Medical Lab Technician Assistant

3 Sample Collecting Best Practices to Remember After Medical Lab Technician Training

February 03, 2023

For career seekers considering Medical Laboratory Technology training, sample collection will be a large part of your role. Patients getting medical tests for diagnostic purposes will come in to have blood drawn, urine tested, get a nasopharyngeal swab taken, or have tissue collected for a biopsy. As a Medical Lab Technician, your objective is to effectively collect samples without contaminating them, record important information accurately, and keep your work environment safe, all while keeping patients informed and at ease with the procedure. As a Medical Lab Technician, you play a vital role in the medical system. That being said, there are plenty of best practices to keep in mind to maintain the health and safety of the public. Keep reading for tips to help you thrive in your future role.  

1. Label With Caution After Medical Lab Tech Training 

Proper labelling will be a crucial skill to master as a Medical Lab Technician. Though labelling procedures differ depending on the sort of institution you’re working for–for example, hospital procedures may vary compared to research lab procedures–in general, the following information will be essential to include on your labels. 

  • The patient’s first and last name 
  • Your ID
  • The date and time of the sample collection 
  • Specimen type 
  • Test required 
  • The ordering physician 

To ensure accuracy as you collect this information, it’s important to identify the patient before taking the sample. In addition, it will be helpful to label samples in the presence of the patient to verify information when needed. Triple checking is an excellent habit to adopt after Medical Lab Tech training. 

2. Use the Correct Container for Each Sample Type

Depending on the bodily fluid, swab, or tissue sample you’re collecting, different containers may be needed. For example, blood samples may require an anticoagulant to prevent the specimen from clotting. Some samples require containers with preservative agents to stop the growth of microorganisms and maintain the purity of the specimen. After Medical Lab Tech courses, when preparing for sample collection, be sure to determine the container type you’ll need in advance to avoid an error that could require the patient to provide another specimen. 

After medical lab tech training, you’ll need to ensure that you’re using the correct container for each sample type.

3. Ensure Patients Are Adequately Prepared For Their Test

Depending on the type of sample collection, there may be precautions that patients must take to ensure the sample is pure. For example, physicians may request that patients abstain from alcohol or caffeine for a specific amount of time leading up to the sample collection. It’s essential to determine whether patients have taken the necessary precautions before they provide their samples.

Ensure that patients are adequately prepared for testing after medical lab tech school.

Another way you can help patients to prepare for their medical testing is to offer moral support. Surely, some of them will be anxious about the results of their test or, at the very least, nervous about the sample collection itself. Empathize with this and provide encouraging words along the way. 

 

Ready to enrol in Medical Lab Tech school? 

Contact Medix College to learn how you can get started.

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