious or even fatal transfusion reaction may occur.