Lesson 1Sample tube selection, additives (EDTA for CBC, glycolytic inhibitor for glucose) and rationaleExplains suitable tube types and additives for glucose and CBC, describing how EDTA keeps cell shapes intact and glycolytic inhibitors stabilise glucose levels, including colour codes, fill amounts, and common errors 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 samplesCovers temperature, light, and time limits for glucose and CBC samples, including using cool packs, pneumatic tubes, and maximum storage times, to keep the samples stable and prevent 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 hemolysisGives a clear step-by-step venipuncture method to reduce hemolysis, covering equipment setup, vein entry angle, tourniquet use, tube handling, and ways to avoid bubbling, too much suction, or repeated poking.
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 right after collection steps like proper inversion counts, mixing methods, clotting times, readiness for spinning, and dividing samples, to keep glucose and CBC samples good for 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, handling accidental exposures, and key post-procedure care for patients, 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 phlebotomyReviews basic precautions for blood drawing, including hand washing, choosing PPE based on risks, cough etiquette, and safe practices to stop spread of bloodborne germs and other infections.
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 how to pick good veins, apply tourniquets safely, and follow the CLSI draw order, stressing prevention of additive mixing and blood thickening that could affect 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 8Labeling requirements and essential documentation fieldsExplains must-have labelling and records for glucose and CBC samples, including patient details, collection info, test requests, and legal needs, to track samples, cut errors, and help report accurate results.
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 proper patient ID and pre-test prep for glucose and CBC, including checking fasting, getting consent, reviewing medicines, and assessing recent sickness or procedures that might affect 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, mislabeling, wrong tube) and impact on resultsLooks at usual collection mistakes like hemolysis, wrong labelling, and bad tube choice, explaining causes, spotting them, effects on glucose and CBC accuracy, and ways to prevent 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
