Specimen Labeling

In accordance with the College of American Pathologists guidelines, all primary specimen containers must be labeled with 2 identifiers at the time of collection. A primary specimen container is the innermost container that actually holds the specimen.

Acceptable Identifiers (please use 2):

• Patient name
• Date of birth
• Hospital Medical Record Number
• Social Security number
• Requisition number (attach bar code label)
• Accession number

Attach a requisition sticker number, found on the lower-left corner of the requisition, to each specimen tube or container, taking care not to cover the patient information.

Date and time of collection are recommended for all specimens but required whenever multiple specimens collected at different times are submitted, for example, in glucose tolerance testing.

Microscopic slides must be labeled with at least 1 identifier, but 2 identifiers are preferred.

Each specimen bag should only contain specimens from a single patient.

Unlabeled specimens will not be accepted.

For more information, call Client Services at 505-938-8922 or 800-245-3296.

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