NHA Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

Which method is typically used to confirm identification of a specimen in a laboratory?

1. Visual inspection by a lab technician

2. Use of barcodes and identification numbers

3. Asking the patient for their name

4. Relying on the patient’s medical history

The correct answer is: Use of barcodes and identification numbers

The method that is typically used to confirm identification of a specimen in a laboratory is the use of barcodes and identification numbers. This approach is crucial because it minimizes the risk of human error and ensures traceability throughout the laboratory process. Barcodes, when scanned, provide a unique identifier for each specimen, linking it directly to the patient’s data and the specific tests ordered. This system allows laboratories to maintain accurate records and associate each sample with the correct patient, which is imperative for both safety and accuracy in diagnosis and treatment. While visual inspection and asking the patient for their name are methods that can support identification, they are more prone to error, especially in busy clinical environments. Relying on a patient's medical history does not serve as a direct method for confirming specimen identification, as it does not provide the necessary specificity to ensure the correct association with the sample at hand.