Title: Demonstrate the collection, handling, and processing of laboratory procedures.
Course: Patient Care Technician (14051-III) > Section: Understanding Phlebotomy and Related Procedures

Demonstration should include

- blood smears
- blood culture
- blood samples for inborn errors of metabolism (e.g., phenylketonuria [PKU], galactosemia)
- quality control for Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA)-waived procedures.
- specimens based on handling requirements (e.g., temperature, light, time)
- explaining nonblood specimen collection procedures to patients (e.g., stool, urine, semen, throat swab, sputum)
- handling patient-collected, nonblood specimens
- avoiding pre-analytical errors when collecting blood specimens (e.g., quantity not sufficient [QNS], hemolysis)
- adhering to chain-of-custody guidelines when required (e.g., forensic studies, blood alcohol, drug screen)
- preparing samples for transportation to a reference (i.e., outside) laboratory
- using technology to input and retrieve specimen data
- reporting critical values to point-of-care testing (e.g., finger stick, blood glucose)
- distributing laboratory results to ordering providers
- maintaining the chain of custody.

Process/Skill Questions:

- Where is the best place to perform a finger stick for a capillary collection?
- Why is there a time limit?
- What is the rationale for inverting the blood collection tubes after blood draws?
- What is the role of the PCT in maintaining the chain of custody?