Specimen Collection
Guidelines
- indication of biological material collection is the doctor's competence
- specimen collection is the nursing responsibility (except material obtained by biopsy, puncture, excision, etc.)
- patient is informed of the purpose and course of the procedure
- specimen collection is a basic professional skill of nursing practice
- Specimen collection is based on nursing and laboratory standards and has to meet the following requirements
- correct sampling technique.
- use of a suitable sampling tube, cup, specimen collection kit, etc.
- correct identification of the sampling tube – label tube with – patient's initials (before sampling); type of collected material (e.g. sputum, urine, etc.); date and time of collection
- correct completion of the request form
- correct way of storage of the sampling tube with collected material before and during transport to the laboratory
- take care during specimen collection and other manipulation to prevent external contamination of the sampling tube or container or sampling kit with biological material
- take care to avoid damaging body tissue or other biological material
- patient safety – sterile and disposable equipment, aseptic techniques, safe position
- strict patient identification, using two identifiers (i.e. “What's your name?”, birthday, identification bracelet, etc.)
- nurse safety – use of protective aids (disposable gloves), correct sampling techniques, correct handling of sharp objects (e.g. used needles must never be put back into the plastic cover, but dumped into the sharp disposal container or a separate kidney dish)
- safe handling of obtained samples and used equipment
Sampling phases
- preanalytical – sample collection and transport
- analytical – sample analysis at the laboratory
- postanalytical – doctor's evaluation of the results
The following are examples of illustrative request form and specific sampling tube.
Literature
- Pokorná, A. a Komínková, A. Ošetřovatelské postupy založené na důkazech. Brno, Czechia: Masaryk University, 2013. pp. 84-120. ISBN 978-80-210-6331-0