Which of the following best prevents mislabeling of specimens at collection?

• A. Label the specimen at the time of collection with patient identifiers and verify against the requisition.
• B. Label after the specimen has been processed.
• C. Use labels without patient identifiers.
• D. Rely on the clinician to remember the patient identity.

Answer: (B)

Preventing mislabeling happens by confirming the patient’s identity at the moment of collection and tying that identity to the specimen with a proper label that matches the requisition. Labeling the specimen at collection with at least two identifiers (such as the patient’s name and date of birth or internal ID) and then verifying this label against the requisition before the specimen leaves collection creates a direct, real-time link between the patient and the sample. This immediate verification catches mismatches right away and stops the specimen from being associated with the wrong patient.

Labeling after processing removes that immediate, identity-verified check and introduces opportunities for mix-ups, since the specimen could be separated from the patient and its label may no longer be tied to the correct identity. Using labels without patient identifiers or relying on the clinician to remember the patient identity also increases the risk of mislabeling, because there’s less objective, verifiable linkage between the patient and the specimen.