Lesson 1Sample tube selection, additives (EDTA for CBC, glycolytic inhibitor for glucose) and rationaleThis lesson covers right tube types and additives for glucose and CBC tests, explaining how EDTA keeps blood cells in good shape and glycolytic inhibitors stop glucose from breaking down, including tube colours, how much to fill, and common mistakes in choosing tubes.
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 samplesThis lesson discusses temperature, light, and time rules for glucose and CBC samples, including using cool packs, sending via tubes, and maximum times to hold them, to keep the samples stable and avoid damage or clotting before testing.
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 hemolysisThis lesson gives a clear step-by-step guide for venipuncture to reduce hemolysis, covering preparing tools, angle for entering vein, how long to use tourniquet, handling tubes, and ways to avoid bubbling, too much pull, or poking again.
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 aliquotingThis lesson covers steps right after drawing blood, like how many times to invert tubes, mixing methods, clotting times, readying for spinning, and dividing samples, to keep them good for glucose and CBC analysis in the lab.
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 monitoringThis lesson describes safe ways to throw away sharps and biohazard waste, handle accidents, and care for patients after, including checking the site, giving instructions, and watching for bleeding, swelling, 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 phlebotomyThis lesson reviews basic safety rules for drawing blood, including washing hands, choosing PPE based on risks, cough etiquette, and safe habits to stop spread of blood germs and other infections in our facilities.
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 principlesThis lesson explains how to pick good veins, apply tourniquet safely, and follow the order of draw rules, to prevent mixing additives and blood thickening that could change glucose or CBC test 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 8Labeling requirements and essential documentation fieldsThis lesson covers must-have labels and records for glucose and CBC samples, like patient names, collection info, tests needed, and legal rules, to track samples, cut errors, and report results correctly.
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)This lesson outlines proper patient ID and prep before glucose and CBC tests, including checking fasting, getting consent, reviewing medicines, and noting recent sickness or treatments that affect results.
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, mislabeling, wrong tube) and impact on resultsThis lesson looks at usual mistakes like hemolysis, wrong labels, and bad tube choice, how they happen, spotting them, effects on glucose and CBC accuracy, and ways to stop and fix them.
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
