NHA Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

What is a potential risk of mislabeling a blood bank specimen?

1. Decreased sample quality

2. Insufficient sample volume

3. Improper specimen processing

4. A transfusion reaction

The correct answer is: A transfusion reaction

Mislabeling a blood bank specimen poses a significant risk because it can lead directly to a transfusion reaction. When a blood product is incorrectly labeled, there is a possibility that the blood type or other critical information associated with the specimen does not match the patient’s actual blood type. If the wrong blood type is transfused, the patient’s immune system may recognize the foreign blood as a threat, triggering an immune response. This can lead to serious complications, including fever, chills, hemolytic reactions, and even life-threatening situations such as acute kidney injury or shock. Proper labeling is essential for ensuring patient safety and the appropriate use of blood products. Each blood specimen must be accurately labeled with the patient’s details to match it with corresponding blood products effectively. Without this precision, the risk of administering the wrong type of blood increases significantly, making this issue a critical concern in blood banking and transfusion medicine.