Which practice most effectively reduces hemolysis during specimen collection?

• A. Gentle handling of specimens.
• B. Shake the tube vigorously after collection.
• C. Store the specimen in direct sunlight.
• D. Use a needle with an excessively small bore.

Answer: (A)

Hemolysis happens when red blood cells are damaged by mechanical stress during collection. The most effective way to prevent it is gentle handling of specimens—minimize squeezing, shaking, or rough manipulation and use proper venipuncture technique with careful, gentle mixing if additives are present. This reduces shear forces on the cells, keeping them intact and yielding more reliable test results. In contrast, shaking the tube after collection adds shear stress, direct sunlight can heat and destabilize the sample, and using a needle with a too-small bore creates excessive shear that can rupture cells.