Figure 18.1Principles of pathology specimen collection
Important principles when collecting specimens
It is crucial that the following are adhered to when collecting specimens:
Required investigations are confirmed with reference to medical records
Checks are made to ensure it is the correct child and that name, date of birth and hospital number match
Any labels used must match the child’s details
The correct tubes or bottles are selected prior to sampling
Correct laboratory request forms are used and labelled
Expiry dates on the tubes or bottles must be checked
Tubes and bottles must be intact and not damaged
Any materials should be prepared before the procedure
It is the responsibility of the person undertaking the intervention to ensure it is the correct child, tests, tubes and labels
Any specimens must be stored correctly and transported following local policy and procedures.
Obtaining blood samples
Blood samples can be obtained through a variety of methods:
1Heel prick. Mainly used on neonates where small samples of blood are preferred so as not to reduce their blood volume.
2Finger prick. Often used for measuring blood glucose levels in children with diabetes or in those who have drunk alcohol.
3Peripheral venepuncture. This method involves the insertion of a butterfly cannula or a standard needle to obtain samples for a variety of investigations. This is the most common method utilized.
4Large vessel venepuncture. In some cases it is not possible to obtain blood samples from smaller veins and so larger vessels are utilized.
5Arterial blood sampling
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