Q&A column, 10/16
October 2016—What are the guidelines for proper handling and processing of blood specimens collected in serum separator tubes? Are there regulations guiding the practice of taking additional blood samples from a patient even though there are no orders for the blood samples? These “just in case” specimens are sent to our laboratory by the emergency department when a port or catheter is placed in the patient. The ED’s reasoning is that it prevents a patient from being stuck twice if there is an order for blood tests later. Our lab has to either store the samples or process them (centrifuge or separate RBCs from serum) so they are ready in case an order is entered later. Should this practice be banned? Should we refuse to accept these samples?