NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Safety and ComplianceMedium
A phlebotomy technician is involved in a quality assurance review. Which of the following is an example of a pre-analytical error?
- AFailure to centrifuge specimens at the correct speed.
- BIncorrect instrument calibration during testing.
- CMisidentification of a patient prior to blood collection.
- DReporting a critical value incorrectly to the physician.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Misidentification of a patient prior to blood collection.
Pre-analytical errors occur before the actual laboratory testing phase. Patient misidentification, improper specimen collection, and incorrect labeling are classic examples of errors that happen in the pre-analytical phase, impacting the validity of results before they even reach the analyzer.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is an analytical error, occurring during specimen processing before analysis.
- B. This is an analytical error, occurring during the testing phase.
- D. This is a post-analytical error, occurring after testing is complete and results are available.
Pre-analytical Error
Any error that occurs before the analytical testing phase of laboratory procedures, often related to patient preparation, specimen collection, or handling.
- Most common type of lab error.
- Includes patient misidentification, improper site selection.
- Includes incorrect order of draw, inadequate mixing.
- Includes improper specimen transport or storage.
Memory trick: P-A-P: Plan, Analyze, Post-results.