Which labeling practice is required for specimens collected in the clinic?

• A. Label at the bedside with patient name, DOB, date/time, source, clinician initial; document labeling and chain of custody if required.
• B. Label in the lab after processing with only patient name.
• C. Label with patient initials and date only.
• D. Label at the nurse station after specimen is transported.

Answer: (A)

Labeling specimens at the bedside with full patient identifiers is essential to ensure accurate identification and proper traceability from collection to results. When a tube is labeled at the patient’s side, it directly ties the specimen to the correct person and captures the exact collection time, the source (what was collected and where), and who collected it. Including the patient’s name, date of birth, date and time of collection, the specimen source, and the clinician’s initials provides complete context for the lab to process the specimen correctly and to route it to the appropriate test. If the policy requires, documenting labeling along with chain of custody adds an auditable trail showing who handled the specimen and when, which is important for quality assurance and regulatory reasons. Delaying labeling or performing it after the specimen has been transported increases the risk of misidentification, mislabeling, missing metadata, and potential delays in diagnosis or treatment. Keeping labeling at the bedside with all necessary identifiers minimizes errors and supports safe, accurate laboratory processing.