L–000867 E–1
E – Blood Collection and Handling
General Comments
The quality of a test is only as good as the quality of the specimen. The following guidelines help ensure the
quality of the blood specimens collected in your office, as well as the safety of the staff performing the tests.
These specimen collection guidelines are derived from those recommended by the National Committee for
Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) in the specimen collection section of the “Physician’s Office Laboratory
Guidelines” (NCCLS Document POL1 and POL2). For more information, contact NCCLS at 771 East Lancaster
Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085 (215) 525-2435.
Universal Precautions for Specimen Handling
WARNINGS
BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS MAY CONTAIN THE HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV),
HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV), HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV), OR
OTHER DISEASE-CAUSING AGENTS.
HANDLE ALL PATIENT SPECIMENS AS POTENTIAL BIOHAZARDS CAPA-
BLE OF TRANSMITTING INFECTION.
WEAR APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING
LABORATORY GLOVES, WHEN COLLECTING, HANDLING, AND PROCESS-
ING BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS.
IN ADDITION TO WEARING GLOVES, THE USE OF DISPOSABLE LAB
COATS OR GOWNS AND PROTECTIVE GLASSES OR GOGGLES IS RECOM-
MENDED WHEN WORKING AROUND THE INSTRUMENT .
6000-300-000 E-1
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