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Patient identification and tube labelling - a call for harmonisation
Insights
Venous blood collection practices in Europe show low adherence to guidelines. Patient identification and tube labeling require urgent improvement to enhance patient safety and reduce errors.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Laboratory Science
- Patient Safety
- Preanalytical Phase Research
Background:
- Venous blood sampling (phlebotomy) is a common invasive procedure.
- Existing guidelines, such as the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) H3-A6, provide standards for phlebotomy.
- The quality of phlebotomy practices in Europe was previously unassessed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the compliance of phlebotomy procedures with CLSI H3-A6 guidelines in European countries.
- To identify critical areas for improvement in venous blood sample collection.
- To promote harmonization of patient identification and tube labeling procedures globally.
Main Methods:
- An observational study was conducted across 12 European countries.
- Practices related to venous blood sample collection were evaluated.
- Compliance with the CLSI H3-A6 guideline was assessed.
Main Results:
- Compliance with the CLSI H3-A6 guideline for phlebotomy was found to be unacceptably low.
- Patient identification and tube labeling were identified as critical steps needing immediate improvement.
- Significant risks of preanalytical errors were noted due to procedural deficiencies.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need to improve phlebotomy practices in Europe.
- Enhanced focus on patient identification and tube labeling is essential for patient safety.
- Harmonizing these procedures worldwide can reduce preanalytical errors and improve healthcare outcomes.
Abstract:
Venous blood sampling (phlebotomy) is the most common invasive procedure performed in patient care. Guidelines on the correct practice of phlebotomy are available, including the H3-A6 guideline issued by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). As the quality of practices and procedures related to venous blood sample collection in European countries was unknown, the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for the Preanalytical Phase conducted an observational study in 12 European countries. The study demonstrated that the level of compliance of phlebotomy procedures with the CLSI H3-A6 guideline was unacceptably low, and that patient identification and tube labelling are amongst the most critical steps in need of immediate attention and improvement. The process of patient identification and tube labelling is an essential safety barrier to prevent patient identity mix-up. Therefore, the EFLM Working Group aims to encourage and support worldwide harmonisation of patient identification and tube labelling procedures in order to reduce the risk of preanalytical errors and improve patient safety. With this Position paper we wish to raise awareness and provide recommendations for proper patient and sample identification procedures.
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