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Specimen Collection and Quality: Tubes, Order of Draw, Identification, and Handling
This course provides practical instruction for RNs, CNAs, nursing assistants, patient care technicians, and other healthcare personnel who collect or assist with blood specimens as part of patient care. The course reviews common blood collection tubes and additives, order of draw, specimen requirements, patient and specimen identification, bedside labeling, tube handling, transport, and factors that can affect specimen quality.
Emphasis is placed on preventing pre-analytical errors such as wrong-patient specimens, incorrect tube selection, additive carryover, underfilled tubes, clotting, hemolysis, contamination, improper labeling, and delayed or inappropriate transport. Participants will also learn how specimen handling decisions made at the bedside can directly affect laboratory accuracy and patient care.
Completion of this course provides education in specimen collection and quality principles but does not independently authorize an individual to perform venipuncture or other blood collection procedures outside applicable state requirements, professional scope of practice, facility policy, training, or demonstrated competency.
Course Objectives
- Identify common blood collection tube types and explain the purpose of commonly used additives.
- Match common laboratory tests with the appropriate specimen type and collection tube.
- Describe the correct order of draw and explain how additive carryover can affect laboratory results.
- Explain the importance of proper specimen volume and recognize situations involving underfilled or improperly collected tubes.
- Apply appropriate patient and specimen identification procedures before and after collection.
- Describe safe bedside labeling practices that reduce wrong-patient and mislabeled-specimen errors.
- Explain proper mixing and handling requirements for common blood collection tubes.
- Recognize hemolysis, clotting, contamination, and other factors that can compromise specimen quality.
- Describe temperature, light, timing, and other special handling requirements that may affect specimen integrity.
- Explain appropriate specimen transport practices and the importance of timely delivery to the laboratory.
- Identify common pre-analytical errors and circumstances that may result in specimen rejection or recollection.
- Describe how proper collection, labeling, handling, and transport support accurate laboratory results and safe patient care.
Course Author
Information
- Relevance: This course is designed for RNs, CNAs, nursing assistants, patient care technicians, medical assistants, and other healthcare personnel who collect, label, handle, or transport blood specimens as part of their job duties. It provides practical guidance on tube selection, order of draw, specimen identification, handling, transport, and prevention of pre-analytical errors that can affect laboratory accuracy and patient safety.
- Content Level: Intermediate
- Course Format: This course is offered as a self-paced distance learning format (reading-based online activity)
- System Requirements: This course is offered online. Internet connection required.
- Course Completion Information: To earn continuing education credit, professionals must register and pay the fee for the course. They must read the content and demonstrate understanding by earning a minimum score of 70 percent on testing materials. The certificate of completion will be able to be downloaded after the above is completed. Refunds will be granted upon request with the withdrawal of credit for the course. For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please call 866-863-4225 or email ContactUs@BaysideCEU.com.
- CEBroker Course ID: 1406476
- Credit Hours: 1
- Last Updated: September 3, 2026
This course is designed for RNs, CNAs, nursing assistants, patient care technicians, medical assistants, and other healthcare personnel who collect, label, handle, or transport blood specimens as part of their job duties. It provides practical guidance on tube selection, order of draw, specimen identification, handling, transport, and prevention of pre-analytical errors that can affect laboratory accuracy and patient safety.
- CE Hours 1 hour
- CEBroker Course ID 1406476