Lesson 1Sample tube selection, additives (EDTA for CBC, glycolytic inhibitor for glucose) and rationaleCovers suitable tube types and additives for glucose and CBC, detailing EDTA's function in maintaining cell shape and glycolytic inhibitors in keeping glucose stable, including colour codes, fill levels, and frequent selection mistakes.
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 samplesDiscusses temperature, light, and time restrictions for glucose and CBC samples, covering cool packs, pneumatic tubes, and maximum storage times to safeguard analyte stability and avoid preanalytical breakdown 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 minimising hemolysisOutlines a systematic venipuncture process aimed at reducing hemolysis, including equipment setup, vein entry angle, tourniquet duration, tube management, and methods to prevent frothing, too much suction, or multiple probes.
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 aliquotingAddresses right after venipuncture steps, such as proper inversion counts, mixing methods, clotting periods, centrifuge preparation, and portioning, to preserve sample quality for glucose and CBC testing.
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 monitoringExplains secure disposal of sharps and biohazard waste, handling accidental exposures, and vital post-procedure patient care, including site checks, guidelines, and watching for bleeding, bruising, or fainting 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 phlebotomyExamines standard precautions for blood drawing, covering hand washing, PPE choices based on risk evaluation, cough etiquette, and safe practices to stop spread of bloodborne and other germs.
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 principlesDescribes standards for picking suitable veins, safe tourniquet application, and CLSI draw sequence, stressing prevention of additive carryover and blood thickening that might affect glucose or CBC outcomes.
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 fieldsDetails required labelling items and records for glucose and CBC samples, including patient details, collection info, test orders, and legal needs, to ensure tracking, cut errors, and aid precise 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)Specifies proper patient ID and pre-test setup for glucose and CBC, including fasting checks, agreement, drug review, and evaluation of recent sickness or treatments that could impact test readings.
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 resultsReviews typical collection mistakes like hemolysis, wrong labelling, and incorrect tube choice, explaining causes, spotting, and effects on glucose and CBC precision, with prevention and fix strategies.
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
