Respond to complications of phlebotomy.

Response should include

• identifying potential problems (e.g., hematoma, excessive bleeding)
• taking corrective actions for problems with test requests, specimen transport, or specimen processing
• anticipating pre-analytical errors and complications
• assisting other healthcare professionals with blood culture collections
• collecting laboratory specimens per facility policy (e.g., urine, stool, culture swabs)
• handling laboratory specimens per facility policy (e.g., preservatives, light sensitivity, temperature).

Process/Skill Questions:

• How long should a tourniquet be left on a patient/client?
• How many venipuncture attempts are allowed?
• What would be a reason for the lab to reject a specimen?
• What actions should a PCT take to avoid a hematoma or excessive bleeding?
• What are common problems when obtaining lab specimens?