Lesson 1Sample tube selection, additives (EDTA for CBC, glycolytic inhibitor for glucose) and rationaleDetails appropriate tube types and additives for glucose and CBC, explaining EDTA’s role in preserving cell morphology and glycolytic inhibitors in stabilizing glucose, plus colour coding, fill volume, and common selection errors.
EDTA tube selection for CBC testingFluoride oxalate and other glycolytic inhibitorsTube color codes and manufacturer variationsRequired fill volume and anticoagulant ratioAdditive mechanisms and cellular effectsConsequences of wrong tube selectionLesson 2Storage, transport conditions, and time limits for glucose and CBC samplesCovers temperature, light, and time constraints for glucose and CBC specimens, including use of cool packs, pneumatic tubes, and maximum holding times, to preserve analyte stability and prevent preanalytical degradation or clotting.
Room temperature vs refrigerated storageUse of ice slurries for glucose stabilityTransport timing for CBC samplesPneumatic tube and courier considerationsMaximum pre-analytical holding timesMonitoring and documenting transport conditionsLesson 3Step-by-step venipuncture technique with emphasis on minimizing hemolysisProvides a structured venipuncture sequence focused on minimizing hemolysis, covering equipment preparation, vein entry angle, tourniquet timing, tube handling, and strategies to avoid frothing, excessive suction, or repeated probing.
Pre-assembly and inspection of equipmentOptimal skin antisepsis and drying timeNeedle angle, depth, and vein anchoringTourniquet release timing and impactGentle tube filling and avoiding frothingManaging difficult draws without traumaLesson 4Immediate post-collection handling: inversion, mixing, clotting times, and aliquotingCovers immediate handling steps after venipuncture, including correct inversion counts, mixing technique, clotting times, centrifugation readiness, and aliquoting, to maintain sample integrity for glucose and CBC analysis.
Inversion counts for EDTA and fluoride tubesProper mixing technique to avoid hemolysisRequired clotting times for serum tubesTiming of centrifugation for stabilityAliquot labeling and secondary containersHandling delays and documentationLesson 5Waste disposal, sharps management, and post-procedure patient care and monitoringDescribes safe disposal of sharps and biohazard waste, management of accidental exposures, and essential post-procedure patient care, including site inspection, instructions, and monitoring for bleeding, hematoma, or vasovagal reactions.
Sharps container selection and placementSegregation of infectious and noninfectious wasteNeedlestick and exposure response stepsPost-venipuncture site assessmentPatient instructions after blood drawDocumentation of incidents and follow-upLesson 6Standard precautions, hand hygiene, and PPE selection for phlebotomyReviews standard precautions for phlebotomy, including hand hygiene, PPE selection based on risk assessment, respiratory etiquette, and safe work practices to prevent transmission of bloodborne and other pathogens.
Indications and technique for hand hygieneGloves, gowns, masks, and eye protectionRisk-based PPE selection for phlebotomyRespiratory hygiene in collection areasEnvironmental cleaning of draw stationsPolicies for immunocompromised patientsLesson 7Vein selection, tourniquet use, and order of draw principlesExplains criteria for choosing appropriate veins, safe tourniquet application, and the CLSI order of draw, emphasizing prevention of additive carryover and hemoconcentration that could alter glucose or CBC results.
Preferred and alternative venipuncture sitesAvoiding compromised or painful veinsTourniquet placement and time limitsEffects of prolonged stasis on resultsCLSI order of draw sequence detailsOrder of draw for multiple glucose tubesLesson 8Labelling requirements and essential documentation fieldsExplains mandatory labelling elements and documentation for glucose and CBC samples, including patient identifiers, collection details, test requests, and legal requirements, to ensure traceability, reduce errors, and support accurate result reporting.
Primary and secondary patient identifiersDate, time, and collector identificationTest orders, priority, and clinical notesLabel placement on glucose and CBC tubesElectronic vs paper requisitionsLegal and accreditation documentation needsLesson 9Patient identification and pre-test requirements (fasting, consent, medication review)Outlines correct patient identification and pre-test preparation for glucose and CBC, including fasting verification, consent, medication review, and assessment of recent illness or procedures that may influence test interpretation.
Two-identifier verification processFasting status and timing confirmationInformed consent and patient educationMedication and supplement reviewRecent illness, exercise, or smoking checkSpecial considerations for diabeticsLesson 10Common collection errors (hemolysis, mislabelling, wrong tube) and impact on resultsAnalyzes frequent collection errors such as hemolysis, mislabelling, and wrong tube selection, describing mechanisms, detection, and impact on glucose and CBC accuracy, plus strategies for prevention and corrective action.
Causes and recognition of hemolyzed samplesMislabeling risks and prevention methodsWrong tube or additive selection errorsUnderfilling and clotting in EDTA tubesSpecimen rejection criteria for labsCorrective actions and staff retraining
